Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 |
Photo – Football on field under lights – Bigfoot99 file photo
The University of Utah comes to Laramie this week with a 2-and-0 record. Both victories were blowout wins.
In week 1, the Utes defeated UCLA 43-10. Utes Quarterback Devon Dampier led Utah’s attack in the air and on the ground in the season opener.
Dampier followed offensive coordinator Jason Beck from New Mexico to Salt Lake City after the Lobos ranked fourth in the FBS with 484.3 yards per game a year ago. Dampier went 21 of 25 for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
In Week 2, the Utes scored early and often against Cal Poly on their way to a 63-9 romp this past Saturday at home in Salt Lake City.
The Utes led 35-6 at the half on their way to the big home win.
The win on Saturday moved Utah up in the power rankings with enough votes to be ranked #17 in the nation.
Utah proved it is both, explosive and efficient, on offense and defense.
Dampier has rushed for 398 yards and thrown for five touchdowns through the first two games of the season.
ESPN worries that at 20 carries already on the season, Dampier is putting himself at risk. “His importance to the Utah offense may require a bit more management of his reps, especially if it means avoiding injury,” is how ESPN put it on Sunday.
Wyoming fans are hoping that the Cowboys defense will prove to be a better test against Utah’s offense.
Head Coach Jay Sawvel was honest, on Monday, about the task his team faces on Saturday.
Saturday night’s game marks the 84th meeting between the two schools and the first contest since the 2010 season. It will be the 41st meeting in Laramie.
The Cowboys have allowed only 199 yards of total offense per game through the first two games. They held Northern Iowa to 170 total yards on the day. The Pokes defense will need to be stingy again this week.
Wyoming fans turned out big on Saturday. The official count put the crowd over 25,000. The Pokes will need another big turnout this week.
Quarterback Kaden Anderson will play this week after leaving the game on Saturday after taking a big hit late in the third quarter.
The Cowboys are no stranger to Utah’s quarterback. Last year, playing for New Mexico, Dampier delivered a standout performance against the Cowboys in a high-scoring game on November 2, 2024. The game was played at home in Albuquerque.
Dampier rushed for 207 yards and scored three touchdowns on the ground, including an 85-yard touchdown run, which was the longest by a New Mexico quarterback in school history. Despite Dampier’s efforts, New Mexico lost the game 49-45 after Wyoming’s Kaden Anderson threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Justin Stevenson with under five minutes remaining.
Still, Head Coach Sawvel showed nothing but respect for Dampier and the Utes as he delved into the X’s and O’s at the news conference on Monday.
Wyoming will host Utah, Saturday night, inside War Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for six p.m. Bigfoot 99 will have the radio broadcast starting with the pregame show at 4:30.
The weather forecast for Laramie on Saturday calls for scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Afternoon highs should reach the upper 60s with temperatures falling into the 40s by the second half.
