The eye test.
The stat sheet.
The super-duper analytics.
No methodology could produce bright spots out of this game.
And, despite head coach Jay Sawvel’s move to remove Jay Johnson from play-calling duties and promote Jovon Bouknight, the core characteristics of this offense remain the same.
The run game has its moments, evidenced by Samuel Harris’ 96 yards on 12 carries.
But the passing game is, to put it kindly, putrid.
QB Kaden Anderson had his worst game as a Wyoming Cowboy.
No. 12 finished with 64 passing
yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception via an astounding 6 of 23 completion ratio.
Converting just 26% of your passes is rarified air in the worst way.
For an offense that already has had difficulties punching it into the endzone when Anderson is “on”, having him be so off-the-mark made any chances of winning feel worlds away.
In the fourth quarter, it looked as though Anderson and the Cowboys offense might break out of its funk. But just as things began to perk up, Anderson was intercepted by Bulldog Al’zillion Hamilton.
The very next play, Johnathan Arceneaux ran it 58 yards for a Fresno State touchdown to put them up two touchdowns.
Current backup Mason Drube came into the game on occasion and showed his ability as a runner and passer in the later stages of an eventual 21-point defeat.
Similar to their loss against San Diego State, Wyoming’s defense held firm for longer than anyone could have hoped for, but when your counterparts can’t score, the will of the defense begins to soften and, soon enough, break.
Fresno State QB Carson Conklin threw for just 95 yards on a 48% completion rate. However, it was the ground game that allowed them to control the clock, possessions, and the momentum.
Rayshon Luke (16 carries for 92 yards), Johnathan Arceneaux (4 carries for 70 yards), and Bryson Donelson (13 carries for 45 yards) combined for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
Penalties didn’t help Wyoming’s cause either, as they finished the game with nine penalties for 93 yards – triple that of Fresno State in both totals.
Newly minted offensive coordinator Jovon Bouknight had a revelatory outing in the Border War against Colorado State as he steered the offense to 28 points.
But since then, the honeymoon has soured, and reality has returned.
Wyoming scored seven points against San Diego State, and three against Fresno State.
The path to bowl eligibility remains viable for the Pokes, but now requires perfection over the next two weeks.
Wyoming will play at War Memorial Stadium for the final time this season this Saturday when the Nevada Wolf Pack come to town.
This game looked a lot easier on paper before this past weekend.
But in a surprise result, Nevada obliterated San Jose State 55-10 behind a superbly efficient day by QB Carter Jones (16 of 19 for 195 yards and two touchdowns).
The betting line is under a touchdown for Senior Day in Laramie.
Following that is arguably the toughest road trip in the Mountain West as the Cowboys fly to the Islands for a date with Timmy Chang and Hawai’i.
If the chips fall in favor of the Rainbow Warriors, that game may be able to send Hawai’i to the Mountain West title game for the first time since 2019.
It won’t be easy for Wyoming, but ending year two of the Jay Sawvel era with a four-game losing streak makes next year feel pivotal for the program’s momentum, especially with a revamped Mountain West conference configuration beginning in 2026.
