Cheyenne South to Field Only Sub-Varsity Football in 2027 Following Record Losing Streak

Cheyenne South Football Shifts to Sub-Varsity for 2027

Cheyenne South High School will not field a varsity football team for the 2027 season, marking a significant strategic pivot for a program struggling to compete within Wyoming’s top athletic classification. Athletics director Wendy Johnson confirmed the decision to WyoSports, noting that the school will instead focus on junior varsity and a combined freshman-sophomore squad to facilitate a long-term rebuild.

The move comes after years of mounting challenges for the Bison, who currently hold an all-class state record losing streak of 65 games. Their last victory remains a 36-35 win against Laramie, achieved on October 11, 2019. Since entering varsity competition in 2011, the program has recorded an all-time record of 10-135. For a school that ranks as the seventh-largest in Wyoming with an expected two-year average enrollment of 1,269 students, the sustained lack of competitive success has prompted a fundamental reassessment of how the school approaches its football infrastructure.

Safety Concerns and the Physicality of 4A Play

The decision is rooted as much in player safety as it is in win-loss records. Second-year head coach Steven Fernandez highlighted the physical toll of playing underclassmen against more mature, experienced varsity opponents. During the most recent season, the team saw 17 players suffer concussions, a figure substantially higher than the national average of approximately 5.6 per 100 players. According to reporting by WyoSports, the team finished its campaign with only 11 upperclassmen, forcing the coaching staff to rely on freshmen in key positions, including starting quarterback and center.

Cheyenne South athletics director Wendy Johnson and football coach Steven Fernandez said the decision to only play sub-varsity games in 2027 wasn't made lightly and had safety at the forefront. They hope it will let the program build. https://t.co/P9Qud3xYPn #wyosports

— https://x.com/WyoSports/status/2115973718044201114

“I hate to have to have the younger players play up on varsity when their bodies are still adjusting to high school football,” Fernandez said. “It’s a big safety concern for me. Those guys are the foundation of what we’re trying to build, so we have to look out for them.”

The competitive gap was stark throughout the 2026 season, during which the Bison were outscored by an average of 63.6 to 1.3 points per game. The team finished last in Class 4A across all major offensive and defensive statistical categories, including rushing, passing, and total scoring. The logistical strain of maintaining a roster also surfaced previously, as the school was forced to forfeit a 2024 game against Campbell County due to a lack of healthy or academically eligible players.

Statewide Ramifications for Class 4A

The departure of Cheyenne South from the varsity schedule leaves Class 4A with only nine teams. This creates a scheduling void that the Wyoming High School Activities Association (WHSAA) will need to address. The organization is currently in the first year of a two-year reclassification cycle, and adjustments to how schools are grouped—based on Average Daily Membership (ADM) figures—are not expected until after the 2027-28 school year. WHSAA Commissioner Trevor Wilson has declined to comment on the move, citing the lack of official notice from Laramie County School District 1 as of late Thursday.

Cheyenne South to Field Only Sub-Varsity Football in 2027 Following Record Losing Streak — Photo: wyomingnews.com

While the administration plans to seek games against smaller varsity programs in Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska, the primary focus for 2027 will be on building a sustainable pipeline of talent. Johnson emphasized that the term “rebuild” may be a misnomer, as the program has historically struggled to reach a competitive plateau. Instead, the current staff views the upcoming season as a necessary pause to develop a foundation that can eventually return to the 4A level.

The school informed its community of the change through the ParentSquare app, underscoring that the decision was a collaborative effort between the athletics department and the school district. A decision regarding the transition was expected to be provided to 4A athletics directors during a virtual meeting Nov. 3.