Wyoming Coach Jay Sawvel Proud of Team After Win Over UNLV

“I couldn’t be more proud of our players, coaches and everybody associated with our team,” head coach Jay Sawvel said following the University of Wyoming’s 41-35 victory over UNLV at Allegiant Stadium.

The Cowboys secured the win late Saturday night in Las Vegas, overcoming a late surge from the Rebels to improve to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in Mountain West play, as reported by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

The victory marks the first time in Sawvel’s three-year tenure that the program has achieved bowl eligibility.

Wyoming currently sits alone in second place in the conference standings.

Sawvel lauds the Cowboys' resolve late against UNLV

The momentum shifted violently in the final quarter of the game. Wyoming held a commanding 41-21 lead with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter, but UNLV responded with consecutive touchdowns to shrink the margin to a single score.

With 1 minute and 56 seconds left on the clock, cornerback Tyson Shamsid-Deen intercepted UNLV quarterback Alex Orji in the end zone to halt the Rebels’ comeback attempt.

Running backs Markell Holman and Samuel Harris then executed long runs on the following drive to exhaust the remaining time.

Wyoming head coach jay sawvel in the second half of an ncaa college football game saturday sept in boulder colo photodavid za

While the final score suggests a comfortable margin, the game was defined by changes in strategy and injuries.

Wyoming quarterback Tyler Hughes, who recorded 107 passing yards and 71 rushing yards on 5-of-9 passing, left the game just before halftime due to an apparent injury to his right arm.

Landon Sims took over the quarterback duties, completing 2-of-6 passes for 25 yards and one touchdown, while also adding a 13-yard touchdown run.

Wyoming Beats UNLV 41-35, Rebels Fall to 5-4

“There’s definitely a buzz within the program,” Sims said. “We’re rolling right now. We feel really good. I feel like we’re playing good ball. We just have to keep it going.”

The Cowboys’ offensive strategy relied heavily on a powerful rushing attack that neutralized the Rebels’ defense for much of the night.

Dan Mullen Postgame Press Conference | UNLV vs. Wyoming (Nov. 7, 2026)

Wyoming amassed 483 total yards, with 351 of those yards coming on the ground.

The workload was shared between Harris and Holman, who combined for 238 rushing yards. Harris contributed two rushing touchdowns during the contest.

The defensive unit also played a decisive role, recording five sacks, including three from linebacker Ethan Stuhlsatz.

Wyoming Cowboys vs UNLV Rebels College Football Highlights | Week 10 Condensed Game

“Not all of it was pretty, but we got it done,” Stuhlsatz said. “All that matters is the win-loss column at the end of the day.”

The statistical breakdown of the game highlights the disparity in offensive production during the first half:

Statistic	University of Wyoming	UNLV
Total Yards	483	Not specified
First Half Yards	306	83
First Half Points	34	21

Both teams dealt with changes at the quarterback position during the game. UNLV replaced Jackson Arnold with Alex Orji in the second half.

The two UNLV quarterbacks combined for 141 passing yards on nine completions, with each player throwing an interception.

Despite the early dominance, Wyoming faced pressure in the fourth quarter after a turnover on downs at their own 44-yard line allowed Thomas to score a 2-yard touchdown for the Rebels.

Sawvel noted that the team had to manage the game differently after the injury to Hughes, stating, “We had to play the whole second half with our backup quarterback. This team plays hard, and they have such a great spirit about themselves.”

Looking ahead, the Cowboys will travel to face Texas-El Paso on Saturday at 8 p.m.