Wyoming, UNLV, New Mexico Control Own Path to Title

Wyoming’s Unexpected Charge Puts Mountain West Title Race on Notice

There’s a heavyweight showdown brewing in the desert this Saturday night, and the stakes could send the entire Mountain West Conference into a frenzy. In a league where a 4-0 start was the province of New Mexico, the Wyoming Cowboys have clawed their way to 4-1, putting themselves firmly in the driver’s seat for a conference championship game berth, The Forum reported from Fargo.

This is no longer a two-team race. With New Mexico sitting at 4-0, Wyoming and UNLV are both 3-1, meaning all three teams control their own destiny. Win out, and you’re in the title game. For a Wyoming program that started the year 2-3 and suffered a 28-0 drubbing at the hands of North Dakota State, this late-season surge is nothing short of stunning. The Cowboys are one win away from bowl eligibility, a feat they have not yet achieved under third-year head coach Jay Sawvel, making this game, as many in Laramie are calling it, the biggest of his tenure.

The Unlikeliest of Contenders

Wyoming’s season began with a thud, including that demoralizing loss in Fargo to the Bison. But since then, something has clicked. The Cowboys have won three straight, capped off by a 28-14 win at Air Force. This is the same Air Force team that just a few weeks ago had everyone in the Mountain West talking about their physical style and opportunistic defense. Yet, it was Wyoming who imposed their will, showing a team that has found its identity at the perfect time.

UNLV Rebels vs. Wyoming Cowboys Live From Allegiant Stadium

Head coach Jay Sawvel, a man who knows the pressure of a small-rebuilding program, has seen the narrative swing wildly. He addressed the team’s turnaround directly, telling the Wyoming media, “There’s a lot of people that want to give pats on the back after the Air Force game, but these are the same people that were wanting to shoot arrows at everybody four weeks before it. Take the people in the building, and listen to people in the building. Let’s just focus and concentrate on the people in the building.” That focus will be tested against a UNLV team that is, to put it mildly, a puzzle on defense.

UNLV’s Defensive Enigma

The Rebels are the perfect foil for Wyoming’s charge. They are explosive on offense, but their defense has been wildly inconsistent. They’ve looked dominant in wins over Hawaii and NDSU, but then have porous performances like the one last week against winless Northern Illinois. In that game, UNLV allowed 493 yards of offense, including 263 after halftime, in a 31-24 victory.

“The urgency players have coming into November, they have to create the urgency and step up and perform on the defensive side of the ball,” UNLV coach Dan Mullen said. “We just didn’t perform well and that’s the disappointing part. You should go into game day with your energy and effort and execution at a high. I know we’ve been banged up but there was an opportunity for guys to go in and make plays.”

He pointed to a lack of physicality, citing over 20 missed tackles. For a team that controls its own path to the championship, defensive inconsistency is a dangerous habit.

Lobos Celebrate Historic Ranking

While Wyoming and UNLV fight for their lives, the team at the top is soaking in the moment. For the first time in program history, New Mexico is ranked. The Lobos checked in at No. 22 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll, a milestone that has the program buzzing. But head coach Jason Eck is wisely keeping his team grounded.

Wyoming, UNLV, New Mexico Control Own Path to Title

“Being ranked this week means nothing if you lose this week and get kicked out of the ranking,” Eck said. “So we gotta take care of our business and have great preparation to go play our best football.”

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