sweetwaternow
LARAMIE — The Wyoming Cowboys officially opened their fall camp on Wednesday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium, marking the beginning of a 24-practice stretch that will culminate in the season opener against Colorado State on Sept. 5 in Fort Collins.
Third-year head coach Jay Sawvel oversaw the first workout, which featured a fast-paced tempo and high enthusiasm from the squad. Sawvel expressed satisfaction with the initial effort, noting that the players showed immediate excitement to be back on the field.
“This team was excited to get on the field and that is a big positive right away,” Sawvel told reporters after practice. “One thing that stands out as coaches is we are a better-looking football team at a lot of different positions. Today’s practice tempo-wise was good and the players have done a good job keeping up with what we need to do offensively and defensively.”
Key Analysis
The Cowboys also received a notable individual accolade this week, as running back Samuel Tote Harris was named to the Maxwell Award watch list for the first time in his career. The Maxwell Award is given annually to the nation’s most outstanding college football player. Harris, who has already been tabbed as a preseason All-Mountain West selection by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports, led Wyoming in rushing last season. In 11 games with seven starts, he accumulated 558 yards on 100 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt, and added one rushing touchdown. He also contributed in the passing game with 16 receptions for 184 yards.
Harris’s standout performance came against Colorado, where he rushed for a career-high 126 yards, including a 50-yard run. He also posted 102 yards on 12 carries against Fresno State and recorded a season-best four receptions at Air Force.
Wyoming’s 2026 schedule features a mix of home and road contests. The Cowboys open at Colorado State on Sept. 5 with a 4 p.m. kickoff on USA Network, followed by their home opener against Northern Colorado on Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. Additional home games include Hawaii (Sept. 26), Northern Illinois (Oct. 17), Air Force (Oct. 23), New Mexico (Nov. 20), and UConn (Nov. 28). Road matchups include trips to Central Michigan (Sept. 19), North Dakota State (Oct. 3), San Jose State (Oct. 9), UNLV (Nov. 7), and UTEP (Nov. 14).
Originally reported by sweetwaternow.