Cowboys Kick Off 2025 at Akron in Thursday Night Showdown

It’s go time. The Wyoming Cowboys open their 129th season of football this Thursday with a road trip to Akron, marking their first game in Ohio since 2011 — and their first-ever matchup with the Zips. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. MT on ESPN+.

If you’re tuning in: Michael Reghi and Ryan Cavanaugh will be on the call for ESPN+, while Keith Kelley, Kevin McKinney, and Erick Pauley will handle the Cowboy Sports Network broadcast across 26 stations.

Head coach Jay Sawvel didn’t mince words:

“It is time. I’m excited to see this group play and compete. We know going on the road means we’ll have to be sharp, and that’s our expectation.”

The trip is also a homecoming for Sawvel. He grew up just two hours from Akron and played at Mount Union, only 38 miles away.

Quick Hits on the Matchup:

• Firsts: Wyoming has never faced Akron.
• Record vs. MAC: Cowboys are 12-6 all-time against Mid-American Conference foes, including recent bowl wins over Toledo and Kent State.
• Season openers: UW is 80-46-2 overall in openers but just 20-28-1 on the road.

Players to Watch:

• Jack Walsh (C): Named to the Lombardi and Outland Trophy watch lists, plus preseason All-MW. He’s one of the anchors of the O-line.
• Caden Barnett (G): Another preseason All-MW lineman.
• John Michael Gyllenborg (TE): On the John Mackey Award watch list and already drawing national buzz.
• Evan Svoboda (QB/TE): Recognized for his off-field work, landing spots on both the Wuerffel Trophy and Good Works Team lists.

Akron finished 4-8 in 2024, but ended hot with back-to-back wins over Kent State and Toledo.

• QB Ben Finley returns after throwing for 2,604 yards and 16 TDs.
• WR Alex Adams and TE Jake Newell give him solid targets.
• Defense? That’s a question mark. Akron ranked near the bottom nationally last year in both points and yards allowed.

After the Akron trip, the Cowboys won’t get back on a plane until Halloween for a showdown at San Diego State.

So yeah — Wyoming fans have waited long enough. Thursday night is the first real look at what Sawvel’s second season has in store.

The original story by Nick Seeman for the University of Wyoming Athletics.