Laramie, Wyo. (April 24, 2018) -- The Wyoming Cowboys will be featured on five nationally-televised games during the 2018 season. The announcement came on Tuesday as the Mountain West Conference and its television partners, CBS Sports Network and ESPN Networks, released the Mountain West football games selected for national TV coverage. Three Wyoming home games and two road games are part of the MW national television package.
The Cowboys' home opener against Washington State will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1 and will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Wyoming's home game versus Boise State on Saturday, Sept. 29 is scheduled for a 5 p.m. kick and will also be televised by CBS Sports Network. The third Cowboy home game that will be televised nationally will be on Saturday, Nov. 17 vs. Air Force. That game will be televised on one of the ESPN Networks. The game time for the Air Force game will be set by ESPN closer to the date of the game.
Wyoming's road game at Fresno State on Saturday, Oct. 13 will also be televised by one of the ESPN Networks. The 2018 version of the "Border War" with rival Colorado State will be played in Fort Collins, Colo., on Friday, Oct. 26. That game will kick off at 8 p.m., with CBS Sports Network televising the game.
Tuesday's announcement included 44 Mountain West nationally-televised games. Of those 44 games, 32 will be conference matchups.
Additional telecasts by AT&T SportsNet, Spectrum Sports (for select Hawai'i games) and Stadium will be announced at later dates. At the time those televised games are announced it is anticipated that additional game times will also be released.
Game times and specific outlets for ESPN Network games (e.g. ESPN, ESPN2, etc.) will generally be announced 12 days in advance of those games.
Season tickets are currently on sale for the 2018 Wyoming Football season. For the best seat options, and to ensure tickets to all six home games, Cowboy Fans are encouraged to buy season tickets. 2018 season tickets range from $159-235 for adults and are $89 for youth. Season tickets are on sale now at GoWyo.com/tickets, by calling 307-766-7220 or in person at the University of Wyoming Athletics Ticket Office. Payment plans are also available to fans for no additional fee.
Wyoming is coming off back-to-back, eight-win seasons, consecutive bowl appearances and a victory in the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
The Cowboys will return eight starters from one of the nation's top defenses in 2018 led by senior All-America candidates
Andrew Wingard at safety and
Carl Granderson at defensive end. All-Mountain West performers
Youhanna Ghaifan (defensive tackle),
Tyler Hall (kick returner) and
Logan Wilson (linebacker) also return.
Wyoming's defense ranked among the nation's best in numerous categories in 2017, including ranking: No. 1 in the nation in takeaways (38), No. 1 in fumbles recovered (18), No. 2 in interceptions (20), No. 8 in defensive touchdowns scored (4), No. 9 in scoring defense (allowing only 17.5 points per game), No. 13 in pass defense (174.9 yards per game), No. 14 in pass defense efficiency (112.67 rating) and No. 23 in total defense (335.2 yards per game).
The Cowboy offense returns nine starters from a unit that ranked No. 2 in the nation in red-zone offense, converting 33 of 34 red-zone opportunities into scores (97.1 percent) and ranked No. 19 in the country in fewest turnovers committed (14).
The offense and defense combined to rank No. 1 in the nation in turnover margin, ending the season with a total +24 turnover margin (38 turnovers gained to 14 turnovers lost). The next closest team in the country was Central Florida with a total of a +17. Cowboy special teams also were among the nation's best, ranking No. 1 in the NCAA in kickoff returns (28.3 yards per return).
Wyoming's 2018 football schedule can be seen on the links above, including Wyoming's national television package to date for the upcoming season.
