LARAMIE – Josh Allen, the reigning NFL most valuable player, returned to the campus where the journey began as a determined kid with no scholarship offers out of high school, just a dream only he could imagine.
 
Despite taking a beating while getting sacked eight times during the Buffalo Bills' loss at Houston on Thursday night, Allen showed up at the High Altitude Performance Center less than 24 hours later to talk to the Wyoming football team.
 
"I love this game, I love competing, I love winning," Allen told the wide-eyed Pokes before taking a selfie with every player who wanted one. "I love, and this is going to sound weird, I love feeling like I feel today after a loss. I love feeling hurt, it gets me going. It really does.
 
"I've got the chills thinking about it, man, because I love this game. You've got to be a little bit sick to love this game because it can take a lot from you, but it can give you a whole lot too."
 
Cowboy fans love Josh Allen. That's why a capacity crowd of 25,650 packed War Memorial Stadium on a sun splashed Saturday afternoon to see No. 17 immortalized as the first retired jersey in the program's 132-year history.
 
Before kickoff, Allen walked onto the field to hug former teammates, including his go-to wide receiver at UW, Tanner Gentry, and current NFL peer Frank Crum, a Laramie legend in his own right now playing for the Denver Broncos.

Allen took photos with as many people as he could, from students to Gov. Mark Gordon. He soaked in the moment alongside his parents and former UW head coach Craig Bohl during the halftime ceremony before grabbing the microphone to reciprocate the adoration from the most loyal and passionate fan base in the Mountain West.
 
"This is such an amazing honor, a huge blessing," Allen said. "There's so many people I can thank for this achievement. A lot of teammates here; I love you guys. Coach Bohl, Coach (Brent Vigen), people that believed in me.
 
"The fans and the support here in Wyoming ... I am so honored and blessed to represent this university and this beautiful state. I love you guys. God bless, go Pokes! And it will always suck to be a CSU Ram."
 
The type of hurt Allen was embracing after the Bills' loss was difficult for UW's 23 seniors to swallow after the Cowboys came a yard shy of a perfect ending and suffered a bitter 13-7 loss to Nevada.
 
Kaden Anderson and Evan Svoboda, the Pokes' starting quarterbacks in 2025 and 2024, respectfully, connected on a 7-yard touchdown for the lone offensive highlight.
 
"It truly is emotional," Svoboda said after playing his final home game wearing the brown and gold. "Probably after this interview, I will sit down by myself and probably cry a little bit, because that's just how much it means to me. A lot of emotions rushing through me. A little frustrated, not the way we wanted to go out, but at the end of the day, we just have to keep on pushing, keep your head up and just keep going."
 
The defense, a bright spot during a disappointing season, kept the team in the game but it wasn't enough as UW lost its third consecutive game since shutting out Colorado State 28-0 on Oct. 25.
 
"It's a tough way to end the game," linebacker Evan Eller said after making 10 tackles and watching helplessly as time ran out at the doorstep of the end zone. "It's emotional because these were the last few seconds on this field and that's how it ended. It's tough, for sure."
 
Allen returned to Buffalo on Saturday night to continue his quest to lead the Bills to the franchise's elusive first Super Bowl victory.
 
For this version of the Cowboys losing hurts right now. Allen told them what he misses most about his college days is hanging out with his boys and to not take these moments for granted.
 
This UW team gets one last long ride together when the season concludes at Hawaii next Saturday.
 
"Devastated is the word," running back Sam Scott said. "If you love the game of football like we do, then we'll be able to go down to Hawaii and play with heart. And that's the approach I have each and every day. I've got one game left, and I'm going to give it everything I have."
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.
 
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