Choosing a game to write about in this edition of the Cowboys Classics series was particularly easy—that's because Wyoming and NDSU have only met once on the gridiron.
Still, these two schools are not without quite a few connections to one another. Former UW head coach Craig Bohl began his head coaching career with NDSU, leading the Bison to three consecutive FCS national championship wins from 2011 to 2013 before taking over the Cowboy program in 2014.
The current head coach of NDSU, Tim Polasek, was an offensive coordinator for UW under Bohl from 2021-23 before leaving for Fargo.
The addition of the Battle of the Basins Trophy, announced Monday, adds another layer of tension to a matchup that already carries significant conference implications, with both teams looking to stay perfect in league play, both entering the contest 1-0 in the Mountain West.
The only meeting prior to these two becoming conference rivals came six years into Bohl's tenure with the Bison, and it was a close affair inside War Memorial Stadium.
Sept. 13, 2008
UW welcomed the top-ranked FCS team in the nation to Laramie for the first meeting between the schools. The Cowboys struggled against Air Force at home the week prior, losing 23-3 to the Falcons. UW was held scoreless in the second half of that one after mustering just a single field goal in the first half.
With the offense's struggles to find the scoreboard in a disappointing loss to Air Force, a win did not at all seem guaranteed for the Cowboys, despite playing an FCS school on their home field.
Unfortunately for UW, the troubled offense was held off the scoreboard in the opening half of play against the Bison.
"We were getting beat up in the first half and there wasn't much said at halftime. They really had our passing game shut down," UW head coach Joe Glenn said.
NDSU was able to seize a 13-0 lead after scoring a field goal on its first drive of the second half, as all signs were beginning to point towards a second straight home loss for the Cowboys.
Running back Devin Moore finally breathed life into the UW offense midway through the third quarter, though, as his two-yard touchdown scamper got the Cowboys on the board. Kicker Jake Scott would add two 28-yard field goals to draw the Cowboys even by the fourth quarter.
It was from Scott's leg that the Cowboys would eventually snatch a 16-13 victory with his 29-yard field goal with just four seconds remaining in the contest.
"It is extremely exciting to make the game-winning field goal," Scott said after the win. "I was really nervous, but I've dreamt of making that kick. With every kick in practices and scrimmages, I hope for a game winning kick. That's what I hope for."
Turnover margin turned out to be a major difference maker, as the Cowboys forced four turnovers while only committing a single turnover in the contest, compared to five committed in their previous home loss to Air Force.
No turnover for the Cowboys was bigger than Derrick McMahen's pick, as the senior defensive back intercepted a pass by NDSU quarterback Nick Mertens at the Bison's own 43-yard line, returning it to the 28-yard line before finally being brought down. With 1:28 left in the game, that interception perfectly set up the Cowboys' game-winning field goal attempt.
"That interception was big and really set things up for me," Scott said.
A forced fumble and recovery on the subsequent kickoff sealed the deal for the Pokes to escape with a win, their first and only over the Bison in the school's history. If the brief history between these two schools is any indication, then Saturday's contest should be a close one.
