Air Force Falcons at Wyoming Cowboys

Two proud option-and-defense programs stumbled through 2025 for very different reasons, and this Mountain West clash in Laramie is a real litmus test for which one actually turns the corner first.

Bush’s Picks

AFWYO

AFWYO

OverUnder

Best BetAir Force

Air Force's dual-threat quarterback Liam Szarka gives this offense a proven ceiling that Wyoming's retooled attack hasn't shown yet. The Falcons' defensive rebuild is the real risk, but if that front holds up even a little, Air Force's ground game and time-of-possession edge should be enough to win outright. Wyoming is still an unproven mix of new transfers this deep into the year.

Air Force

• +Szarka's dual-threat ability when healthy
• +top-3 nationally in rushing last year
• +Fletcher anchors a proven linebacker corps
• −entire starting defensive front must be replaced
• −coming off a 4-8, second straight losing year
• −Szarka missed time with a wrist injury

Wyoming

• +20 transfers added to retool the roster
• +defense has been the steadier unit under Sawvel
• +28 returning lettermen provide some continuity
• −7-17 under Sawvel over the last two seasons
• −brand-new offensive pieces still need time to gel
• −no proven quarterback answer yet established

This is a rivalry that goes back to 1957, and Air Force still holds the overall edge at 31-28-3. But recent history hasn't been kind to either side — Air Force stumbled to a 4-8 finish in 2025, its second straight losing season, while Wyoming has been stuck at 7-17 over Jay Sawvel's first two years in Laramie. Neither program is used to being this far under .500, which is exactly why a random October date in a rebuilt Mountain West carries more weight than it looks like on paper.

Air Force's whole outlook hinges on quarterback Liam Szarka, who flashed real dual-threat upside before a wrist injury cut his 2025 season short. When healthy, he led the conference in rushing touchdowns and was one of the most explosive runners in the option attack. Troy Calhoun's offense was already top-3 nationally in rushing and elite in yards per completion last year — the issue was everything else, especially a defensive front that has to be almost entirely rebuilt this fall. Linebacker Blake Fletcher, an All-Mountain West performer, is the one proven piece holding that side together.

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AF Air Force

WYO Wyoming

Wyoming's path back looks different. Sawvel brought in 20 transfers this offseason, split fairly evenly on both sides of the ball, to overhaul a roster that's been stuck spinning its wheels. A defense that's been the more reliable unit under Sawvel gets a fresh cast around it, and the hope in Laramie is that better offensive talent finally stops wasting a defense that can hold its own. It's a lot of new pieces to gel by late October, and that uncertainty is the whole story of this Wyoming season.

Air Force Falcons

(0)

Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report

Wyoming Cowboys

(0)

Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report

Air Force Falcons

Oct 17?vs UNLV—

Oct 10?@ Northern Illinois—

Oct 3?vs Navy—

Sep 25?@ Nevada—

Sep 12?vs North Dakota State—

Sep 5?vs Duquesne—

Wyoming Cowboys

Oct 17?vs Northern Illinois—

Oct 9?@ San José State—

Oct 3?@ North Dakota State—

Sep 26?vs Hawai'i—

Sep 19?@ Central Michigan—

Sep 12?vs Northern Colorado—

Sep 5?@ Colorado State—

Both teams enter this one still trying to prove last year was the outlier and not the new normal. Air Force has the higher ceiling if the offense stays healthy and the new-look defensive front doesn't get gashed. Wyoming has more moving parts and more to prove, with a roster that looks nothing like the one that finished 2025. Whichever team looks more like itself by this point in the schedule should have the edge on a Friday night in Laramie.