Family Ties: Wyoming RB Sam Scott Set for Special Game Against Brother’s Alma Mater
- Jeff Bugher
- Sep 3
- 3 min read
When Wyoming takes the field against Northern Iowa this Saturday at War Memorial Stadium, the matchup will not be just another nonconference game for running back Sam Scott. It’ll be a family affair.
Scott’s older brother, Jayden, played tight end at UNI from 2018 to 2022. For the first time, Jayden will be in the stands to watch Sam play a college football game in person.
“I think I’ve always wanted my brother to come up and watch me play,” Sam said. “He’s always had a busy schedule…I’m excited to be able to go out there and wear my last name on my back, just go out there, perform, have fun, and celebrate with my family.”
For Jayden, the moment feels almost surreal. He’s never seen Sam take the field against a real opponent - just one spring game a few years ago.
“It feels a little bit like divine intervention,” Jayden said. “My first time watching him in an actual game has to be against my alma mater.”
Why couldn’t Jayden watch Sam play in person for Wyoming before? He was coaching high school football until this year, when he and his wife, Isabel, moved to Utah so she could complete her dental school residency. Jayden said he anticipates attending more than one Wyoming game this year.
Although UNI has a new head coach, Jayden knows the Panthers’ program well. He described UNI football as gritty, physical, and fueled by players with chips on their shoulders. “Every practice is a war at UNI,” he said. “They’re at their peak when they’re a defensive, dominant football team. Some of the players I played with are some of the best I’ve ever seen on a field.”
The brotherly rivalry hasn’t been filled with trash talk, but there is some playful pressure from the older sibling. “I told him you better have at least 100 yards or I’m gonna be disappointed in you,” Jayden joked. “If it was one of those days where UNI wins the game, but Sam has 200 yards rushing, I’d be a happy man.”
Sam laughs at that notion, but he admits there’s an extra layer of nostalgia when it comes to playing against the team his brother once wore purple for. “It’s going to be like the clash of brothers,” he said. “You know, it’s like our childhood story. We were competitive when we were young. He’s gonna have that nostalgia watching the team he once played for, and I get to play against his team. It’s going to be a fun, competitive kind of family rivalry.”
What colors will Jayden be wearing in Laramie? He’s trying to balance it. “My wife and I just ordered some Sam gear from his NIL store a week ago,” Jayden said. “So, I’ll probably wear the shirt that I got there and then put on a UNI hat or something. We’ll just go with that.”
Jayden’s career was cut short at UNI following several knee surgeries in 2020. But for now, there is the older brother who’s lived through the heartbreak of injuries, and the other still writing his last chapter in Laramie – and they get to share in a moment that football has made possible.
“I know as the older brother, it’s pretty normal for the younger brother to look up to you,” Jayden said. “But I have looked up to Sam so much. The thing that really makes him who he is, is his heart. Every run he runs with his heart on his sleeve; you can see that with how physical he plays. I just could not be prouder of him, and I’m excited to see what he does this year as his last hurrah.”
Kickoff between Wyoming and Northern Iowa is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday and will be broadcast on Altitude Network and will stream online on the Mountain West Network. Attending in-person? Do not forget to wear your gold for the “Gold Out."
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