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Game Day Guide: Cowboys Take on Chippewas in First Meeting Since 2017
MOUNT PLEASANT, Michigan - Wyoming spent most of last Saturday searching for a spark.
When the Cowboys finally found one, it changed the game.
Wyoming erased a six-point fourth-quarter deficit by scoring 14 unanswered points to defeat Northern Colorado 21–13 in its home opener. Now the Cowboys will find out whether those final minutes were simply enough to survive one afternoon or the beginning of something they can carry forward.
Wyoming returns to the road Saturday for an 11 a.m. Mountain Time kickoff against Central Michigan at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with Doug Sherman handling play-by-play and Marcus Ray serving as analyst.
Both teams enter the matchup at 1–1.
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Wyoming opened the season with a 35–13 loss at Colorado State before bouncing back with its 21–13 win over Northern Colorado. Central Michigan suffered a 38–7 loss at New Mexico in its opener before returning home to edge Colgate 13–10.
The numbers suggest Saturday could become a physical, low-scoring game.
Wyoming enters averaging 17 points and 288.5 yards of offense per game. Central Michigan has averaged just 10 points and 212.5 yards. Defensively, the Chippewas are allowing 291.5 yards per game, while Wyoming is surrendering 370.5. Both teams have allowed an average of 24 points.
For the Cowboys, however, the most encouraging numbers may be the ones they produced during the closing minutes against Northern Colorado.
Can Wyoming pick up where it left off?
For nearly three quarters last Saturday, Wyoming struggled to generate much offensively.
Then everything changed.
The Cowboys produced 135 yards of offense over the final 12 minutes, almost perfectly balanced between 68 passing yards and 67 rushing yards. Quarterback Tyler Hughes completed 8 of 10 passes in the fourth quarter and threw two touchdowns while adding 26 rushing yards. Markell Holman rushed for another 37 yards in the period.
Charlie Coenen caught the go-ahead 15-yard touchdown pass, and tight end Kyle Frendt followed with an 18-yard touchdown reception that provided the final margin.
Coenen's touchdown was his second career scoring reception. He finished the game with career highs of three catches and 34 yards. Frendt's touchdown was the first of his Wyoming career, with his diving 18-yard catch also representing the longest reception of his young career.
That finish offered a glimpse of what Wyoming hoped its offense would become under first-year offensive coordinator Christian Taylor.
Taylor arrived in Laramie after working with the Buffalo Bills and brought 16 years of collegiate coaching experience along with two seasons in the NFL. His previous stops included William & Mary, where he coached Hughes before both eventually made their way to Wyoming.
The question Saturday is whether Wyoming can find that offensive rhythm earlier.
Through two games, the Cowboys average 149 rushing yards and 139.5 passing yards per contest. They have converted only 5 of 20 third-down opportunities, a 25-percent success rate. Wyoming is averaging 16.5 first downs and possessing the ball for 29:47 per game.
Hughes enters his third start as a Cowboy having completed 30 of 45 passes for 279 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
His ability as a runner has also been part of the offense.
Hughes rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown in his Wyoming debut at Colorado State. That followed a 2025 season at William & Mary in which he became the first quarterback in that program's history to pass for more than 2,000 yards and rush for more than 600 in the same season. Hughes finished that year with 2,330 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and only three interceptions while rushing for 670 yards and 11 scores.
A developing Wyoming backfield
Wyoming's running game gives Taylor several options.
Samuel "Tote" Harris remains the Cowboys' leading rusher with 111 yards on 27 attempts, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. He scored his first rushing touchdown of the season against Northern Colorado and the second of his Wyoming career.
But Holman provided Wyoming's biggest production from the position last week.
He rushed 11 times for 80 yards against UNC and caught a team-high five passes for another 27. His 107 yards from scrimmage came on only 16 touches. Through two games, Holman has 94 rushing yards on 12 carries, an average of 7.8 yards per attempt.
Wyoming's tight ends have also become an increasingly important part of the passing game.
Jake Wilson leads the Cowboys with 86 receiving yards on five catches, averaging 17.2 yards per reception. He followed a career-best 51 receiving yards at Colorado State with a career-high three receptions against Northern Colorado.
Coenen is tied with Wilson for the team lead with five receptions and has 46 yards and a touchdown.
Central Michigan wants to run
If there is little mystery surrounding Central Michigan's offensive identity, there is good reason.
The Chippewas have been dramatically more productive running the football than throwing it.
CMU averages 159.5 rushing yards per game but only 53 passing yards. Its offense has produced 212.5 yards per contest, 12.5 first downs per game and converted 8 of 27 third-down opportunities.
Central Michigan also averages just 27:36 in time of possession.
Quarterback Angel Flores is the player Wyoming's defense will have to locate on every snap.
Flores isn't merely CMU's quarterback. He's its leading rusher.
He has carried 32 times for 149 yards and a touchdown, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt. His season includes a 50-yard run.
Through the air, Flores has completed 10 of 19 attempts for 71 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Jadyn Glasser has completed 5 of 14 passes for 24 yards with an interception. Combined, CMU's quarterbacks have yet to throw a touchdown this season.
Running back Vaughn Blue is second on the team with 52 yards on nine carries, an average of 5.8 yards per attempt, and has scored one touchdown. Blue also leads the Chippewas with four receptions for 28 yards.
Justin Ruffin Jr. has four catches for 27 yards.
The statistical disparity between CMU's rushing and passing production could put considerable responsibility on Wyoming's defensive front and linebackers.
Wyoming defense coming off dominant finish
Wyoming's defense had its own fourth-quarter transformation against Northern Colorado.
The Cowboys allowed only three total yards in the fourth quarter. UNC finished the period with four passing yards and minus-1 rushing yard.
Over the final 12:30, Wyoming didn't allow a point, forced two punts and came away with an interception.
Jones Thomas was at the center of the defensive effort.
The Wyoming safety intercepted two passes, setting a career high. He became the first Cowboy with two interceptions in a game since Andrew Wingard did it against New Mexico on Oct. 28, 2017.
Thomas also entered this week leading the Mountain West in interceptions per game and ranking fifth nationally.
Ethan Stuhlsatz has provided production at linebacker through both games.
Stuhlsatz recorded 15 tackles in the opener at Colorado State, the most by a Wyoming player since Chad Muma had 17 against Utah State in 2021. He followed that with 11 tackles against Northern Colorado.
His 26 tackles through two games give him an average of 13 per contest, which entered the week leading the Mountain West and ranking second nationally.
The defensive front has also begun making plays behind the line.
Jack Dunkley recorded a sack against Northern Colorado, increasing his collegiate career totals to 15.5 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss. He and Esaia Bogar are tied for the Wyoming lead with 2.5 tackles for loss this season.
Bogar also recorded a sack against UNC after opening the season with a career-high 11 tackles at Colorado State. His 11 tackles against the Rams were the most by a Wyoming defensive end since Tyce Westland recorded 14 against Air Force last season.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Steven Perez added a career-high six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and his first half-sack against Northern Colorado.
Central Michigan's defense presents another challenge
The Chippewas' 1–1 record doesn't tell the entire story of their defense.
CMU is allowing 291.5 total yards per game, including 150 rushing and 141.5 passing.
Opponents have converted 12 of 27 third downs, or 44 percent. Central Michigan has three sacks and two interceptions through its first two games.
Linebacker Xavier White leads CMU with 17 tackles.
Mayson Hitchens is next with 15 tackles and an interception, while Darrell Bryant Jr. has 13 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.
Central Michigan is in its second season under head coach Matt Drinkall.
Drinkall led the Chippewas to a 7–6 record and their first bowl appearance in four years during his debut season in 2025. CMU went 5–3 in MAC play.
His first Central Michigan team built its success around a physical, ball-control offense and a defense that forced turnovers. The Chippewas forced at least one turnover in all 13 games last season and finished the regular season with a plus-eight turnover margin.
Drinkall previously spent six seasons at Army from 2019–24, working as an assistant, offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator.
Turnovers could loom large
Neither offense has been particularly secure with the football through two games.
Wyoming has fumbled four times and lost three. Hughes has also thrown three interceptions.
That gives the Cowboys six turnovers through their first two games.
Central Michigan has thrown three interceptions and lost two fumbles, giving the Chippewas five turnovers.
Defensively, Wyoming has two interceptions but has yet to recover an opponent's fumble. Central Michigan has two interceptions and has recovered two opponent fumbles.
For two offenses that have combined to average only 27 points per game, possessions could carry even greater value Saturday.
Field position could matter
Wyoming may have an advantage when the game turns into a field-position battle.
Punter Bart Edmiston entered the week averaging 49.4 yards per punt, leading the Mountain West and ranking second nationally.
Wyoming has a net punting average of 43.9 yards through two games compared with Central Michigan's 34.9.
The Cowboys are also 2-for-2 on field goals, while CMU is 0-for-1. Wyoming opponents have averaged only 33.3 net yards punting, while Central Michigan's opponents have averaged 33.1.
Kicker Erik Sandvik made both of his attempts in the opener against Colorado State, connecting from 37 yards before hitting a career-long 48-yarder late in the second quarter.
Cowboys have history with the Chippewas
Saturday will be only the fourth meeting between Wyoming and Central Michigan.
Wyoming leads the series 2–1.
The Cowboys won the first meeting 31–10 in Laramie on Sept. 16, 2000. Central Michigan responded with a 32–20 victory in Mount Pleasant on Sept. 7, 2002.
The programs didn't meet again for more than 15 years.
Their reunion became one of the more memorable games of the Josh Allen era.
Wyoming defeated Central Michigan 37–14 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 22, 2017.
It was Allen's final game in a Wyoming uniform.
Allen threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter and was named the game's MVP. Wyoming's defense forced a school-record eight turnovers and recorded a season-high five sacks.
The Cowboys entered that bowl game behind Central Michigan nationally in turnovers gained. After forcing eight against the Chippewas, Wyoming finished the season as the national leader with 38.
Saturday will be Wyoming's first trip to Mount Pleasant since that 2002 loss.
Wyoming has fared well against the MAC
The Cowboys enter Saturday with a 13–6 all-time record against current Mid-American Conference opponents.
Wyoming is 5–3 against MAC teams in Laramie, 5–2 on the road and 3–1 at neutral sites.
Recent postseason meetings have included a 30–27 overtime loss to Ohio in the 2022 Arizona Bowl and a 15–14 victory over Toledo in the same bowl the following season. Wyoming also defeated Akron 10–0 in last season's opener.
Different paths to 1–1
The records are identical. How Wyoming and Central Michigan arrived at them is not.
Wyoming has scored 34 points and allowed 48. Central Michigan has scored 20 and surrendered 48.
The Cowboys are averaging 76 more yards of offense per game than CMU, but Wyoming has also allowed 79 more yards per contest defensively.
Wyoming has been considerably more productive through the air, averaging 139.5 passing yards compared with Central Michigan's 53.
CMU has the slight edge rushing, 159.5 yards per game to Wyoming's 149.
Both teams have struggled on third down.
Wyoming has converted 25 percent of its opportunities, while Central Michigan is at 30 percent. Defensively, Wyoming opponents have converted 41 percent of their third downs, compared with 44 percent against CMU.
There is also a sizable difference in penalties.
Central Michigan has averaged 7.5 penalties and 73 penalty yards per game. Wyoming is averaging 6.5 penalties for 53.5 yards.
A chance to establish momentum
Saturday comes at an important point on Wyoming's schedule.
After opening with consecutive rivalry and home-opener games, the Cowboys are back on the road before beginning Mountain West play.
Wyoming returns to War Memorial Stadium next Saturday to face Hawai'i at 1 p.m. The Cowboys then travel to North Dakota State and San José State before returning home against Northern Illinois and Air Force.
But first comes Central Michigan.
The Cowboys showed during the final quarter against Northern Colorado that they could run and throw the football effectively when they needed it most. Their defense responded by shutting down UNC when the margin for error disappeared.
Central Michigan presents a different problem — a physical opponent built around its running game and a quarterback who is currently more dangerous with his legs than his arm.
Wyoming's task is to turn 12 productive minutes against Northern Colorado into something much larger.
For the Cowboys, Saturday is an opportunity to leave Michigan with a winning record, some road confidence and momentum heading into conference play.
Kickoff: 11 a.m. MT
Location: Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Surface: FieldTurf
Capacity: 30,255
TV/Stream: ESPN+
ESPN+ announcers: Doug Sherman and Marcus Ray
Wyoming radio: Cowboy Sports Network; Keith Kelley, Kevin McKinney and Erick Pauley
Records: Wyoming 1–1; Central Michigan 1–1
Series: Wyoming leads 2–1
Last meeting: Wyoming 37, Central Michigan 14 — 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
All information is from a UW media release.
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