Scouting Report: UNC’s Strengths, Weaknesses and Players to Watch
LARAMIE, Wyo. - The University of Northern Colorado will arrive at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday searching for its first victory of the season.
UNC's 0-2 record does not tell the full story of a team eager to play ball.
The Bears lost 30-29 to Weber State before falling 38-23 to South Dakota, but their offense has been extremely productive through the first two games. UNC is averaging 431 yards, 26 points, and nearly 37 minutes of possession per game.
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The Bears can sustain drives.
Northern Colorado has converted 17 of its 32 third-down opportunities, a 53.1-percent success rate. Their opponents have converted only 36.8 percent.
UNC has possessed the football for an average of 36 minutes and 54 seconds per game. While the Bears' opponents have held the ball for only 23:06.
Northern Colorado has run 151 offensive plays and produced 862 yards. While Its opponents have run just 113 plays for 762 yards.
The Bears stay on the field.
At the center of the offensive production is quarterback Kenny Lueth.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound fifth-year senior is a native of Rocklin, California. Lueth spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons at American River College, where he completed 260 of 447 passes for 3,530 yards and 41 touchdowns in 23 games.
He transferred to Northern Illinois for the 2024 season but did not appear in a game. Lueth then joined Northern Colorado and sat behind the Bears’ other quarterbacks in 2025 without seeing game action.
Lueth has quickly established himself as the engine of UNC’s offense. Through two starts, he has completed 39 of 62 passes for 427 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
He has been equally dangerous as a runner, gaining 122 yards and scoring two touchdowns. His 549 yards of total offense account for nearly 64 percent of everything the Bears have gained this season.
That averages out to 274.5 yards per game, and Lueth has accounted for four of Northern Colorado’s seven touchdowns.
Wyoming must respect his ability to extend plays. Lueth’s legs are a significant part of UNC’s offense and give the Bears another option on designed runs, zone-read plays and third downs.
Wyoming will need to maintain rush-lane discipline. Cowboys defenders will be looking for Lueth to escape through the middle of the defense when the pocket begins to collapse. His ability to turn a potential sack into a first down is one reason UNC has been so successful at keeping drives alive.
Lueth has also taken care of the football.
Northern Colorado has attempted 71 passes without throwing an interception and has not lost a fumble. Through two games, the Bears have committed zero offensive turnovers.
The Bears bring a balanced attack.
The bears are averaging 185 rushing yards and 246 passing yards per game. They have also recorded 25 first downs on the ground and 24 through the air.
Running back Mathias Price leads the backfield with 140 yards while averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Lueth has added 122 rushing yards, and running back Justin Guin has contributed 75.
UNC’s balance means Wyoming cannot load the box solely to contain the running backs. Lueth can hurt the Cowboys through the air, but playing too much coverage could create running lanes for the quarterback and the rest of the Bears’ backfield.
Despite all of that offensive production, Northern Colorado remains winless.
The reason lies on the other side of the ball.
Defending explosive plays are UNC’s weakness
UNC’s defense is allowing 381 yards per game, a respectable total on the surface. The more revealing statistic is that opponents are averaging 6.7 yards per play.
That is a full yard more than Northern Colorado’s offense averages on each snap.
Opponents are gaining 8.2 yards per passing attempt and 5.6 yards per rushing attempt.
That should be encouraging for a Wyoming offense searching for more big plays.
The Cowboys have an opportunity to create mismatches and attack a defense that has struggled to limit explosive gains. Saturday’s matchup could give Wyoming chances to push the ball downfield and generate chunk plays in the running game.
The battle at the line of scrimmage will also be important.
Northern Colorado has recorded only two sacks while surrendering six. Wyoming’s offensive line must take advantage by keeping its quarterback clean and allowing plays to develop. With several new faces on the offensive line, this will be a great opportunity to gain experience. Defensively, the Cowboys will pressure Lueth the entire game. With Wyoming’s strong defensive front, could they sack the QB four times on Saturday?
Northern Colorado’s record may say 0-2, but the Bears have demonstrated that they can control possession, convert third downs and move the football without turning it over.
Wyoming’s primary defensive challenge will be getting Lueth and the UNC offense off the field before the Bears can string together long drives. We expect that to happen, with Wyoming’s strong defense eager for redemption. Offensively, the Cowboys must capitalize on a defense surrendering 6.7 yards per snap.
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