Wyoming Faces UTEP in El Paso Saturday Night

Wyoming football travels to El Paso, Texas, for a Saturday night game against the UTEP Miners. The matchup is scheduled for 8 p.m. MST on November 14 at the Sun Bowl. The Cowboys currently hold a 5-3 overall record and a 4-1 mark in conference play. UTEP is 1-8 overall and 0-5 in its conference. The all-time series favors Wyoming, which leads 26-6-1.

The Sun Bowl, which has a capacity of 51,500, will host the contest. Local weather forecasts call for a high of 66 degrees and a low of 46 degrees with partly sunny skies. Winds are expected to reach 16 mph. Fans can watch the game on FS1 or listen via the Cowboy Sports Network. Ticket information is available through the UTEP Ticket Office.

Jay Sawvel heads the Wyoming staff for this outing. Scotty Walden serves as the head coach for the Miners. Betting lines list Wyoming as a 7.5-point favorite, with a total points over/under set at 40.5. The game marks another trip to the Lone Star State for the Cowboys, a region known for its barbecue and Whataburger menus.

This trip holds specific memories for many Wyoming alumni and fans due to the recent death of Dana Dimel. The Ohio native served as Wyoming head coach from 1997 to 1999. He later coached UTEP from 2018 until his death in December 2024 at age 62. During his six seasons in El Paso, Dimel won 20 games. He is remembered for his warm demeanor and his deep connection to the university.

Dimel previously coached at the University of Houston, where he won eight games over three seasons. He also held positions at Arizona and Kansas State. At Wyoming, he finished with a 22-13 record. His teams were known for competitive battles against major programs like Ohio State, Colorado, and Georgia. Dimel often spoke about the passion of Wyoming fans, noting that the football coach was often considered one of the three most important people in the state, alongside the governor and the basketball coach.

In a 2019 interview, Dimel reflected on leaving Laramie for Houston. He noted that Houston offered him a salary of $750,000 per year, compared to his $195,000 salary in Wyoming. He also mentioned staffing changes that contributed to the move. He expressed regret at how he handled his departure, stating that Wyoming gave him his first job and that he held unforgettable memories there. He emphasized his respect for the people who knew him, saying they recognized his character even if they were upset with his decision to leave.