Wyoming's 26-6-1 record against UTEP sets stage for Saturday's Sun Bowl clash

Wyoming holds a 26-6-1 all-time record against the University of Texas at El Paso, a statistical advantage that will be put to the test Saturday night in the Sun Bowl. The two teams, who have not played since 1995, renew a rivalry that dates back to 1962 when they competed in the Western Athletic Conference.

The Cowboys arrive in El Paso after defeating the UNLV Rebels 41-35 last week. That victory marked the fourth straight win for the team, a streak they have not achieved since the 2022 season. A win on Saturday would extend that run to five games, a milestone not reached since 2016. Wyoming is currently 6-3 overall and 5-1 in Mountain West Conference play.

Quarterback Tyler Hughes will sit out the game with a small fracture in his right forearm, the same arm used for throwing. Hughes suffered the injury near the sideline late in the second quarter of the UNLV game. Junior Landon Sims, who has started once in his career, will take the first snap at quarterback for the Pokes.

Sims has played in three games this season, completing two of six passes for 25 yards and a touchdown in the UNLV contest. He also rushed for two scores and 37 yards on seven carries. The Evergreen, Alabama native suffered a torn ACL at San Diego State last fall but has been a full participant since spring.

The matchup is scheduled for 8 p.m. Mountain Time on Saturday. The game will air on FS1 and the Fox One App, with Neil Sika and Anthony Herron Jr. providing commentary. It will also be broadcast on the 26 stations of The Cowboy Sports Network, featuring Keith Kelley, Kevin McKinney, and Cody Beers.

UTEP enters the contest with a 1-8 record and a 0-5 conference mark. The Miners have yet to win a Mountain West game this season. Their most recent loss was a 17-13 defeat to Hawai'i on Saturday at the Sun Bowl. Raymond Moore III will start at quarterback for UTEP, as EJ Colson remains dealing with an injury.