Wyoming quarterback Brett Smith returns to lead the Cowboys' offense. Credit: Otto Kitsinger III / Getty Images.
The Orlando Sentinel has ranked all 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country. We’ll take a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 120 to our projected No. 1 team. We will not be including the four teams the NCAA lists as still reclassifying to the Football Bowl Subdivision level.
Today at No. 63: Wyoming
Coach: Dave Christensen (18-20, entering fourth season)
2011 record: 8-5 (5-2 in Mountain West Conference, third place in MWC)
Look back: Dave Christensen won Mountain West Conference coach of the year honors for continuing his strong work at Wyoming, leading the Cowboys to their second bowl game in three years. Before Christensen took over the program, Wyoming had been to just one bowl game since 1990.
Wyoming opened the 2011 season with three wins, beating Weber State 35-32, Texas State 45-10 and Bowling Green on the road 28-27.
By the third game of the season, it was obvious freshman quarterback Brett Smith had a strong command of the offense and was capable of making the quick transition to the FBS level. He went on to earn Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year honor.
The Cowboys then suffered a 38-14 home loss against Nebraska and a 63-19 loss at Utah State before picking up two more wins — 41-14 against UNLV and 30-27 at San Diego State.
Wyoming won three of its final five games, dropping contests to strong TCU 31-20 and nationally ranked Boise State 36-14.
The Cowboys faced Temple in the New Mexico Bowl. The Owls highlighted some of Wyoming’s defensive problems, The Cowboys ranked No. 115 nationally out of 120 teams in rushing defense, allowing 232 yards per game, and No. 108 in tackles for a loss, earning 4.38 tackles for a loss per game. Temple sophomore quarterback Chris Coyer threw for 169 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 71 yards during the bowl game, helping the Owls roll to a 37-15 win over Wyoming.
Offensive starters lost/returning: 5/6
Defensive starters lost/returning: 4/7
Key losses: OL Clayton Kirven, DL Josh Biezuns, DL Gabe Knapton, LB Brian Hendricks, DB Tashaun Gipson
Top returnees: QB Brett Smith, DB Luke Ruff, OL Nick Carlson, WR Chris McNeill, DB Luke Ruff, CB Blair Burns, OL Tyler Strong.
Strengths: Smith returns to lead the Wyoming offense. He earned first team Freshman All-America honors from CollegeFootballNews.com. Smith set a new Mountain West Conference freshman record for total offense with 3,332 yards during the 2011 season. He threw for 2,622 yards, the third most by a freshman in the conference’s history.
He will have the opportunity to work with some talented athletes, including receiver Chris McNeill and offensive lineman Nick Carlson.
Wyoming returns seven defensive starters. While the defense struggled at times last season, the continuity and experience of working together could help the group improve.
Weaknesses: While Smith proved to be a talented athlete, Wyoming has to beware of a sophomore slump. Defenses will be better prepared for Smith and he will be expected to simply do more now that he has earned game-day experience. It is unclear how he will handle the tougher working conditions.
While the team’s pass defense was strong, Wyoming’s other defensive problems were relatively weak.
Outlook: Wyoming needs more help from its defense to move up in the Mountain West standings and earn a bowl victory.
2012 Schedule
Sept. 1 At Texas
Sept. 8 Toledo
Sept. 15 Cal Poly
Sept. 22 At Idaho
Oct. 6 At Nevada
Oct. 13 Air Force
Oct. 20 At Fresno State
Oct. 27 Boise State
Nov. 3 Colorado State
Nov. 10 At New Mexico
Nov. 17 At UNLV
Nov. 24 San Diego State
Rest of the countdown: