Here’s everything you need to know about today’s game vs. Boise State
LARAMIE -- Could this be the last meeting between Wyoming and Boise State?
If Bryan Harsin has it his way, probably so.
The Broncos' head coach expressed his desire to leave the Mountain West in a series of emails sent to university leadership back in August when the league decided it wasn't going to play a season because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"That leads into the conference conversation that we need to address again and for as long as it takes to put a plan together to move," Harsin wrote. "NOW is the time! The longer it takes the longer we stay in the MW. I am 1000% convinced we need to make this move for football and if that means other sports too in the long run it will be what’s best for this University.
"I understand there are risks and budgets and travel costs that’s all real to me. I also know that’s exactly why Boise State is the program it is today because we took risks necessary to grow our program."
The best Wyoming can do is deliver a loss as a potential parting gift. The Broncos, by way of San Jose State's 30-20 come-from-behind win over Nevada Friday night in Las Vegas, have already clinched a berth in next week's Mountain West title game.
The Spartans and Broncos will play somewhere, sometime. That decision will be made Sunday.
What we know
Levi Williams was injured late in last Saturday's 17-16 loss to New Mexico. Craig Bohl said his redshirt freshman quarterback had a sore throwing shoulder but would practice last Monday.
Whether he starts -- or even plays -- Saturday, won't be known until game time. If not, the Cowboys will turn to true freshman Gavin Beerup. He played late last week in Las Vegas but has never started at the collegiate level.
Bohl does expect to have junior running back Xazavian Valladay back in the lineup. How much he will play? That's wait-and-see, according to the head coach. Valladay leads the league, averaging 123 yards per game on the ground.
Keyon Blankenbaker is another question mark for the Pokes. The nickel back didn't play against the Lobos. He has been dealing with a hamstring injury. If he can go Saturday, he will play, per Bohl.
Outside linebacker Charles Hicks is out for this one. He suffered a leg injury against the Lobos. Redshirt freshman Easton Gibbs will slide into that spot.
Chad Muma, one of the Cowboys' team captains and starting middle linebacker, will play against the Broncos. He was ejected from the last game for targeting late in the second quarter.
One person we know who won't be in the lineup against Boise State is true freshman defensive end Cameron Smith.
Smith was suspended indefinitely earlier in the week. Michael Katz of WyoSports reported that Smith was cited for assault.
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Here is all you need to know about today's finale in Laramie:
WHO: Boise State (4-1, 4-0) at Wyoming (2-3)
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. MST
WEATHER: High of 23, low 2 degrees, Possible p.m. snow showers, winds at 10 mph
WHERE: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo.
TRAVEL: Wyoroads
TV: CBS Sports Network (Channel 158 on Dish Network; 221 on DirecTV; 94 on Verizon Fios; 734 Xfinity)
RADIO: Wyoming affiliates
STREAMING: CBS Sports Network
TICKETS: Not available to the public
BOX SCORE: ESPN
ROSTERS: Wyoming / Boise State
VEGAS ODDS: Boise State -10, O/U 47
HISTORY: Boise State is 13-1 in the all-time series (Last meeting: 20-17 OT Broncos win in 2019)
HEAD COACHES: Craig Bohl / Bryan Harsin