By Luke Fletcher ｜ Ft Collins, Colorado

The Wyoming Cowboys (1–1) travel to face the Central Michigan Chippewas (1–1) on Saturday, September 19, at 1:00 p.m. ET at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The game will stream on ESPN+.

Both teams head into Week 3 with a lot in common. After bouncing back from a tough loss on the road in their season opener, they both secured home wins last weekend. However, neither offense has really hit its stride yet. This sets the stage for a classic, hard-hitting matchup where field position, turnovers, and the running game will likely play a crucial role in deciding who comes out on top and improves to 2–1.

Wyoming needs to build on its fourth quarter

Wyoming’s 21–13 win over Northern Colorado may not have been the most glamorous, but the fourth quarter showcased a potential game plan for the Cowboys moving forward. They dominated that final stretch, outgaining Northern Colorado 135–3 and scoring 14 points without reply in the last 12 minutes. Head coach Jay Sawvel emphasized the need for his team to bring that same “force and intent” right from the start against Central Michigan. This is crucial, especially after their disappointing 35–13 loss to Colorado State in their season opener. So far, the Cowboys have averaged around 289 total yards and 17 points per game, with a solid 149 rushing yards per outing. The bright side is their depth in the running game, featuring Samuel Harris with 111 rushing yards and a touchdown, Markell Holman with 94 yards, and quarterback Tyler Hughes contributing 78 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Hughes is a pivotal player, having completed 30 of 45 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns, though he has also thrown three interceptions. For Wyoming, the strategy is straightforward: focus on the run game, keep Hughes in favorable situations, and avoid giving Central Michigan easy scoring opportunities.

Central Michigan wants to make this ugly

Central Michigan’s first two games have followed a similar pattern. They kicked off the season with a tough 38–7 defeat against New Mexico, but bounced back at home with a narrow 13–10 win over Colgate. The Chippewas have struggled offensively, averaging just around 213 yards and 10 points per game, although their rushing game has been decent, racking up about 160 yards per game, which is much better than their passing. This upcoming matchup seems less about high scores and more about patience; Central Michigan could really benefit from controlling the clock, focusing on their run game, and making Wyoming work for every yard while waiting for an opportunity to capitalize on any mistakes. Wyoming is likely to have a similar game plan in mind.

Three keys for Wyoming

Win first down. Wyoming can’t repeatedly put Hughes in third-and-long situations. Establishing Harris and Holman would open up play-action and allow Hughes’ mobility to become a bigger factor.

Protect the football. Hughes’ three interceptions through two games are the statistic Wyoming most needs to clean up. In what projects as a lower-scoring game, one turnover could effectively represent an entire possession’s worth of separation.

Start with fourth-quarter intensity. Wyoming can’t wait until the final 12 minutes this week. The Cowboys showed against Northern Colorado what their defense and running game can look like when they play aggressively. Coach Sawvel now needs that version for four quarters.

An interesting bit of history

This will be the fourth time Wyoming and Central Michigan face off against each other. Wyoming currently holds a 2–1 advantage in their series, but Central Michigan snagged the win in their only previous game in Mount Pleasant back in 2002, finishing 32–20. The last encounter took place during the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, where Wyoming triumphed with a score of 37–14, marking Josh Allen’s last game in college.

These teams are pretty evenly matched at the moment. Central Michigan benefits from playing at home and has a solid running game that could keep things tight, but Wyoming seems to have a bit more offensive firepower.

The key player could be QB Hughes. If he can take care of the ball, his ability to pass efficiently and move around will give Wyoming an edge that Central Michigan has had trouble countering in their first two games. Expect a tough matchup where the Cowboys rely on their running backs, Hughes makes some important plays on the run, and Wyoming’s defense eventually puts Central Michigan in predictable passing scenarios.

Final Score Predication: Wyoming 20, Central Michigan 16. Go Pokes!