Editor's note: This is the 20th in a series previewing each opponent BYU, Utah and Utah State will face this season.
The matchup
Wyoming at Utah State, Oct. 30
8:15 p.m. MDT, TV: ESPN2
Maverik Stadium, Logan
It's a transitionary time for Wyoming football, as Craig Bohl heads into his second season as head coach.
The Cowboys will be breaking in a new quarterback and the team returns just 10 starters, including four on the defensive side of the ball.
The 2015 schedule, while providing opportunities for some victories early in the season, will be a challenge late in the year. From late October to mid-November, the Cowboys play at Boise State, Utah State and San Diego State, as well as at home against Colorado State, in a four-game stretch. All four of those opponents made a bowl appearance in 2014.
The Deseret News caught up with Robert Gagliardi, who covers Wyoming football for the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, to discuss the Cowboys' expectations for this season.
DN: Who are the players to watch on offense?
RG: Senior running back Shaun Wick and sophomore running back Brian Hill. Both combined for 1,549 yards and 13 touchdowns last season and should be one of the better 1-2 duos in the Mountain West this season. Redshirt senior Cameron Coffman takes over at quarterback. Coffman transferred from Indiana and sat out last season. As a sophomore at Indiana in 2012 Coffman was one of the better passers in the Big Ten, and he should be an upgrade at quarterback this season. Junior wide receiver Tanner Gentry has caught 71 passes for 811 yards in his first two seasons at Wyoming, and junior tight end Jacob Hollister is one of the more improved players from spring drills. Along the offensive line, junior guard Chase Roullier was an Honorable Mention All-MW pick last season.
DN: Who are the players to watch on defense?
RG: Senior defensive end Eddie Yarbrough has been a First Team All-MW pick each of the last two seasons and was a preseason all-conference selection in 2015. He may be used at different spots on the field this season, which should help the Cowboys put more pressure on the passer. Junior defensive tackle Uso Olive is a beast at 6-foot-1, 305 pounds and could have a big year. Junior linebacker Lucas Wacha is undersized at 6-1, 214, but has 140 tackles in two seasons at Wyoming and is its most experienced linebacker.
DN: Craig Bohl is in his second season as head coach for the Cowboys after years of success at North Dakota State. Where do you see this program going under Bohl in year two?
RG: I see it heading in a positive direction and where Bohl and his staff wants it to go, but the process is a slow one. Wyoming ran a spread offense and just about every defensive scheme you could think of prior to Bohl's arrival. Now it wants to be a run-first, physical offense with a West Coast scheme, and a 4-3, Tampa 2 defense. Those are some pretty drastic changes, and Bohl doesn't want any quick fixes with a lot of junior-college or other transfers, so the development and depth will take some time.
DN: What question marks need to be answered for Wyoming in fall camp?
RG: The biggest questions are on defense where experience at linebacker and in the secondary is thin. Wyoming came out of spring ball with redshirt freshmen walk-ons as starters at one cornerback spot and at free safety. Newcomers in the secondary will be pressed into duty early. Wyoming also needs some true freshmen to step in and contribute at receiver, as only two guys return who caught passes last season.
DN: What is your overall outlook on Wyoming this season?
RG: I think there will be improvement, but that might not reflect in the win-loss column. The non-conference schedule is more manageable. Instead of road games at top 10 teams like Oregon and Michigan State last year, there are games at Washington State and Appalachian State. Not easy games, by any means, but better suited for this squad. The Cowboys need to get off to a good start as they play six straight conference games from mid-October to mid-November against teams that went to bowl games, including road games at Boise State, Utah State and San Diego State. A 6-6 record would be a huge step for the program this season.