Last fall, ESPN ranked Wyoming as the worst college football team in the country; 128th out of 128.

What a difference one year can make.

Following Saturday's upset against Boise State, the Pokes are ranked just outside of the Top 25 in the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll.

The Cowboys' last winning season was 2011, when then coach Dave Christensen led the Pokes to a 8-5 record. Currently 6-2, this year's team is guaranteed to finish at least .500.

2011 also marked Wyoming's last bowl game; a 35-17 loss to Temple in the New Mexico Bowl.

Wyoming's last bowl victory came at the 2009 New Mexico Bowl versus Fresno State.

During their 105 year history, the program has appeared in 13 bowls, with an all-time record of 6-7. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise or the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego could be likely destinations this year

The Pokes haven't been nationally ranked since 1998, when coach Dana Dimel's squad reached #25 on their way to an 8-3 season record.

You'll have to go back another decade for Wyoming's last outright conference championship.

In 1988, coach Paul Roach's Cowboys went 8-0 in conference play and won their second consecutive WAC title. The Pokes peaked at #10 in the rankings before losing to Barry Sanders and Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl.

Wyoming won the WAC Pacific Division in 1996 and was ranked #16 when they met Brigham Young in the Inaugural WAC Championship Game. BYU outlasted the Cowboys 28-25 in overtime and finished the season ranked 5th.

The Pokes also won a share of the WAC title in 1993, when they finished in a three-way tie with BYU and Fresno State.

Time will tell just how far this year's team will go. One thing's for sure, it's been a long time since Wyoming has been this good.

 

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