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The BYU defense surrounds a Wyoming ball carries during a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Sept. 24, 2022.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) makes a run as he holds off Wyoming Cowboys cornerback Antonio Hull (21) during the matchup between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Wyoming Cowboys in the Poinsettia Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Wyoming Cowboys wide receiver Tanner Gentry (4) is downed by BYU defenders during the matchup between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Wyoming Cowboys in the Poinsettia Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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BYU wide receiver Bryce Mahuika, left, pushes off Wyoming wide receiver Hoost Marsh during a kick return during a football game in Laramie, Wyo., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007. BYU won 35-10. (AP Photo/Laramie Boomerang, Ben Woloszyn)

Ben Woloszyn

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Wyoming free safety Chris Proinski (24) runs after BYU running back Harvey Unga during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyo. BYU shut out Wyoming 52-0. (AP Photo/Laramie Boomerang, Andy Carpenean)

Andy Carpenean

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Whether Saturday’s BYU-Wyoming football game is a rivalry or not might depend on who you ask.

Since the two teams have only played twice since 2010 and the Cougars have won nine straight (and 18 of the last 20 meetings), it may not have the luster of some other rivalries despite the fact that the two teams have met 79 times since 1922.

But for those who have been there and seen the passion of Cowboy fans in Laramie, it’s more than just another game on the schedule.

“We are looking forward to this matchup with Wyoming on the road this week,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said earlier in the week. “Knowing the history of this rivalry, I know they have a passionate fanbase that loves the team, and I know they’re looking forward to this game, too. They are a really well coached team with tough kids and a great culture.”

Cougar offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick knows what it is like to play at War Memorial Stadium, having been there as a player and a coach.

“I’ve been trying to impress upon our guys that we are going to get their very, very best,” Roderick said. “They will play their best and their fans will be into it. This will be a hostile environment. They beat Texas Tech at home last year. I’ve been up there a number of times and been in some really tough, dogfight games. I’ve lost a couple of times there. I’m trying to make sure our players understand what they are up against.”

Although many of the BYU players are too young to remember those days themselves, those who grew up in households of Cougar fans have heard the stories about what the games were like.

“Growing up a huge BYU fan and having my dad talk about the history between us and Wyoming, I know how important this game is for both programs,” BYU safety Tanner Wall said. “I do understand that going up there, it will be a hostile environment and it’s a huge game for both of us, so we are excited to be up there in that atmosphere and put our product on the field.”

Cougar junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff said doesn’t know “enough” about the rivalry history but has been given some good advice.

“I do know to not leave the locker room without a helmet on,” Retzlaff said. “But I’m excited to go up there. Those are really fun games. In those games, you get extra energy, extra juice. You have them in every game but these rivalry games somehow have more. It’s definitely fun.”

Another element that can play a factor at times is the fact that — on the surface, at least — the two teams appear headed in opposite directions.

BYU just went on the road and knocked off SMU to move to 2-0, while Wyoming struggled in a loss to FCS-foe Idaho to drop to 0-2.

But the Cougars have had plenty of evidence across the country that thinking a game will be easy is a big step toward being upset. At least in public, BYU players and coaches are emphasizing that can’t happen.

“We try to do things the right way and always respect our opponent,” Sitake said. “Every week is a different week. You never know what’s going to happen, but that’s the game of football. This is an old-time rival of ours, so I know there are a lot of fans wanting to see Wyoming come out on top, so we will go out there and look to perform better than we have been. We still haven’t played our best football yet, and I don’t think our identity has shown up in all three phases, so this is a good week for it to show up.”

Retzlaff and Roderick said this Wyoming defense is the real deal and can create a lot of problems.

“It’s Wyoming,” Retzlaff said. “They are always going to be a physical group. They are always going to play tough and give BYU their best. We are ready for them to come out physical and we are going to try to be more physical than they are.”

On the other side of the ball, Cougar defensive coordinator Jay Hill said that while the Cowboy offense has had a tough time, he thinks it can be very effective as well.

“I like Wyoming,” Hill said. “They’re tough guys up front. They have not been necessarily rolling, putting up big numbers yet, but I’ve kind of said it’s almost like they’re a wounded dog right now. We better be ready to go, because they’ve got great coaches, they’ve got good players, and they’ve got good schemes. We have got to be ready for their best shot.”

BYU at Wyoming

TIME:7 p.m. MT

TV:CBSSN

WHERE:War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyoming

THE WORD: This will be the 80th meeting between BYU and Wyoming, a series that started in BYU’s first season in 1922. The Cougars have a 46-30-3 against the Cowboys, going 17-17-2 in Laramie … The Cougars won 52-0 in their last trip to War Memorial Stadium in 2009 and defeated Wyoming, 38-24, in Provo in 2022 … The two schools were in the same conferences for many years, including being members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Mountain States, Western Athletic and then the Mountain West … BYU is 14-9 vs. teams from the Mountain West under Kalani Sitake. The Cougars are 88-40 overall against the league, including their 12 seasons as members of the league.