What Is 1960 Wyoming Cowboys football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1960 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming during the 1960 NCAA University Division season, finishing with a 6–4 record under head coach Bob Devaney and winning the Skyline Conference title before its dissolution.

Key Facts

The 1960 Wyoming Cowboys finished the season with a 6–4 overall record.
Head coach Bob Devaney led the team to a Skyline Conference championship in its final year.
The team played its home games at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming.
They defeated Texas Tech 15–14 in the 1960 Sun Bowl, marking their first bowl victory.
The 1960 season was the last for the Skyline Conference before it disbanded.

Overview

The 1960 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming in the NCAA University Division football season, marking a pivotal year in the program’s history. Competing in the final season of the Skyline Conference, the Cowboys achieved a 6–4 overall record and claimed the conference title under head coach Bob Devaney.

Notably, the team secured its first-ever bowl victory by defeating Texas Tech 15–14 in the 1960 Sun Bowl, played on January 1, 1961, in El Paso, Texas. This season also marked the end of an era, as the Skyline Conference disbanded after the 1960 season, prompting Wyoming’s eventual move to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 1962.

Record: The team finished the season with a 6–4 overall record, including a perfect 5–0 mark in Skyline Conference play, clinching the title outright.
Head Coach:Bob Devaney, in his fourth and final season at Wyoming, compiled a 20–14 record before leaving to coach at Nebraska, where he later won multiple national championships.
Home Stadium: The Cowboys played their home games at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, which opened in 1950 and seated approximately 30,000 fans.
Sun Bowl Victory: Wyoming defeated Texas Tech 15–14 in the 1960 Sun Bowl, marking the program’s first bowl win and finishing the season on a high note.
Conference Transition: The 1960 season was the last for the Skyline Conference, which dissolved after 16 years, leading Wyoming to join the WAC in 1962.

Season Highlights and Key Games

The 1960 season featured several memorable performances, including a dramatic bowl victory and an undefeated conference run. The team demonstrated resilience, overcoming a challenging non-conference schedule to peak at the right time.

Season Opener: Wyoming opened with a 13–7 win over Utah State, setting the tone for a disciplined and defense-oriented approach.
Key Win: A 21–13 victory over New Mexico in October solidified their dominance in the Skyline Conference standings.
Close Loss: The Cowboys suffered a narrow 14–13 defeat to Colorado State, one of only two conference games they played outside the Skyline schedule.
Final Regular Game: They defeated Utah 14–0 in Salt Lake City, completing an undefeated conference season and securing the title.
Sun Bowl: In the postseason, Wyoming trailed 14–6 in the fourth quarter before scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion to win 15–14.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1960 season compares to other notable years in Wyoming football history:

Season	Record	Conference	Bowl Result	Head Coach
1960	6–4	Skyline	W 15–14 vs. Texas Tech (Sun Bowl)	Bob Devaney
1967	7–3	WAC	No bowl	Phil Dickens
1987	9–4	WAC	W 35–34 vs. Fresno State (Holiday Bowl)	Dave Christensen
1996	8–4	WAC	W 21–6 vs. Texas Tech (Holiday Bowl)	Joe Tiller
2004	8–4	WAC	L 38–14 vs. UCLA (Las Vegas Bowl)	Chris Tormey

The 1960 season stands out for being the program’s first bowl victory and the final Skyline Conference championship. While later teams posted better records, the 1960 Cowboys laid the foundation for future success, especially under Devaney’s leadership. The transition to the WAC in 1962 marked a new chapter, but the 1960 team remains a landmark in Wyoming football history.

Why It Matters

The 1960 Wyoming Cowboys season holds lasting significance for the university and college football history in the Mountain West. It represented both a culmination and a turning point, bridging eras of conference realignment and program development.

Historic First: The Sun Bowl win was the first bowl victory in school history, boosting the program’s national profile.
Coach Legacy: Bob Devaney’s success at Wyoming launched a legendary career, including multiple national titles at Nebraska.
Conference Shift: The end of the Skyline Conference marked a major realignment in Western college football, reshaping schedules and rivalries.
Player Development: Several players from the 1960 team went on to professional careers or coaching roles, spreading Wyoming’s influence.
Program Momentum: The season provided momentum for future recruiting and success, especially in the WAC era.
Historical Marker: The 1960 team is remembered as a bridge between eras, symbolizing resilience and transition in college athletics.

Ultimately, the 1960 Wyoming Cowboys football team remains a point of pride for the university, representing both achievement and change during a transformative period in college sports.