When the Wyoming Cowboys storm into Akron for Thursday night’s season opener (7:00 PM ET), they’ll bring a brand of hard-nosed football that promises to test the Akron Zips from the opening whistle. This Week 1 clash isn’t just the first chapter of the 2025 campaign—it’s a battle of contrasting identities: Wyoming’s traditionally stout defense and ground-and-pound offense against an Akron squad eager to prove its growth under the lights. For both teams, the stakes are simple: start fast or spend the season playing catch-up.

The Zips will have the home-field advantage in what could be a defining moment for their program, while the Cowboys look to announce their intentions early in a wide-open Mountain West race. With no preseason expectations to lean on yet, every snap will reveal clues about which team is ready to seize the moment. Can Akron’s offense find rhythm against Wyoming’s disciplined front? Or will the Cowboys’ physicality set the tone for a long night in Ohio? One thing’s certain: the 2025 season won’t wait—and neither will the fireworks in this primetime opener.