ASU head into first game vs. Wyoming in 47 years with familiar faces between the 2 programs

ASU football offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo during practice on March 26, 2024, at ASU's Kajikawa Practice fields in Tempe. © Mark Henle/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

With the bright lights turning back on and its players anticipating the start of the 2024 season, ASU football and Wyoming will face off against each other for the first time since both programs were members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) 47 years ago.

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In the two schools’ history, ASU is 9-6 all-time against Wyoming, with the last clash being a Sun Devils 45-0 demolition victory at home on Nov. 5, 1977. Arizona State has won four out of the last five games against the Cowboys before tonight’s matchup.

Before the two programs officially kick off the year at Moutain America Stadium, both have multiple connections to each other.

Transferring from Michigan State, first-year starting quarterback for ASU Sam Leavitt will face his former offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, who made the switch from the Spartans to Wyoming. Working together last year, Michigan State was 4-8 last season overall and 2-7 in the Big 10. Leavitt completed 15-of-23 passes (65%) for 139 yards and threw two touchdowns while rushing 13 times for an additional 67 yards in four games under Johnson.

New Sun Devil offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo was with the Cowboys in 2009 and 2010. As Wyoming’s offensive coordinator, he helped then-quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels become the 2009 Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Wyoming was 7-6 in 2009 and Arroyo was a part of the staff who won the 2009 New Mexico Bowl over Fresno State, 35-28.

As for ASU linebackers coach A.J. Cooper, he is very familiar with Wyoming. Having spent six seasons (2014-19), he was the defensive run-game coordinator, defensive ends coach and co-special teams coordinator who coached multiple groups that ranked amongst the best in the nation in an array of categories during his stint in Laramie. The Phoenix native returned to the Valley last season after three years (2020-22) at Washington State.

The season begins tonight for ASU and Wyoming at 7:30 p.m. PT.

Mesa native Evan Svoboda returns home as starting quarterback for Wyoming vs. ASU

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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, the Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini