Cheyenne South Drops 2027 Varsity Football Schedule
A 10-135 record across 16 seasons paints a stark picture of high school athletics under mounting pressure. Last week, Cheyenne South High School announced they will not field a varsity football team for the 2027 season, opting instead to play a junior varsity squad and a freshman-sophomore team as their highest competitive levels next fall.
Athletic Director Wendy Johnson and head football coach Steven Fernandez announced the decision, which addresses a program mired in a 65-game losing streak. That skid stands as the current state record and second-longest in the nation. The Bison have endured winless seasons every year since 2019.
The Statistical Reality of Class 4A Competition
The numbers behind the decision reflect a mismatch in classification play. During the 2026 season, Cheyenne South was outscored 63.6-to-1.6 in points per game. The team was shut out in eight of its nine games, scoring 12 points in one game—with that lone offensive output coming against a 1-win opponent.
Cheyenne South athletics director Wendy Johnson and football coach Steven Fernandez said the decision to only play sub-varsity games in 2027 wasn't made lightly and had safety at the forefront. They hope it will let the program build. https://t.co/P9Qud3xYPn #wyosports
Depth and youth further compound the challenge. Broadcasters and observers noted that the Bison played with 25 or fewer players on multiple occasions, relying heavily on six freshmen who saw regular varsity time throughout the 2026 campaign. The team forfeited a game during the 2024 season.
Wyoming High School Activities Association Commissioner Trevor Wilson addressed the move in a statement provided to WyoPreps, noting, We support Cheyenne South’s decision to forfeit their 2027 varsity football schedule. It’s an unfortunate situation for everyone, and we hope they can build a competitive program in the future.
Wyoming Athletic Directors Address 2027 Scheduling Gaps
Because Wyoming high school football operates within a two-year schedule cycle, the forfeiture creates an immediate logistical hurdle. As it stands, every 4A team would have a bye on its schedule in 2027. Athletic directors scheduled a meeting to discuss how to fill those vacancies, though finding non-conference opponents tied into existing multi-year agreements remains a complex puzzle.
Beyond the immediate scheduling gaps, the move forces a wider examination of the state’s classification structure. Questions persist regarding whether Star Valley and/or Cody should move up to Class 4A, or if struggling programs like South should drop down to 3A or 2A. With three programs across the state forfeiting seasons in 2026 due to low numbers, structural adjustments for football-only alignments are drawing renewed scrutiny.
Final decisions on these matters rest not with the commissioner’s office, but with the WHSAA Board of Directors—a group comprising administrators and educators (ADs, Superintendents, Principals) from across Wyoming. Aside from a shift to 9-man football in 2020, the state’s classification framework has remained largely unchanged since 2009, setting the stage for consequential debates ahead.
