Wyoming has lost 30 of its last 36 football games, including Saturday’s 48-24 setback at Oklahoma State.

The Mountain West Conference team will face another Big 12 Conference foe Saturday when the Cowboys play host to Kansas University in Laramie, Wyo. KU is coming off a 46-24 victory against UNLV of the Mountain West.

Jayhawk fans might like those numbers, but here’s one they might not: Oddsmakers have made Wyoming a five-point favorite over Mark Mangino’s squad.

“This is a huge game for both programs,” first-year Cowboys coach Joe Glenn said Tuesday during the Mountain West teleconference. “They’re trying to get a corner turned a little bit, build some momentum. We’re trying to do the same darned thing. I think it’s a real key game for both teams. Whether coach Mangino would say that, I don’t know. But I know how I feel in my heart. This is a game we’re at home. I feel it’s a game we have to win.”

KU was an 11-point underdog last week against UNLV, but handed the Rebels a 22-point loss.

The Jayhawks, who have lost 26 of their last 36 games, are accustomed to the underdog role.

“It doesn’t matter,” junior guard Tony Coker said of the point spread at KU’s weekly news conference. “That’s what other people think. The only people that know what’s going on are the people inside these doors here in our meeting rooms. We just have to prove ourselves and keep winning every week.”

¢

Walk-ons rewarded: Mangino said three former walk-ons from Kansas high schools — linebacker Josh Homolka, linebacker Darren Rus and safety Jonathan Lamb — had been put on scholarship retroactive to the beginning of this semester.

Homolka is a fifth-year senior from Claflin, whose contributions have mainly been on the scout team and special teams. He was named offensive scout-team player of the week Tuesday.

Rus is a sophomore from Overland Park Aquinas who contributes on all of KU’s special-team units. He returned a blocked punt for a touchdown in the season opener against Northwestern.

“He has earned his keep being one of our best special-teams players throughout last year, and starting off this year he has been sensational,” Mangino said.

Lamb is a red-shirt freshman starter from Olathe North who has 13 tackles in two games.

“We are very proud of those young guys, and we will continue to reward players for their work that walk on to this program,” Mangino said. “Walk-ons are very important, and you can earn a scholarship — these three guys are proof of that.”

Kansas had three scholarship players leave the team in the preseason — senior defensive back Bobby Birhiray, freshman defensive back Tang Bacheyie and junior offensive lineman Roy Teng.

¢

Players of week: Junior running back Cullen Homolka joined brother Josh as a scout-team player of the week.

Sophomore running back Clark Green took offensive honors after rushing for 117 yards and catching five passes for 70 yards. Sophomore linebacker Nick Reid was named defensive player of the week after making 16 tackles, including 12 solo stops. Junior kicker Johnny Beck earned special-teams honors after making all four of his field-goal attempts and all four of his extra-point attempts.

¢

New heights: Kansas will play under some unique conditions at Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium. After playing their first two games at home on turf, the Jayhawks will play on the road, on grass, at high altitude.

War Memorial Stadium is the highest college stadium in the nation at 7,220 feet, but Mangino wasn’t worried about the playing surface or the altitude.

“Neither is a real factor,” he said. “I have researched it very carefully. Altitude is not a big issue. Ed Warinner, who is on our staff, was at Air Force and said it was no big deal.”

Warinner, KU’s offensive-line coach, spent three years at the service academy in Colorado.

“People showed up at Air Force, or when (Air Force) went to Wyoming to play, they just played — it is a non-issue with the altitude unless you want to make it one,” Mangino said.

Mangino got in a little dig at the condition of KU’s practice field while answering the second half of the question.

“Playing on grass is OK,” he said. “We practice on grass — and dirt — during the week, so our kids are used to being on some grass.”

¢

Anderson getting acclimated: Junior-college transfer Lyonel Anderson was expected to make a big impact in KU’s passing game.

Through two games the tight end has one catch for 15 yards, but Mangino still expects the junior to be a factor this season.

“He hasn’t been himself,” Mangino said. “The heat was bothering him early on in two-a-days. It wasn’t a big deal, but our medical staff said when a young guy comes in and the heat is an issue it takes a little while for him to get used to it. He is from Rochester, N.Y. — 65 degrees and they are laying on the beach up there. That is a hot day in Rochester. One hundred and 10 is quite a challenge for him.

“He is fine. He looked better yesterday than he has for a long time on the practice field. He is getting to be his old self. We have big hopes for Lyonel, and he will fulfill the expectations that we have for him.”

¢

Etc: The Weather Channel’s forecast for Saturday in Laramie is a high of 53, low of 34 and a 30 percent chance for rain. … Backup defensive tackle Phil Tuihalamaka missed KU’s game against UNLV because of a death in his family. … Wyoming freshman Derrick Martin, a second-string cornerback and special-teams player, is out for the season after breaking his left hand against OSU.