In the commercial breaks before and after Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s prolific touchdowns in 2024, he remained on fans’ television screens. Allen starred in “Hello Coach,” a Gatorade commercial that chronicled his rise from undrafted high schooler to eventual NFL MVP.
The University of Wyoming gave him a chance. After two attempts at his sophomore season and a spectacular ascent as a junior, Allen took his talents to Western New York, and the rest is history. On Saturday, the University of Wyoming announced Allen’s induction into the Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.
“The most popular and dynamic player ever to play at UW, Josh Allen brought the national spotlight to Wyoming football,” the university stated in a news release. “Allen quarterbacked the Cowboys to two consecutive eight-win seasons, a berth in the Mountain West Championship game in 2016 and two bowl games.”
Allen’s college career ended with 5,066 throwing yards and 44 touchdowns. In 2016, he topped the Mountain West Conference in touchdowns (28), interceptions (15), and yards per completion (15.3). He was as divisive as he was physically gifted. Allen, with probably the NFL’s greatest arm and athleticism to match, was a gunslinger who attempted to carry the weight of the school on his shoulders. He made impossible (and unbelievably poor) throws and instantly became the main subject of the 2018 NFL Draft.
As he demonstrated at Wyoming, he does not require unanimous backing to achieve success. Winning MVP in 2024, he is the sun of Buffalo’s solar system and the most important piece of the city’s Super Bowl dreams. Allen is one of the best athletes in the NFL, and years after making his way onto a college squad, he will help define his generation of quarterbacks.
“His talents led to him becoming a nationally-known figure and a study of media coverage during his time at Wyoming estimated an exposure value of more than $46 million to the school,” Wyoming’s report concluded. “Selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 7th pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, he has continued to bring positive attention to the University during his stellar NFL career and was recently named the 2024-25 NFL Most Valuable Player.” Allen will join Casey Bramlet, Curt Jimerson, Hugh Lowham, Mike Mulvaney, Lori Kline Waddell, and John Wendling in the 2025 Class.
