The 1971 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. Led by first-year head coach Fritz Shurmur, they were members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and played their home games on campus at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. The Cowboys had a record of 5–6, and were 3–4 in the WAC. Shurmur had been the defensive line coach at Wyoming for nine years under head coach Lloyd Eaton; Eaton resigned in December 1970 and was reassigned to assistant athletic director, and Shurmur was promoted to head coach.