CEDAR CITY, Utah - As Southern Utah prepares for its return to the Big Sky Conference in July of 2026, it's only fitting to look back at the season that defined what Thunderbird football could be on the league's biggest stage.
The 2015 season stands as one of the most successful campaigns in program history, culminating in Southern Utah's first-ever Big Sky Conference Championship in football. Under head coach Ed Lamb, the Thunderbirds posted a 7–1 conference record and finished 8–4 overall, earning a spot in the FCS Playoffs and cementing their place amid the league's best.
This story marks the first installment of the Southern Utah Big Sky Stories Series, celebrating the moments, teams, and people that shaped the Thunderbirds' Big Sky legacy.
An Offense Built to Finish
Led by senior quarterback Ammon Olsen, the 2015 offense was dynamic, efficient, and relentless. Olsen completed 291 passes for 3,344 yards and 26 touchdowns, orchestrating an attack that could strike quickly or grind down opponents.
His favorite targets were junior Mike Sharp, who caught 54 passes for 889 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns, and senior Justin Brown, who added 54 receptions of his own for 663 yards and four scores. On the ground, senior Malik Brown powered the offense with 829 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 165 carries, providing balance and toughness between the tackles.
The Thunderbirds scored 40 or more points five times during the season, including back-to-back shutouts in Big Sky play at Weber State and against Sacramento State.
The Moment That Sealed It
For Olsen, the championship-clinching win over Northern Arizona was about more than a title. It was redemption.
After a heartbreaking one-point loss at Portland State the week prior, Olsen carried the weight of a missed opportunity that could have secured the championship earlier. He responded with one of the most focused weeks of preparation of his career, diving deep into film study and sharpening every detail.
"So to come out and make some plays and help the team ultimately win the championship," Olsen reflected, "that was a weight off my shoulders as much as it was a celebration."
That preparation, he says, was the true hallmark of the team.
"Every single practice felt like a game," Olsen said. "We competed offense versus defense so much that practices eventually started to get extremely intense. I specifically remember going back and forth with James Cowser and Matt Holley at every practice. We took practices very seriously, and I think that's what prepared us for the games. Once we got through fall camp and started competing against other teams, we really started to gel and trust each other."
Bend, Don't Break: A Championship Defense
While the offense filled the stat sheet, the backbone of the championship run was a defense that consistently delivered when it mattered most. Southern Utah allowed just 18.9 points per game, thriving on a bend-but-don't-break mentality that limited opponents to touchdowns on only 53 percent of red zone trips.
Senior defensive back Miles Killebrew anchored the unit, finishing the season with 132 total tackles, still one of the top single-season totals in program history. Killebrew's leadership and physicality later earned him a place in the NFL, where he was drafted by the Detroit Lions and has since moved on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Up front, senior defensive lineman James Cowser was a constant disruptor, tallying 19 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, numbers that routinely flipped field position and changed games. Cowser racked up an impressive 67 total tackles on the season and was named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year. A two-time All-American, Cowser finished his career as the NCAA FCS all-time leader in career sacks and tackles for loss, and now ranks second in both categories. He would go on to play three seasons in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders, appearing in 22 games.
A Legacy That Still Resonates
The 2015 Thunderbirds will return to campus during the 2026 season, with plans underway to recognize the championship team during a home game. Adding another layer of significance, head coach Ed Lamb will also return to Eccles Coliseum on November 7, this time on the visiting sideline as the head coach of Northern Colorado.
As Southern Utah prepares to rejoin the Big Sky, Olsen hopes the lessons from 2015 remain at the forefront.
"That's the standard I hope they bring with them," he said. "Don't settle for average. Compete to be your very best, individually and as a team, every single day. Don't get caught up in past successes or past failures. Put your head down, stay focused, and keep getting better."
The road back to the Big Sky is paved with history. And in 2015, the Thunderbirds showed exactly what's possible when preparation meets belief.
About the Big Sky Conference
Founded in 1963, the Big Sky Conference is an NCAA Division I conference, competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Big Sky prides itself on its "#ExperienceElevated" platform that emphasizes the unique traits and lifelong benefits that the conference and its member institutions provide to around 3,300 student-athletes each year. Conference members have won 13 NCAA championships, including seven in football by five different members, as well as six of the last nine Division I men's cross country titles by NAU.
About SUU Athletics
Southern Utah University Athletics is home to 15 NCAA Division I teams. SUU Athletics supports the University's educational mission by fostering leadership, personal growth, and academic excellence. Committed to integrity and community engagement, we prepare student-athletes for success both on and off the field. SUU Athletics is more than competition - it's a transformative part of the Thunderbird experience.
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