Oklahoma State heads to Morgantown this weekend to open Big 12 play, and the matchup comes with a real test attached. West Virginia is coming off a win over then-No. 25 Virginia, and while the Cowboys have had success there lately, this trip looks like one of the tougher ones on the schedule.
The first thing to watch is the run game. West Virginia is rolling on the ground, ranking sixth nationally and first in the Big 12 by a healthy margin with 281 rushing yards per game.
A big reason is quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., who has become a major part of the attack. He’s the third-leading rusher in the Big 12 despite being a quarterback, and he leads all QBs nationally with 332 rushing yards.
That works out to more than 107 yards per game at 7.3 yards per carry. For Oklahoma State, that creates a very different kind of problem than it has faced so far.
The Cowboys have been strong on third down, tying Penn State for the best third-down defense in the country at 16.22%, but they have not yet had to deal with a quarterback who can turn designed runs and scrambles into that kind of production. If Oklahoma State wants to leave with a win, slowing the Mountaineers on the ground is the place to start.
West Virginia also brings pressure on defense. The Mountaineers are second in the Big 12 with 10 sacks, and they’ve recorded multiple sacks in every game this season.
What stands out is how they’re getting there: by committee. Only linebacker Ashton Woods has more than one sack, and he has two, while the other eight sacks have been spread among eight different players.
That could point to depth, scheme, or both. Drew Mestemaker has only been sacked three times, and two of those came against Tulsa in the opener.
The other came against Murray State on a play that was ruled a strip-sack after a forward toss was called a fumble. Oklahoma State’s offensive line has been banged up and uneven through three games, but the Cowboys can point to the Oregon game, where they held a talented defensive front in check.
There’s also a chance for explosive plays in this one. West Virginia has already allowed 13 plays of 20 yards or more, which is tied for the second-most in the country behind Colorado and Houston, who each have 15.
On plays of 30 yards or more, the Mountaineers have been even more vulnerable, allowing seven, which puts them last in the Big 12 and tied for 100th nationally. That lines up with what Oklahoma State has done well: the Cowboys lead the Big 12 with 20 plays of more than 20 yards and have nine of more than 30, even with the Tulsa game dragging down the totals.
The numbers point to a simple truth - if Oklahoma State’s playmakers hit in space, the Cowboys give themselves their best shot.
In Other News...
Oregon State Has 4 Emerging Names Worth Watching Against UTEP
Oregon States offense spread the ball around in a big way during its 52-17 win over Montana, with nine different players hauling in passes and a few new names making the most of their chances. True freshman Garrison drew particular praise from head coach JaMarcus Shephard for the way he played through contact, while sophomore Aeryn Hampton continued to look like more than just another option in the passing game. Add in senior running back Aj Newberrys efficient work last weekend, and the Beavers suddenly have a deeper pool of players who can help keep drives moving.
On the other side of the ball, senior defensive back Vickers has also been a steady riser, showing better tackling and giving Oregon State another experienced presence as it heads into the matchup with UTEP. For a team still sorting out what its full offensive and defensive rotation looks like, those kinds of emerging roles matter just as much as the final score. The next step is seeing which of those recent gains hold up when the competition changes and the game plan tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Faces One Concern It Can't Afford On The Road
Oregon State heads to UTEP still chasing its first win under coach Jamarcus Shephard, and the Beavers know the margin for error shrinks quickly in a road setting. The matchup puts a premium on balance on offense and on the kind of steady special teams work that can keep a game from turning sideways before the fourth quarter ever arrives.
Shephard has already flagged special teams as an area that has been uneven, a concern that stands out even more after the punt trouble late against Montana. And with UTEP likely to lean on creative pressure, disguised coverages and even the occasional trick look to unsettle the Beavers, Oregon States ability to stay composed and clean could end up being one of the defining factors of the night. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon States First Road Test Could Expose A Big UTEP Problem
Oregon States first road trip of the season lands Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Sun Bowl, where the Beavers will get a closer look at a UTEP team still trying to settle in under coach Scotty Walden. A Q&A with UTEP beat reporter Bret Bloomquist painted a picture of a program in transition, with quarterback EJ Colson facing growing pains and running back Tavorus Jones still needing to be featured more consistently as the Miners sort out what they want their offense to be.
Bloomquist also pointed to the chess match on the other side of the ball, where UTEP will have to decide how much attention to devote to Oregon States Jesse Legree and the rest of the Beaver attack. The matchup comes with the kind of uncertainty that can make an early road game tricky, and it has enough moving parts that even a game that looks manageable on paper still carries some tension before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]