West Virginia’s Week 8 trip to TCU now has a start time and a TV home. The Big 12 announced Monday afternoon that the Mountaineers and Horned Frogs will kick off at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 24, with ESPN2 carrying the game.
TCU comes into Week 7 at 2-3, with wins over Grambling and Arkansas State and losses against every Power Four opponent it has faced so far: North Carolina, UCF, and BYU. The Horned Frogs have built their season around a defense that’s been one of the league’s best. They’re allowing just 255 yards of total offense per game, rank second in the Big 12 in pass defense at 155.4 yards allowed per game, and sit second in the conference in scoring defense at 13.4 points per game.
The problem for Sonny Dykes has been the other side of the ball. TCU has been able to move it through the air with QB Jaden Craig, but the run game has been a major issue, sitting last in the Big 12. That imbalance has left the Frogs looking like the mirror image of West Virginia - a team that can slow opponents down but has struggled to put points on the board, except in TCU’s case, the offense has been nearly as bad as the Mountaineers’ defense.
The series has had plenty of swings since both teams joined the league in 2012. Their first four meetings all went the distance in one way or another, with the wins alternating over that stretch.
After that came a pair of blowouts, then a run of games that tilted more in West Virginia’s favor. The Mountaineers lead the series 8-6 and have won six of the last nine matchups, though TCU has taken two of the last three.
There’s also been a clear split depending on where the game is played. West Virginia has done better in Fort Worth, going 4-2 in six trips.
In Other News...
Pitt Offense Faces A Real Confidence Test At Boston College
Pitt heads to Boston College trying to steady an offense that has been searching for its footing since the loss to North Carolina. The Panthers are dealing with the ripple effects of Mason Heintschels ACL injury, and fifth-year quarterback Holden Geriner is still lined up to run the offense as they turn the page to a road test against a defense that has shown it can make life difficult.
Boston College is coming off a bye week and working back through the aftermath of player illnesses, which adds another layer to a matchup that already carries some urgency for both sides. The Eagles should also get linebacker Bodie Kahoun back in the mix, giving them a welcome boost as Pitt tries to find the confidence and consistency its offense has lacked in recent weeks. [Read more 🡒]