West Virginia and Iowa State will both be looking for a reset when they meet Saturday in Ames, Iowa, with each team trying to shake off a home loss that left plenty to clean up.
West Virginia arrives at 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Big 12 play after its first defeat of the season, a 41-24 setback at home against Oklahoma State. The Mountaineers were in position late in the third quarter, holding a 24-21 lead, but the Cowboys finished with the game’s final 20 points. West Virginia also surrendered 609 yards of total offense in the loss.
Rich Rodriguez, in the early part of his second stint as West Virginia’s head coach, said the Mountaineers have had stretches this season when they simply haven’t played clean football, even during their three wins. Against Oklahoma State, that inconsistency finally caught up with them.
"We are still learning our guys a little bit because there are so many new starters," he said. "They are very conscious and are good players. Whatever adjustments we need to make as a coaching staff, they'll buy into it, so I feel good about that.
"This week is a different challenge. (Iowa State will) do so many different things formationally, schematically and with personnel on offense that it's a complete different challenge. We've got to be ready to go."
Iowa State is in a similar spot at 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the conference after a 31-17 home loss to then-No. 15 Utah. The Cyclones trailed 24-3 at halftime and never fully got back into it.
Coach Jimmy Rogers pointed to 29 missed tackles against Utah and said that kind of breakdown has to be fixed quickly. He expects a tougher test Saturday from West Virginia’s pace and scheme.
"They do a really good job in their scheme and they are really fast," Rogers said of West Virginia. "Everybody needs to get their feet into the ground, get aligned, get their eyes right, know the call and then execute the plan."
The game also brings together two of the Big 12’s most productive backs. West Virginia senior Cam Cook leads the conference in rushing with 510 yards on 99 carries, while Iowa State sophomore Aiden Flora ranks fourth with 382 rushing yards and is averaging 7.5 yards per carry.
In Other News...
Rich Rodriguez Just Raised Two Big Concerns For West Virginia
Rich Rodriguez used his latest Coaches Show appearance to take a clear-eyed look at where West Virginia stands after the loss to Oklahoma State, and the picture he painted was not especially comforting. He pointed to defensive issues that showed up in the defeat, while also noting the offense had its own share of work to do as the Mountaineers try to steady things heading into a tougher stretch.
The next test comes against Iowa State, a team Rodriguez described as dangerous because of its defense and an experienced quarterback, which only sharpens the margin for error. He also offered an update on Armoni Bomar-Weavers finger injury and touched on the broader questions of player development and roster building, reminders that West Virginias concerns run beyond one game and into the shape of what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Geno Smith Led A Strong Weekend For Former West Virginia Stars
West Virginia had plenty to track across the NFLs third weekend, with nine former Mountaineers active on rosters and several of them turning in meaningful snaps. The headliner was Geno Smith, who delivered one of the sharper outings of the week by completing 31 of 37 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns, a reminder that the schools NFL pipeline keeps producing players who can still shape games at the highest level.
Rasul Douglas also continued his steady run, starting for the Commanders in their win over the Seahawks and giving the Mountaineers another familiar name in a prominent spot. Beyond those two, the rest of the weekend was a useful snapshot of how wide West Virginias pro footprint has become, with each players snap count and Pro Football Focus grade offering another layer to a busy slate for the programs alumni. [Read more 🡒]
WVU May Be Nearing Lineup Changes Fans Have Been Waiting For
West Virginias Week 5 depth chart for Iowa State did not bring the kind of sweeping shakeup some fans were hoping for, but it did reinforce that the staff is at least keeping an eye on a few spots that could use a jolt. Most of the player positions look the same as the previous week, which suggests the Mountaineers are still leaning on a familiar base as they try to steady things heading into another Big 12 test.
Still, there are signs the lineup could look different sooner rather than later. Georgia transfer JaCorey Thomas is expected to make his debut, and there is potential for some movement in the defensive backfield as the staff searches for the right mix. The offensive line is another area worth watching if the performance does not improve, leaving this weeks chart less like a final answer and more like a snapshot of a roster that may still be in flux. [Read more 🡒]