West Virginia’s rise under Rich Rodriguez has already earned at least one notable believer, and Phil Steele isn’t just thinking the Mountaineers can hold their own in Year 2 - he’s pointing to a start that would turn heads across the country.
Steele laid out his view during his weekly appearance on the In the Gun podcast, saying the real measuring stick for WVU’s Big 12 legitimacy will come when the schedule tightens up with back-to-back road games at TCU and Texas Tech.
“I would say the back-to-back road trips to TCU and Texas Tech. And the good thing, if you’re a West Virginia fan and the Big 12, is that really no team in the Big 12 has looked unbeatable this year, especially Texas Tech.
Last year, Texas Tech was just dominating teams on a weekly basis, and now, they look vulnerable. Very vulnerable.
Could have easily lost to Houston. Could have easily lost to Oregon State.
So I think those back-to-back trips - at TCU, at Texas Tech - that’s going to tell you whether or not West Virginia is a legitimate Big 12 favorite. Do keep in mind, final game of the year is at Utah; I think that’s going to be an extremely tough out.
You might be able to drop two, but I think that back-to-back road trip with Texas Tech and TCU is going to be huge. But frankly, I expect at this point West Virginia to be 7-0 when they travel to face TCU.”
That’s the part that jumps off the page: Steele sees WVU entering that TCU trip at 7-0.
And if that happens, the conversation around the Mountaineers changes fast. West Virginia hasn’t been nationally relevant in a long time, and a start like that - or anything close to it - would force people to pay attention. It would also matter beyond the standings, giving the program a boost with recruits and potential transfers.
For a team that wasn’t getting much national love coming into the season, that kind of start would mean West Virginia is ahead of schedule.
In Other News...
WVU Gets Much Needed Relief Ahead Of Oklahoma State Game
West Virginia got a little breathing room on the injury front ahead of its Big 12 opener against Oklahoma State, with the latest availability report bringing some encouraging signs for a roster that has been managing several minor knocks. Cornerback Nick Taylor was added as probable because of a minor injury, but the Mountaineers also cleared two players from the list, a useful bit of housekeeping as they get closer to kickoff.
The receiver room looks steadier, too, with Jaden Bray and Prince Strachan both listed as probable. Bray is working back from a recent hip injury, while Strachan is positioned for an expanded role, giving West Virginia a little more flexibility as it heads into a conference game that should offer an early read on how ready the offense is to handle its depth challenges. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Saban Just Put More Weight On WVU's Big 12 Opener
Nick Saban added an unexpected layer of attention to West Virginias Big 12 opener this week when the Alabama coach and Mountaineers native weighed in on the matchup during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. Saban backed West Virginia to beat Oklahoma State, pointing to his confidence in the Mountaineers running game and noting the pride people in the state have in the team and coach Rich Rodriguez.
The pick carries a little extra intrigue because Saban had gone against West Virginia a week earlier when he chose Virginia over the Mountaineers. Now his latest nod gives Saturdays game a bit more buzz, even if it changes nothing about what West Virginia still has to handle on the field as it opens conference play. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs Oklahoma State Test Turns On A Brutal Late Collapse
West Virginias trip to Oklahoma State turned into the kind of game that can swing on a single mistake, with the Mountaineers hanging around deep into the second half before the whole thing started to unravel. The simulation had plenty of offense on both sides and enough back-and-forth scoring to keep the matchup tight, setting up a finish that felt every bit like a Big 12 shootout.
In the end, the decisive play was as brutal as it gets for a road team trying to survive in Stillwater: a late fumble return touchdown that broke the game open and sent Oklahoma State to a 42-34 win. For West Virginia, the result in the simulated report serves as another reminder that in this league, one untimely turnover can undo a nights worth of good work in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]