No. 13 Texas Tech returns home Saturday night looking to steady itself after its first loss of the season, and the Red Raiders will do it against a West Virginia team that has already shown it can make things uncomfortable on the road.
Texas Tech dropped its unbeaten start at Cincinnati two weeks ago, then answered with a 34-26 win over Arizona last week. West Virginia, meanwhile, has flipped its season after a rough stretch from Sept. 26 to Oct.
- The Mountaineers snapped a three-game skid with a home win over Cincinnati and followed that with an upset road victory at TCU before heading into their bye week.
There’s also recent history here, and it was ugly for West Virginia. Texas Tech blanked the Mountaineers 49-0 in Morgantown last November.
One of the biggest reasons the Red Raiders have stayed dangerous is J’Koby Williams. The junior running back delivered his best performance of the season against Arizona, rushing 14 times for 175 yards and a touchdown while also catching his lone target for 11 yards.
On the year, Williams ranks fifth nationally in yards per carry at 7.9 and sits 18th with 794 rushing yards. He also had 15 carries for 60 yards and a score in last year’s shutout at West Virginia.
Even with that firepower, the number feels hefty. Texas Tech has had some trouble covering, and laying 17.5 points in a conference game is a different kind of ask.
West Virginia has already won twice on the road as an underdog this season, and its other road trip ended in a 45-42 loss to Iowa State. That doesn’t point to an outright upset here, but it does suggest the Mountaineers have enough to keep this from turning into a runaway.
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West Virginia Freshman Gives Fans A Lot To Talk About After Opener
West Virginias season opener had the kind of feel-good start every team wants, and freshman Miles Sadler was right at the center of it. In a 91-46 win over Niagara, Sadler made an immediate impression in his collegiate debut, leading the Mountaineers with 16 points while also handing out nine assists and picking up three steals.
The larger takeaway for West Virginia was just as encouraging. After a first half that still had some room to tighten up, the defense sharpened considerably after the break and helped force 24 turnovers, turning the game into a runaway. For a team looking to set a tone early, the combination of a lopsided finish and a freshman guard already looking comfortable gave fans plenty to discuss. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs 2027 Schedule Just Added A Home Test Fans Will Notice
West Virginias 2027 football schedule got a little more intriguing with the addition of Purdue to the home slate, a matchup the university announced this week with the exact date still to be set. It gives Mountaineer fans another Power Four opponent to circle, and it keeps the program moving toward a schedule built for the new realities of college football.
The Purdue game pushes West Virginia to 10 Power Four games in 2027, which satisfies the requirement for the expanded College Football Playoff format. It will also be the third meeting between the schools, with the series currently split at one win apiece, so there is at least a little history attached to a game that should already carry some weight when it finally lands on the calendar. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Has A Mike Hawkins Jr. Decision That Could Shape Everything
West Virginias long-term quarterback picture is starting to come into focus, and Mike Hawkins Jr. sits right at the center of it. He has not yet signed a new deal to stay with the Mountaineers beyond the 2026 season, but discussions are ongoing, and there is no indication the relationship between Hawkins, his family and the coaching staff has cooled. For a program trying to stabilize and build forward at the same time, keeping a young quarterback in place matters almost as much as finding the next wave of help.
Rich Rodriguez has made it clear that the Mountaineers see underclassmen like Hawkins as foundational pieces, not just short-term depth. West Virginia believes it can hold onto its key players while still adding talent through the transfer portal, but the Hawkins situation is the kind of decision that can shape the roster well beyond one season. If the staff can close the gap there, it would be a meaningful sign that the programs future is starting to take shape the way it wants. [Read more 🡒]