West Virginia’s offense is no longer flying under the radar, and Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire isn’t pretending otherwise.
McGuire pointed straight at the Mountaineers’ backfield duo of Mike Hawkins Jr. and Cam Cook when sizing up Saturday’s matchup, calling them the kind of pairing that can tilt a game all by itself.
“Offensively, they’re one of the best teams in the country. They scored against everybody.
They’re top 25 in scoring. They’re top 10 in rushing.
Explosive plays in the run game. The quarterback, running back combination is the best combination of running the football in the country.
And so, man, we have got our hands full.”
That’s not empty coach-speak. West Virginia has been moving the ball on the ground against everybody it has faced, and that includes TCU, which has been the Big 12’s best defense. The Mountaineers still put up 186 rushing yards in that game, another reminder that this ground attack travels.
Texas Tech has held up against the run at times this season, but the numbers tell a clear story: when the Red Raiders have faced teams that can really run it, the resistance has cracked. Houston ran for 175 yards on them. Cincinnati went for 255.
That’s why this matchup feels so dangerous for Texas Tech. If West Virginia keeps getting its usual production on the ground, it gives itself a real shot to stay in the fight and maybe pull off an upset.
McGuire also addressed the other side of the ball, where West Virginia has had its issues. He said defensive coordinator Zac Alley made adjustments in the win over TCU, and those changes paid off with the unit’s best showing in Big 12 play.
“The one thing they did... and they had a bye week, so they had another week to work on it; they changed defensively. They had it in there, but they weren’t doing it as much.
They went to a lot of their odd stack, and if you look at their last game, it was 24-20 against TCU, and they played a lot better defense. So if that continues, it’s going to be a four-round fight on Saturday.”
West Virginia still wasn’t perfect against the Horned Frogs, but it did show some fight. The Mountaineers were able to make stops, force a few turnovers on the plus side of the field, and keep TCU from cashing in.
The next step is obvious: more three-and-outs. If Alley’s defense can string together a few of those on Saturday, this one could come down to the wire in Lubbock.
In Other News...
Former WVU Defender Suddenly Has A Future Fans Need To Watch
A court order has put former West Virginia defender Fred Perry back into the college football conversation, and it comes with a wrinkle that could matter for Mountaineers fans keeping tabs on former players. The ruling includes Perry and two others on the question of eligibility for the 2027-28 academic year, which opens the door for Perry to potentially play next season if he does not land at another school this year.
Perry is not currently on West Virginias roster and has not committed elsewhere, so his path remains unsettled for now. Eddie Kelly Jr. and Oliver Straw, the other two players involved, have already transferred and are playing at other schools this season, leaving Perry as the one whose next move could still shape whether he surfaces back on a college field in the near future. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Is Chasing A Fast-Rising Canadian Wing Fans Should Watch
West Virginia has jumped into the mix for one of the more intriguing young wings on the board, extending an offer to Kur Lual as his profile continues to climb. The 6-foot-7 prospect from Ontario recently reclassified from the class of 2027 to 2028 and also made the move to Bella Vista Prep, a combination that has only sharpened the attention around his long-term upside.
Lual already has offers from California, Seton Hall and Cal Poly, and his play on the youth basketball circuit has helped make him a name worth tracking well beyond Canada. For the Mountaineers, assistant coach Yusuf Ali appears to be the key link in the recruitment, giving WVU an early foothold with a player whose stock seems to be rising fast. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs Ground Game Could Be The Difference Against Texas Tech
Texas Techs run defense has been a point of interest all week, and for good reason. The Red Raiders have spent much of the season facing offenses that have had trouble establishing the ground game, which makes this matchup with West Virginia a little more intriguing than it might look on paper. For the Mountaineers, the conversation starts with what they do best and whether that strength can travel into a game where controlling the line of scrimmage could matter from the opening series.
West Virginias rushing attack has been one of the more reliable parts of its offense, and that gives the Mountaineers a clear path to pressure Texas Tech in a way some of the Red Raiders previous opponents have not. If West Virginia can lean on the run and stay ahead of the chains, it could shape the entire feel of the game and force Texas Tech to defend in a way it has not always handled cleanly. For a matchup with plenty of moving parts, the ground game may end up being the detail that decides whether the Mountaineers can turn a good opportunity into a real advantage. [Read more 🡒]