West Virginia heads to Lubbock this weekend with a chance to grab win No. 6 and lock up a postseason spot, but the assignment is a brutal one: a late-night trip to face No. 15 Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders enter at 7-1, and while they haven’t looked quite as sharp as they did a year ago, they’re still very much in the Big 12 mix. They also have some help to chase in the conference race, since Utah beating BYU in the Holy War would give Tech an opening. Add in the noon kickoff and a road date at Oklahoma State next week, and this has all the makings of a classic trap spot.
That’s where West Virginia comes in.
The Mountaineers are coming off a bye and riding back-to-back wins, and there’s been a noticeable shift inside the program. Even with a fan base that has been calling for defensive coordinator Zac Alley to be fired, Rich Rodriguez, the staff, and the players kept grinding. The coaches stayed late, and the players never wavered.
The defense has still given up plenty of yards, but it did manage to get off the field in the fourth quarter when it mattered most. Given the amount of roster turnover from a season ago and the fact that this is only year two, the expectation has been more about giving the offense a chance than carrying the whole load. On that front, the unit delivered.
Offensively, Mike Hawkins Jr. and Cam Cook have been a bright spot, and DJ Epps plus the recent addition of Prince Strachan have added to the mix. West Virginia’s offense has been productive, and there’s at least a path to some success here because Texas Tech’s pass defense hasn’t been as effective as it was last season.
Still, the challenge is obvious. The Red Raiders bring the top rushing defense in the league, and West Virginia’s defense has been shaky enough to sit near the bottom of college football in almost every major statistical category. That combination makes a shootout feel more likely than a grind-it-out game.
Texas Tech’s offense has another layer of danger now, too. Thomas Castellanos gives the Red Raiders more explosiveness, and if he starts making plays with his arm, it could get ugly fast. If Will Hammond had started and played the full game, the Mountaineers might have had a real shot at the upset, but he has struggled all year and doesn’t offer the same escapability that Castellanos does.
And then there’s the ground game. J’Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey have been reliable all season, and if Castellanos is clicking, West Virginia’s defense could be in for a long night.
There is a path for the Mountaineers to keep this closer than expected. Their offense should fare better than it did in Fort Worth, especially since Texas Tech’s vaunted run defense has not handled teams that can run the ball effectively. Mike Hawkins Jr. and Cam Cook should do enough to keep West Virginia in the game, but the defense may still give up too many explosives to hold on.
It’s hard to picture this turning into a full-blown upset, but it also doesn’t feel like a runaway. Rodriguez has pulled off late-season heroics before at WVU, and this one has enough ingredients to make things interesting.
In the end, though, Texas Tech is the pick. The Red Raiders are expected to finish with one final scoring drive late and walk away with a 41-31 win to stay alive in the Big 12 race.
In Other News...
WVU Brings Back A Fan Favorite Look For A Brutal Texas Tech Trip
West Virginia is reaching back into the closet for a familiar road look as it heads to Lubbock for a late-night test against No. 15 Texas Tech. The Mountaineers will go with their traditional away uniforms, pairing glossy blue helmets with white jerseys and gold pants for a matchup that already carries plenty of weight given the Red Raiders recent run at home.
It is the kind of trip where every small detail gets noticed, from the uniform combination to the kickoff time, which is set for about 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. West Virginia has history with Texas Tech to lean on, but the bigger challenge is walking into a place where the Red Raiders have been hard to beat lately and trying to make the old-school look translate into something more meaningful on the field. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Basketball Just Opened The Door For More West Virginia Families
West Virginia basketball is once again being used as a bridge between the program and the state it represents. The WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Mountaineer Athletic Club have teamed with DAC Energy to buy $100,000 worth of mens basketball tickets, with the goal of getting them into communities across West Virginia through outreach programs.
The tickets will be spread around for nonconference games and select Big 12 matchups, giving more families a chance to get into the building and see the Mountaineers in person. DAC Energy, led by Ken and Jennifer Mason, has long been involved in supporting WVU athletics and community efforts, and this latest partnership keeps that connection going in a very visible way. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Gets Encouraging Returns Before Texas Tech But Questions Remain
West Virginias availability picture is looking better heading into its matchup with Texas Tech, with the Mountaineers downgrading two players and clearing three others for the upcoming game. There has also been movement on the Red Raiders side, where one additional player has been ruled out and three more have been moved to probable, giving both staffs a little more clarity as kickoff approaches.
The report also notes that some players who had been listed as probable are now cleared to play, which is the kind of late-week development coaches and fans alike tend to watch closely. With the game set for 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, the final injury updates could still shape how both teams approach the night in Lubbock. [Read more 🡒]