Oklahoma State’s week-by-week look at its 2026 schedule got a lot more interesting after West Virginia knocked off No. 25 Virginia, 38-27, in Charlotte on Saturday.
The Mountaineers are 3-0 now, and they’re carrying that momentum into next week’s Big 12 opener in Morgantown against the Cowboys. Rich Rodriguez’s team earned its first win over a Top 25 opponent this season, and the way it finished made the result look even more convincing. The game was tied 21-21 in the third quarter before West Virginia pulled away with a 17-7 edge the rest of the way.
Quarterback Michael Hawkins was the engine. He threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns, then added 123 rushing yards and three more scores on the ground.
Running back Cam Cook also gave West Virginia a major lift with 123 yards rushing. On the other side, the Mountaineers’ defense did enough to keep Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula from taking over, holding him to 197 passing yards and two touchdowns.
For Oklahoma State, that’s the kind of result that puts a little extra weight on next week’s trip. West Virginia looked sharp, dangerous and balanced in a game that should have the Cowboys’ attention.
Saturday also delivered a Big 12 milestone in London, where the league played its first conference game at Wembley Stadium. That matchup gave OSU a chance to see its last two opponents square off in their league debuts.
Kansas’ defense made a strong impression, even in a 24-17 loss to Arizona State. The Jayhawks held the Sun Devils to 228 total yards, forced them into 4-for-17 on third down, and drew 70 penalties out of them.
Kansas, though, gave the game away with three turnovers. Arizona State’s Jaren Hamilton added a huge swing play by taking the opening kickoff of the second half back for a touchdown.
The Jayhawks still finished with 414 yards of offense, but most of that came too late, after they had fallen behind 24-7. Arizona State, meanwhile, didn’t get much going on offense.
No player topped 100 yards from scrimmage. Still, the defense and special teams were enough to carry the day while that side of the ball sorts itself out.
Texas Tech, meanwhile, survived a tense Friday night test and beat No. 22 Houston, 28-26, to stay on track. The Red Raiders had to grind for it, but they came out on top in a game that hinted at a possible rematch in Arlington in December.
Houston quarterback Conner Weigman was a problem, throwing for 277 yards and three touchdowns without an interception while also rushing for 56 yards. Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond posted 257 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception, and recent transfer Thomas Castellanos is expected to give the Red Raiders another option. Cameron Dickey added 65 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Texas Tech has now won every game in which Dickey has scored on the ground.
In Other News...
WVU's Biggest Home Night In Years Comes With Real Stakes
West Virginia is getting one of those home nights that can define a season, and there is more riding on it than atmosphere alone. Milan Puskar Stadium is set for a major prime-time setting, and the Mountaineers are trying to turn a strong start into something bigger by staying perfect through the opening stretch and putting themselves back into the AP Top 25 conversation.
Rich Rodriguez has pointed to the energy around the program and the value of protecting home field, which makes this one feel less like just another September game and more like a measuring stick. For a team still trying to prove its early momentum is real, a night game in front of that crowd offers a chance to keep building and a reminder that the next step has to happen where West Virginia is supposed to be toughest to beat. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Injury Outlook Suddenly Looks Better Heading Into Oklahoma State
West Virginias injury picture is starting to clear up just in time for a trip to Oklahoma State, and that matters for a team that took a few hits in the recent game against Virginia. Rich Rodriguez said Nick Krahe will be limited in practice but is expected to play, while Jaden Bray is dealing with a hip bruise and should be back soon. The outlook is also encouraging for Ball, who is expected to play after being knocked out, giving the Mountaineers a little more stability as they try to manage the week.
There is even more room for optimism at running back, where Martavious Boswell and Talley are expected to be available. On the perimeter, Prince Strachan should see his role grow after being used sparingly last week, which could give West Virginia another option as it heads into a matchup that can use every healthy body it can get. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Knows Exactly What Awaits West Virginia Under The Lights
Oklahoma State is heading into one of the more charged environments in the Big 12, with Eric Morris already framing the trip to Morgantown as the kind of test that can turn a game on its head after dark. Morris had plenty of respect for what Rich Rodriguez is building at West Virginia, and he singled out quarterback Mike Hawkins as a dynamic presence in an offense that has grown noticeably since last season. For the Mountaineers, that is the sort of public praise that usually comes with a warning label.
The challenge for the Cowboys, Morris said, is not just the crowd or the setting, but staying clean with communication and tackling against a run game that can punish any lapse. West Virginia has shown enough improvement to make opponents prepare differently, and under the lights at home the margin for error gets even thinner. It is the kind of matchup where the details matter from the first snap, and Oklahoma State clearly knows it is walking into a place that rewards precision more than bravado. [Read more 🡒]