West Virginia heads into Saturday’s matchup with Arizona in a spot it didn’t want to be in: chasing its first Big 12 win after opening league play with back-to-back losses. The Mountaineers don’t have to treat every game like a season-saver, but this one carries real weight if they want to steady things and regain the early momentum they built.
There’s still a path for WVU to flip the mood quickly. Beat Arizona, then handle Cincinnati next week, and a 5-2 record with a 2-2 Big 12 mark would make the picture look a lot cleaner by the midpoint of the season.
The challenge is obvious. West Virginia’s defense has been a problem, and according to the source, it enters this game as the worst unit in Power Four football, sitting 133rd nationally in total defense. Arizona brings its own danger, too, with Noah Fifita leading the Big 12 in passing and the Wildcats capable of piling up points if they get rolling.
That’s reflected in the ESPN Football Power Index matchup predictor, which gives West Virginia a 39.5% shot at winning and Arizona a 60.5% chance to move to 5-1 and hand the Mountaineers a .500 record six games into the season.
Still, this isn’t a hopeless setup for WVU. The offense has done enough to keep the Mountaineers in just about every game, and the source makes the point plainly: if the defense had gotten one more stop, West Virginia likely would have beaten Iowa State. That kind of margin is what’s separating the Mountaineers from a very different record.
The offensive side gives WVU a real puncher’s chance. It has been high-powered and efficient, and no opponent has fully shut it down yet. That means the Mountaineers can win in a shootout if they have to, even if that’s not a formula they want to rely on every week.
There’s also the travel factor working in West Virginia’s favor. Arizona has to cross the country for a game that starts at 9 a.m. for its body clock, and that kind of adjustment is never simple. If the Wildcats are slow to wake up or a little sloppy early, WVU could be ready to seize control.
The kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET at Milan Puskar Stadium, with the game airing on TNT.
In Other News...
Noah Fifita Faces A Bigger Test Than Arizona Fans Might Think
Arizonas trip to West Virginia brings a familiar face back into the picture for Rich Rodriguez, who once coached in Tucson and now gets a shot at his former program in a Big 12 matchup. It also comes at a time when the Mountaineers are trying to steady themselves after dropping their last two games, while Arizona arrives with some momentum thanks to a three-game winning streak.
The Wildcats have not exactly reached the open date in perfect shape, though, with injuries thinning their group of wide receivers and putting more of the burden on Noah Fifita. The quarterback is set to make his 40th consecutive start against a West Virginia defense that has had its own struggles this season, which turns this into more than just a road test for Arizona. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Hawkins Jr. Gets A Big Chance To Change The Narrative
Mike Hawkins Jr. has already given West Virginia a better version of its quarterback room than many expected, especially on the vertical throws that can change a game in a hurry. The dual-threat sophomore has completed 12 of 27 passes beyond 20 yards for 416 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions this season, and Rich Rodriguez has pointed to the growth in Hawkins passing and his overall versatility as reasons for the Mountaineers offense has become harder to defend.
The next test is a revealing one, because Arizona brings a defense built to heat up the pocket and make a quarterback win from the pocket under stress. For Hawkins, that means another chance to show the arm talent and decision-making that have already started to reshape the conversation around him, even if the most important part of the evaluation may come down to how he handles the pressure he is about to see. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Coach Just Put West Virginia's QB-Run Threat In The Spotlight
A 9 a.m. kickoff in Tucson is bringing a fresh layer of attention to West Virginia, and Arizona coach Brent Brennan made clear this one is about much more than an early start. He pointed to the Mountaineers explosive offense, with quarterback Garrett Greene and running back Cam Cook giving the Wildcats a combination of speed and stress points to sort out before the ball is even kicked.
Brennan also singled out West Virginias defensive style while expressing respect for Neal Brown, a nod to a matchup with limited history between the programs. It is only the second meeting for the schools, and the first time Brennan and Brown will meet as head coaches, which adds some unfamiliarity to a game already carrying plenty of intrigue. [Read more 🡒]