After a much-needed bye week, West Virginia is back on the field and headed to Lubbock for a late-night matchup with Texas Tech. Kickoff is set for 9:30, and the setup is simple enough: the Mountaineers are trying to flip the script against a team that has handled them badly in recent years, while the Red Raiders are trying to keep their season on track.
The recent history between these two has not been kind to WVU. Over the last two seasons, Texas Tech has outscored the Mountaineers 101-15.
That makes this one about more than just another conference game. For West Virginia, a win would mean finally getting over that hump against this opponent, and doing it on the road would make it even bigger.
It would also make the Mountaineers bowl eligible and give them a second win over a top 25 opponent away from home, even if the win against Virginia was technically a neutral-site game.
Texas Tech has plenty at stake too. The Red Raiders need this one to stay in the mix in both the BIG XII race and the College Football playoff race. They already took a loss to Cincinnati, and another setback would leave them without control of their own path.
One of the biggest keys tonight could be what happens on third down. West Virginia’s defense didn’t exactly shut down TCU last time out, but it did make the plays it needed when it mattered most, finishing the game with a key fumble.
That kind of timely stop will matter again here. Texas Tech has converted just 38% of its third downs this season, and that gives Zac Alley’s group a chance to force some long-yardage situations by winning first and second down.
The Mountaineers won’t dominate every series, but they have shown against Cincinnati and TCU that they can get stops when the game is on the line.
The ground game is another major storyline. West Virginia has been running the ball at a high level all season, and that hasn’t changed.
The Mountaineers have piled up over 2,093 rushing yards, which ranks fifth in the country. Texas Tech has also been productive on the ground, with 1,656 rushing yards that rank 18th nationally.
The Red Raiders have dealt with inconsistency at quarterback, but their rushing attack has kept them moving. Tonight, it may come down to which team can impose its run game more effectively.
There’s also the bigger picture hanging over the night. West Virginia already has a top 25 win this season against Virginia, and Rich Rodriguez also beat a top 25 team last year against Houston.
Another one tonight would be a major step forward. Texas Tech, meanwhile, is staring at a stretch that leaves little room for error.
The Red Raiders have already lost to Cincinnati, have fallen behind Utah and BYU in the first CFB rankings, and have Houston right behind them. They also have Oklahoma State next week, a game that could carry even more weight if Oklahoma State beats Kansas State.
The atmosphere should be heavy in Texas Tech’s favor with a night game and a black out theme in the stands. But if West Virginia can hang around and put itself in position late, that crowd could turn fast.
Pressure changes the mood of a stadium in a hurry, and Texas Tech is carrying plenty of it after the Cincinnati loss. That’s the opening WVU has to work with tonight in Lubbock.
In Other News...
Ex-WVU QB Nicco Marchiol Gets Another Chance To Reopen Old What-Ifs
Nicco Marchiol is about to get another meaningful shot, and for West Virginia fans, that alone is enough to stir up some old memories. The former Mountaineer quarterback is set to start for Northwestern against No. 19 Iowa, giving him his first extensive action since last season and putting him back in the kind of spotlight he once occupied in Morgantown.
Marchiols WVU tenure included some of the programs most memorable moments in recent years, including two wins over Pitt, but his path never settled into a clean arc. Coaching changes and shifting offensive schemes helped shape a career that never quite found full traction, and his limited playing time this season at Northwestern has only added to the sense that his story has remained unfinished. Now he gets another chance to change the conversation, even if one familiar thread from his West Virginia days still hangs in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Ross Hodge Just Teased A Nonconference Opportunity WVU Fans Will Love
Ross Hodge is already looking ahead to next seasons nonconference slate, and he dropped a hint on a radio show that should catch the attention of West Virginia fans. The Mountaineers new coach said he will try to line up a game at Madison Square Garden next year, a setting that would give his program a marquee stage and a chance to test itself in one of college basketballs most recognizable arenas.
A matchup there would also fit the kind of East Coast opponent Hodge seemed to have in mind, with St. Johns mentioned as a possible fit. West Virginia and St. Johns have met before, which only adds to the appeal, but nothing is scheduled yet. For now, it is just a promising idea with plenty of intrigue for a fan base that likes the sound of big-stage basketball. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Has A Chance To Silence Doubters Against Texas Tech
West Virginia heads into Week 10 with a chance to do more than just add another win. A victory over Texas Tech would not only give the Mountaineers a quality result in a big conference matchup, it could also push them back into the AP Top 25 conversation and give the program another chance to show it belongs in the national picture.
The challenge is obvious, though, because ESPNs Bill Connellys SP+ model leans toward the Red Raiders in this one. With Mike Hawkins Jr. and Texas Techs Thomas Castellanos among the players to watch, the matchup has the feel of a late-night test that could tell a lot about where West Virginia stands, and the 9:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN should make it a national showcase for a team trying to quiet plenty of outside skepticism. [Read more 🡒]