West Virginia didn’t leave Lubbock with the result it wanted, but the bigger takeaway from Saturday night is harder to ignore: the Mountaineers are moving in the right direction.
That’s not the easiest sell after a loss, especially when the defensive issues were on full display again. The first-half defense was rough, and nobody inside the program is pretending otherwise.
Still, the fact that WVU pushed No. 15 Texas Tech to the edge says something about how far this rebuild has already come under Rich Rodriguez.
This wasn’t just another close game. Texas Tech has been the standard in the Big 12 over the last two seasons, and the Red Raiders had outscored West Virginia 101-15 in the previous two meetings.
That backdrop matters. Even with the final score going against them, the Mountaineers showed they’ve closed the gap in a way that should register.
Was this a game West Virginia should have won? Yes.
There were several key plays that swung the outcome, and those deserve their own breakdown later. But taking the reigning Big 12 champs to the wire on their home field after getting beaten so badly in recent meetings is a real sign of progress.
And there’s still plenty left on the schedule. West Virginia has three regular-season games remaining, and if it handles Kansas at home next week, it will become bowl-eligible.
After that come two more chances against ranked opponents, Houston and Utah. With the way the offense is operating, the Mountaineers are capable of winning one of those shootouts.
The frustration from the fan base is obvious. Losses like this sting, especially when they feel like the same wound getting reopened.
But the foundation is different now. The offense has an identity.
The offense has star power. The next step is finding answers on defense.
That doesn’t mean WVU is where it wants to be. It isn’t. But it’s also nowhere near the wreck it once was.
The offense was fixed in one offseason, and that’s why it’s fair to wonder whether the staff can make similar progress on the other side of the ball this winter when the transfer portal opens. If Mike Hawkins Jr. re-signs, the coaching staff and “front office” should have access to a new level of talent, because players will see how quickly this program has improved and want to line up alongside Hawkins.
This was never going to be a quick turnaround. Games like this are part of the process, and they come with the territory in a rebuild. The Mountaineers will take the lessons from Saturday, and they should be better for it the next time they take the field.
Rich Rodriguez will have West Virginia competing for conference championships sooner than you realize.
In Other News...
WVU Wasted A Historic Night In A Loss Fans Will Hate
West Virginias trip to Texas Tech turned into one of those maddening Big 12 shootouts that leaves everyone exhausted and none the happier for it. In a game packed with offense and little margin for error, the Mountaineers were part of a first half that produced more than 892 yards of total offense, and Mike Hawkins Jr. still managed to carve out a place in the school record book by setting the program mark for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season.
Even with that kind of individual milestone, the result is what will sting most. West Virginia fell 53-48 after defensive breakdowns and a handful of critical late plays swung the finish in Texas Techs favor, turning a historic night for Hawkins into a loss the Mountaineers will be replaying for a while. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs PFF Review Shows Who Carried The Offense In Texas Tech Loss
Pro Football Focus review of West Virginias shootout loss to Texas Tech offered a clear snapshot of where the offense held up and where it broke down. Quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. graded out well thanks to strong passing efficiency, giving the Mountaineers enough production to stay in the game, while the offensive line had a much tougher night trying to keep the pocket clean.
The defensive grades told a similar story of a few bright spots surrounded by too many issues. K.J. Henson and linebacker Isaiah Patterson drew notice for their work, but the secondary came under fire for shaky positioning and an inability to finish plays, leaving West Virginia with more questions than answers as it looks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Hawkins Jr. Is Giving West Virginia One Huge Reason To Worry
Mike Hawkins Jr. has already put his name alongside one of the most recognizable figures in West Virginia football, and he did it in a way that keeps changing the conversation around the Mountaineers. With 19 rushing touchdowns through nine games, he broke Pat Whites mark for the most rushing scores by a West Virginia player in a single season, a reminder of just how central he has become to the offense.
The bigger issue for West Virginia is what comes next. Hawkins has a chance to keep climbing the record book and potentially set a standard for a non-service academy quarterback that would draw national attention, but only if he remains in Morgantown. For a program that wants to build real momentum, his future with the Mountaineers may be every bit as important as what he has already done on the field. [Read more 🡒]