STILLWATER, Okla. — Coach Mike Gundy didn’t downplay the buildup to Oklahoma State’s showdown against 10th-ranked West Virginia.
Like a guy with that mullet would understate anything.
With the Cowboys trying to re-crack the top 25 and stay in the thick of the Big 12 race, Gundy told his team this week: “If I have to get up here at 49 years old and motivate you to play in this game, then I’ve got the wrong guys sitting in the team room.”
The Mountaineers (6-0, 3-0) are 3.5-point favorites Saturday for homecoming at Oklahoma State (5-2, 3-1) and well aware of the atmosphere that awaits. Let’s cover the need-to-know storylines during this edition of Four-Down Territory:
1. The WVU ‘revenge tour’ continues
No, the Mountaineers aren’t using that label publicly but there’s no denying the long memories these guys carry over losses that stung them last season.
K-State avenged? Check.
TCU repaid? Check.
Next up: Oklahoma State.
Last year’s 33-26 overtime loss, which spoiled homecoming and players’ psyches in Morgantown, left West Virginia bitter over three first-half fumbles that spawned a 17-2 deficit. After knotting the game with 2:44 left in regulation, WVU couldn’t stop Mike Gundy’s fourth-down gamble in overtime as Cowboys quarterback J.W. Walsh scored on a keeper.
Skyler Howard was despondent after losing two of those fumbles and throwing an interception that night, matching a career-high for turnovers. So far in 2016 he has curbed those giveaways — no interceptions among his last 117 passes and zero fumbles all season.
2. Cowboys now a one-QB show
With Walsh no longer around to bolster OSU’s short-yardage package, it’s wholly Mason Rudolph’s offense now. A 6-foot-5 pocket passer, he’s 16th nationally in pass efficiency (though fourth in his own league).
When I spoke with Rudolph about situations that required mobility, he said:
“I feel extremely confident I could put my shoulder down, gain those yards and run somebody over when needed. I’m not going to break off an 80-yard run like J.W. used to, but I’m going to play to my strength and my physicality.”
Don’t forget that Rudolph exploited a crack in the WVU defense last season for a 40-yard run. This season, though, he’s stuck in negative yardage, having been sacked 23 times (second-most in the Big 12) while losing five fumbles.
3. WVU’s chemistry set
Some 16 seniors have started games for the Mountaineers this season, a blend of maturity that partially explains how a team picked seventh in the Big 12 has lapped expectations.
This showed in a secondary that kept its wits after Texas Tech threw a touchdown pass on third-and-29. It surfaced in a defense than shut out TCU on its final seven possessions and an offense that mounted a second-half rally against Kansas State.
“We’re down by 13 vs Kansas State, against a team we haven’t beat, and we played as bad as we could’ve played,” said assistant Ja’Juan Seider. “But our guys found a way to work their way out of it — not fussing and cussing each other out, but lifting each other up.”
4. Can Pokes mix in the run?
After BYU’s Jamaal Williams (169 yards on 24 carries) and TCU’s Kyle Hicks (103 on 15 attempts) cracked numerous tackles, there may be something to exploit in West Virginia’s run defense.
The Mountaineers allow 4.2 yards per carry, ranking only sixth in the league, and their front seven isn’t as big as others around the Big 12. (The second-unit defensive line is young and suspect and could become a larger factor if OSU tempos enough snaps to wear down the starters.
While the Pokes haven’t run the ball particularly well overall (those sacks take a bite), freshman running back Justice Hill looks legit (80.7 yards per game and 5.2 per carry). He also has more help after last week’s three-TD return of senior Chris Carson. The third option is Renee Childs whose seven touchdowns are highlighted by a 64-yarder against Pitt.