MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — No. 9 Oklahoma brings multiple Heisman candidates (and multiple losses) into the frosty mid-Atlantic, where 14th-ranked West Virginia must put up or shut up about being undervalued.
Imagine the Thanksgiving table chatter next week should the Mountaineers (8-1, 5-1) finally beat OU and climb into the playoff chase.
“Why not us?” said West Virginia assistant Ja’Juan Seider.
The game was approaching a sellout this week despite students getting a a jump on fall break and Oklahoma requesting only 1,500 tickets out of 3,500 visiting-team maximum. Expect a rowdy night at Milan Puskar Stadium for WVU’s most consequential home game since joining the Big 12.
“You get excited to go play and try to take a win away from somebody in their own house,” said quarterback Baker Mayfield, whose Sooners (8-2, 7-0) haven’t lost since the nonconference days of September.
“The guys can kinda feel it, how much is on the line. You don’t have to pick up the intensity for these types of weeks. The guys are ready for it. They know what’s going on.”
Here’s what’s going on as we wade into Four-Down Territory:
1. That Sooners monkey rides heavy
For West Virginia upperclassmen, there’s no ducking their 0-4 record against Oklahoma in Big 12.
“Been here a long time and haven’t beaten them,” said fifth-year senior center Tyler Orlosky.
In 2012, OU escaped 50-49 when Landry Jones found Kenny Stills with 24 seconds left. WVU aided the Sooners’ 16-7 win the next year as Mario Alford mishandled a punt and Kevin White lost a red-zone fumble.
The 2014 game, most notable for Samaje Perine’s monster performance, actually turned on Aaron Ross’ 100-yard kick return before the half.
Oklahoma forced five takeaways last season in a 44-24 beating that started WVU down a four-game skid.
“This is one of those games that has been holding us back the last few years,” said Mountaineers linebacker Al-Rasheed Benton. “If we can get over that hump this week we can start making a lot more progress.”
As if a game with conference championship implications needed more fervor, there’s also the curious positioning of the two-loss Sooners five spots ahead of West Virginia in the CFP rankings. Motivation mounts.
“I’ve been going against these guys four years now and still haven’t won one,” said defensive lineman Christian Brown. “It would be great to beat them and get that monkey off our back. They’ve got good players and we’ve got good players. It just comes down to Saturday night.”
2. Is WVU offense mentally/physically healthy?
After throwing three ill-conceived interceptions at Texas, will Skyler Howard regain his poise? (Probably depends on how many third-and-longs he faces.)
Following brief cameos in Austin, can injured running backs Justin Crawford and Rushel Shell give WVU anything this week? (Sounds as if Crawford is healthy while Shell remains limited.)
And did Ka’Raun White’s spectacular interference-be-damned touchdown grab against UT bring an end to his case of the drops? (“I’ve been in his butt a little hard lately, because I’ve got a problem with drops,” said receivers coach Tyron Carrier. “But he made plays at Texas. Love it.”)
3. The defense can’t rest
West Virginia’s defense allows the fewest points per game in the Big 12 and the second-fewest yards per play. This exceeds every preseason expectation and defines why this game even matters in a national context.
Still, a Texas offense not nearly so diverse and skilled as Oklahoma’s piled up 538 yards last week. Tony Gibson’s linebackers must eliminate the run creases. Bruce Tall’s defensive linemen must note Baker Mayfield’s escape windows. And West Virginia’s banged-up cornerbacks must force someone other than Dede Westbrook to produce.
Cornerbacks coach Blue Adams, blessed with All-American candidate Rasul Douglas, needs “more guys to get where Rasul’s at, more guys to play at that level.”
That could mean better play from Maurice Fleming on the opposite side now that his ankle is healthier. Or a reprise of Elijah Battle? Adams definitely demands more than Antonio Crawford showed on a missed tackle that led to a Texas touchdown.
“We’ve got to make those tackles — it’s our job description,” Adams said. “If I tied both of his shoes up together, I’m expecting him to make that tackle. That kills you faster than anything.”
Crawford, playing with a strapped-up left shoulder since the BYU game in Week 3, immediately clutched the injured arm after whiffing on the receiver.
“I don’t care, that cannot happen,” Adams said. “Shoulder, knee, finger, it’s irrelevant. If you’re going to get on the grass, then I’m expecting for you to roll.”
4. The new Striker?
There’s no more Eric Striker to terrorize Skyler Howard’s blind side, but WVU must game plan around a new threat, No. 31 Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
In his first year starting, the 6-foot-2, 245-pound redshirt junior owns a team-high seven sacks, emerging as the lead disruptor on a defense that won’t be confused for any of OU’s best.
The kid known as Obo kept his status as a high school football star in Houston secret from his Nigerian-born parents, who preferred him focusing on academics. West Virginia, having signed another player from Nigerian lineage (Noble Nwachukwu), was among the schools that offered Okoronkwo in 2013 before he chose the Sooners over Oklahoma State.
“He shows some signs of being like Striker,” said Seider, whose running backs have studied up on locating Okoronko in pass-protection. “He jumps out at you on film.”