MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia has accepted an invitation to play in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee on New Year’s Eve. The Mountaineers will face the Tennessee Volunteers (3-7).
BREAKING: We’re excited to host @WVUfootball in the 62nd @AutoZone Liberty Bowl! #AZLB62 #HailWV
?️ Tickets ? https://t.co/R0vrtqttKD pic.twitter.com/PP4ZZY13en
— AutoZone Liberty Bowl (@AZOLibertyBowl) December 20, 2020
Ticket information can be viewed here. The game will kickoff at 4 p.m. eastern time and will be televised by ESPN.
The Volunteers have lost seven of their last eight games, with the only victory in that span coming over Vanderbilt. Each of UT’s seven losses this season have come by 11 points or more.
One of Tennessee’s top contributors is Huntington High School graduate Darnell Wright. He has started, primarily at right tackle, on the Volunteer offensive front for the last two seasons. Wright earned Freshman All-SEC honors in 2019.
In most seasons, teams must win six games to become bowl eligible. That requirement has been waived this season. The Mountaineers last faced the Volunteers in the 2018 season opener in Charlotte. WVU prevailed 40-14.
WVU last competed in the Liberty Bowl after their 2014 season. They were defeated by Texas A&M 45-37.
West Virginia posted a 5-4 record this season. Their season finale against Oklahoma was canceled due to COVID protocols and team activities were paused until December 17. Players reconvened in Morgantown late this week. The team has had two light practices since returning to campus.
“We are going to make sure that this is a rewarding experience,” said WVU head coach Neal Brown. “We have only played one game since November 21st. So our guys are excited to get back. We’ll use this week to kind of get back in the flow and start preparations for Tennessee.
“Unfortunately for our seniors, they didn’t have a traditional Senior Day due to the Oklahoma game getting canceled twice. We are using this game as a way to salute our seniors as they exit.”
Brown estimates that the team will have nine or ten practices prior to kickoff against Tennessee.
“The last time we played, we did not play very well. And I don’t think that was a good representation of who we have been during this 2020 season. We want to respond and finish in the right way.”
The Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year Tony Fields II has elected not to compete in the bowl game, but all other Mountaineers are expected to be available.
WVU transfer defensive back Scottie Young announced he has been cleared to play in the bowl game. He sat out this season after transferring from Arizona. Student-athletes sitting out a season after a transfer have recently been awarded immediate eligibility by the NCAA in all sports.
“He has had a tremendous year. It was very similar to Alonzo Addae. What Alonzo did a year ago, he was on the scout team and scout special teams, and really made himself a better football player. And it is showing,” Brown said. “Scottie is having that same kind of year. We have moved him all over the place. He has a great attitude.”
The wait is over ! pic.twitter.com/P8lUsmL2Iu
— scottie young (@_scottieoo) December 20, 2020
Other Big 12 Bowl selections:
Oklahoma vs. Florida in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic – Dec. 30
Iowa State vs. Oregon in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl – Jan. 2
TCU vs. Arkansas in the Mercari Texas Bowl – Dec. 31
Texas vs. Colorado in the Valero Alamo Bowl – Dec. 29
Oklahoma State vs. Miami-FL in the Cheez-It Bowl – Dec. 29