MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Several new challenges await Oklahoma State on Saturday night in Morgantown from what the Cowboys have faced over their first three games.
For starters, the Cowboys will make a lengthy trip by way of plane for the first time this season. The team’s only other road game came back on September 5 in a 24-10 season-opening loss at Tulsa, which is only 70 miles from Stillwater. It will be the first game within Big 12 Conference play for both OSU (2-1) and West Virginia (3-0), and the winner will close September with no shortage of momentum or confidence.
In a matchup of tempo-based offenses, the Oklahoma State defense will face a test unlike anything it has thus far in that the Mountaineers rely heavily on quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. in the run game.
Hawkins enters the contest the 12th-leading rusher in all of FBS with 322 yards on 44 carries — one spot ahead of teammate and tailback Cam Cook, who shows 317 yards on 70 attempts.
Hawkins’ rushing total leads all FBS quarterbacks, though Navy’s Braxton Woodson leads in rushing yards per game having totaled 296 across two contests.
An Oklahoma transfer, Hawkins has showcased his speed and vision often early into his WVU tenure. He carried 20 times for 103 yards and one touchdown in the season opener against Coastal Carolina, six times for 96 yards with two TDs the next week against Tennessee Martina and 18 times for 123 yards and three scores in the most recent matchup against Virginia, which had no answer for the WVU signal-caller, who added 10 completions for 190 yards with two touchdowns through the air.
Hawkins’ early season success gives an indication of the type of fit he is for WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez, whose offensive prowess throughout his career has largely been predicated on the mobility of quarterbacks.
“Get on the ground, tackle him. It’s easier said than done, right? I think it’s well-documented,” Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris said. “He’s done it everywhere he’s been. Respect his path. He’s had success at so many different spots, kind of reset at Jacksonville State and had a ton of success there and then going back home to West Virginia, just kind of a cool story in itself. That’s something we haven’t faced this year really is being able to get that extra blocker into run schemes.
“We’re going to have to do a nice job of communication and whenever we do get a chance to get him on the ground. Missed tackles will kill you when you’re fitting this run game up — and it’s not just Hawkins. Cook is a really dynamic back that will punish you as well. We have to communicate and tackle and we have to be on the same page — all 11 of us.”
Oklahoma State has yet to be plagued by opposing quarterbacks on the ground. Tulsa’s Baylor Hayes carried six times for 28 yards, Oregon’s Dante Moore netted 10 rushing yards on six attempts while being sacked four times and Murray State’s Baxter Wright managed 9 yards on five carries last Saturday.
The Mountaineers haven’t hid their preference to operate as a run-heavy attack and lead the Big 12 with 281.3 rushing yards on average, a mark that is sixth nationally and third among power conference programs.
No team has more rushing attempts than the 163 of West Virginia, and only Air Force and Navy are rushing more often on average, with the latter at 54.5 run plays to the Mountaineers’ average of 54.3.
Yet Hawkins’ ability as a passer has also been instrumental to the team’s success offensively.
He’s made the most of 38 passing attempts, having completed 26 for 477 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. Hawkins’ 18.3 yards per completion is tops nationally and he’s completed 12-of-19 throws of 10-plus yards.
“They look so much better as a team from Year 1 to Year 2,” Morris said of the Mountaineers. “They did a nice job in the portal at going out and getting some of their needs and they have some returners back in Year 2 of the system. You can definitely see the growth in it. I watched Hawkins in high school. He could do whatever. He’s really talented. I’ve watched him throw the football. Some of these guys that are great athletes and great runners might have a fault and not be able to throw the football down the field, whereas he can. He’s a true dual-threat quarterback and that’s what makes him so difficult when you have a guy that can do both so well.”
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Safety Jacorey Thomas was among dozens of NCAA athletes to receive a preliminary injunction against the NCAA on Wednesday in Indiana that grants immediate eligibility for a fifth season of competition.
Thomas played at Georgia from 2022-25 and committed to West Virginia on September 7 under the condition that he would be eligible.
Now that he is permitted to play, Thomas could work his way into the Mountaineers’ rotation on the back end in the near future.
A native of Orlando, Thomas started eight games last year and appeared in all 14 for the Bulldogs, recording 45 tackles and one sack.
Thomas was not drafted out of Georgia. He participated in the Carolina Panthers’ rookie minicamp in May, but never signed a professional contract.
West Virginia expects to receive word on the status of cornerback Jason Chambers in a Thursday court ruling that will determine whether Chambers is also permitted a fifth season of eligibility after he played the 2025 season with the Mountaineers. WVU men’s basketball players Brenen Lorient and Javan Buchanan and Mountaineer baseball pitcher Ben McDougal are plaintiffs in the lawsuit with Chambers.
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West Virginia looks to have avoided longterm injury concerns from its 38-27 win against Virginia in Charlotte.
Left guard Nick Krahe left the contest early and looked to be in significant pain while needing assistance to the sideline. He was replaced by Josh Aisosa for several series, but Krahe later returned.
Wideout Jaden Bray suffered an injury later after hauling in a pass and landing on the ball when he was tackled.
Defensive lineman Nate Gabriel also left at one point and was checked out in the medical tent, though he led all Mountaineers along the front with 60 snaps.
Tight end Cam Ball also suffered an injury, but is expected back Saturday for the matchup with the Cowboys.
“Nick Krahe will be a little limited in practice this week, but he should be OK to go,” Rodriguez said. “Cam Ball got knocked out, but we think he’ll be able to play Saturday. I’m trying to think who else. Bray has a little bit of a hip bruise. He’ll be a little limited [Tuesday], but he should be good to go [Wednesday].
“Nate is fine, too. We didn’t have anybody, thankfully. Krahe was out of the game for a few series, but was able to come back in.”