MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It’s a Big 12-SEC battle when West Virginia meets Texas A&M in the 2014 AutoZone Liberty Bowl played at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium this afternoon.
Today’s game is the first-ever meeting between West Virginia and Texas A&M, but it will be the 51st matchup against an SEC school. The Mountaineers hold a 24-24-2 all-time record against the SEC, with eight of those wins coming against Kentucky.
Today’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN and the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG will provide radio coverage to affiliates throughout the state as well as online through leanStream and West Virginia’s GameDay app.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET.
Here is today’s Countdown to Kickoff, presented by the Friends of Coal:
10 – West Virginia has run 69 or fewer plays just TEN times under Dana Holgorsen.
9 – West Virginia’s passing offense is ranked NINTH in the country averaging 314.6 yards per game.
8 – In Dana Holgorsen’s four seasons at WVU the Mountaineers have produced EIGHT games with more than 600 yards of total offense.
7 – Sophomore running back Rushel Shell leads the team with SEVEN rushing touchdowns in 2014. Shell also leads the Mountaineers with 766 yards and an average of 69.6 yards per game.
6 – Mario Alford ranks SIXTH nationally in kickoff return yards per game (27.7). Alford has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this season.
5 – The Mountaineers have faced FIVE teams ranked in the top 25 when they played them this season: Alabama, Oklahoma, Baylor, TCU and Kansas State.
4 – West Virginia’s defense is permitting only 4.6 points per game in the FOURTH quarter this season.
3 – West Virginia ranks 15th in the nation in THREE-and-out defense with an average of 4.8 per game this year.
2 – Quarterback Skyler Howard will be making his SECOND career start this afternoon. Howard’s first career start against Iowa State resulted in a 37-24 Mountaineer victory over the Cyclones.
1 – Today’s game will be the FIRST-ever meeting between West Virginia and Texas A&M in football.
Enjoy today’s game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete postgame coverage.
