Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Mountaineers Finish No. 20 in AP Poll
January 08, 2019 10:23 AM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Dana Holgorsen's final team at West Virginia University ended the season just like his first one in 2011 – ranked in the Top 25.
The Associated Press deemed the Mountaineers' 8-4 record good enough for a No. 20 ranking in its final poll released after last night's national championship game.
West Virginia, with Heisman Trophy candidate Will Grier and a strong supporting cast returning, began the year ranked No. 17 and rose to as high as six before suffering a disappointing 30-14 loss at Iowa State.
The Mountaineers recovered to win their next three games against Baylor, Texas and TCU and was in contention for a College Football Playoff spot before blowing a 17-point halftime at Oklahoma State and losing 45-41.
With a Big 12 Championship game appearance still on the line, the Mountaineers also dropped their home finale to Oklahoma despite scoring 56 points and generating 704 yards of offense against the Sooners.
After those two defeats, West Virginia went from a possible Sugar Bowl appearance to the Camping World Bowl in Orlando, Florida, where star players Grier, Yodny Cajuste and Gary Jennings Jr. opted not to play.
Without them, Syracuse defeated West Virginia 34-18.
It was the third top 25 finish for Holgorsen, who left West Virginia three days after the bowl game to take the University of Houston job. Holgorsen's other top 25 finishes were in 2011 (No. 17) and 2016 (No. 18).
This season marked the 20thtime in school history the Mountaineers ended the year ranked in the AP poll, and the ninth time since 2002.
Don Nehlen owns the most AP poll finishes with six, followed by Rich Rodriguez's four Top 25 finishes in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Art Lewis and Holgorsen had three teams finish the year nationally ranked; Bill Stewart had two, and Jim Carlen and Bobby Bowden each produced one Top 20 finish.
The Associated Press deemed the Mountaineers' 8-4 record good enough for a No. 20 ranking in its final poll released after last night's national championship game.
West Virginia, with Heisman Trophy candidate Will Grier and a strong supporting cast returning, began the year ranked No. 17 and rose to as high as six before suffering a disappointing 30-14 loss at Iowa State.
The Mountaineers recovered to win their next three games against Baylor, Texas and TCU and was in contention for a College Football Playoff spot before blowing a 17-point halftime at Oklahoma State and losing 45-41.
With a Big 12 Championship game appearance still on the line, the Mountaineers also dropped their home finale to Oklahoma despite scoring 56 points and generating 704 yards of offense against the Sooners.
After those two defeats, West Virginia went from a possible Sugar Bowl appearance to the Camping World Bowl in Orlando, Florida, where star players Grier, Yodny Cajuste and Gary Jennings Jr. opted not to play.
Without them, Syracuse defeated West Virginia 34-18.
It was the third top 25 finish for Holgorsen, who left West Virginia three days after the bowl game to take the University of Houston job. Holgorsen's other top 25 finishes were in 2011 (No. 17) and 2016 (No. 18).
This season marked the 20thtime in school history the Mountaineers ended the year ranked in the AP poll, and the ninth time since 2002.
Don Nehlen owns the most AP poll finishes with six, followed by Rich Rodriguez's four Top 25 finishes in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Art Lewis and Holgorsen had three teams finish the year nationally ranked; Bill Stewart had two, and Jim Carlen and Bobby Bowden each produced one Top 20 finish.
Players Mentioned
Ryan Ward | April 6
Monday, April 06
Coach Ryan Garrett | April 6
Monday, April 06
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 6
Monday, April 06
Geimere Latimer | April 2
Thursday, April 02
