Countdown to Kickoff - Kansas
September 21, 2019 10:00 AM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Which Kansas team will West Virginia see today in Lawrence, the one that lost 12-7 to Coastal Carolina two weeks ago or the one that blew out Boston College 48-24 in Chestnut Hill eight days ago?
Neal Brown is anticipating seeing the one that played so well against the Eagles.
"Boston College is traditionally a physical team, and I thought Kansas played extremely well, especially in the second half," he said.
Kansas (2-1) might have the Big 12's best one-two punch in the backfield in senior Khalil Herbert and sophomore Pooka Williams.
West Virginia players are very familiar with Hebert after he ran for 291 yards against the Mountaineers in Lawrence two years ago, while Williams was last year's Big 12 Freshman of the Year after rushing for 1,125 yards and scoring seven touchdowns.
The duo has accounted for nearly all of Kansas' 605 rushing yards with Herbert coming off a 187-yard performance at BC.
Run defense is still one of the uncertainties for WVU. The Mountaineers (2-1) are allowing an average of 182.7 yards per game on the ground. NC State was effective running the ball against West Virginia's defense until the second half when WVU got a lead and forced the Wolfpack to throw.
If Herbert and Williams can have success running the ball that could be a major issue for the Mountaineers.
With the exception of the season opener against Indiana State, Kansas has run the ball effectively this year, even in its loss to the Chanticleers. However, Williams sat out the Indiana State game while serving a one-game disciplinary suspension for violating team rules.
This is West Virginia's fourth appearance in Lawrence with two of those resulting in blowout victories. Kansas' lone win since the series reboot in 2012 when West Virginia joined the Big 12 came in 2013, a 31-19 upset of the Mountaineers.
The two programs met once before that in 1941 in Morgantown when Bill Kern's Mountaineers produced a 21-0 victory.
"We've got to continue to get better and we've got to handle the trip much better than we did the first away game that we had (38-7 loss at Missouri)," Brown said. "But our guys are excited about it and we're looking forward to starting Big 12 play."
A 4:30 p.m. kickoff has been assigned for today's game, which will be livestreamed through Big 12 Now on ESPN+ (Dave Lamont, Mike Golic Jr., Lericia Harris and Steven Fenig). Click here for more information on how to access Big 12 Now.
The Mountaineer Sports Network from Learfield IMG College radio coverage begins at 1 p.m. with the GoMart Mountaineer Tailgate Show on affiliates throughout the state and online via WVUsports.com and the popular mobile app WVU Gameday.
Tony Caridi, Dwight Wallace and Jed Drenning will take over with regular network coverage beginning at 3:3:0 p.m.
Here is today's Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – The Mountaineer offense has produced three scoring drives of TEN plays or longer this year. WVU's season-long, 11-play, 89-yard drive against NC State resulted in an Evan Staley 23-yard field goal in last week's win over the Wolfpack.
9 – West Virginia comes into today's game with just NINE players possessing at least 10 game's worth of career starting experience. Senior left tackle Colton McKivitz leads the way with 38 career starts.
8 – Linebacker Josh Chandler's EIGHT tackles per game rank ninth among Big 12 defenders this week.
7 – There are SEVEN true freshmen listed on West Virginia's two-deep roster for today's game – WR Ali Jennings, WR Winston Wright Jr., NT Jordan Jefferson, CB Tae Mayo, FS Kerry Martin Jr., S Tykee Smith and CB Nicktroy Fortune.
6 – The Stills brothers, Darius and Dante, are responsible for SIX of West Virginia's nine sacks so far this season. The Fairmont Duo has also produced 10 ½ tackles for losses in three games.
5 – Linebacker Dylan Tonkery and wide receiver T.J. Simmons have made FIVE career starts heading into today's game against Kansas.
4 – All FOUR of West Virginia's 20-plus-yard scoring plays this year have come via the pass. WVU's longest run from scrimmage so far was quarterback Austin Kendall's 25-yard scramble in the second half of last week's NC State win.
3 – THREE of senior George Campbell's four receptions this year have gone for touchdowns. He's had touchdown catches in all three games this year.
2 – West Virginia's TWO fumble recoveries this year rank second in the Big 12 and 40th nationally.
1 – Freshman Sam James produced his FIRST career 100-yard receiving performance during last Saturday's NC State win, catching nine passes for 155 yards and one touchdown.
Enjoy today's game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete postgame coverage.
Neal Brown is anticipating seeing the one that played so well against the Eagles.
"Boston College is traditionally a physical team, and I thought Kansas played extremely well, especially in the second half," he said.
Kansas (2-1) might have the Big 12's best one-two punch in the backfield in senior Khalil Herbert and sophomore Pooka Williams.
West Virginia players are very familiar with Hebert after he ran for 291 yards against the Mountaineers in Lawrence two years ago, while Williams was last year's Big 12 Freshman of the Year after rushing for 1,125 yards and scoring seven touchdowns.
The duo has accounted for nearly all of Kansas' 605 rushing yards with Herbert coming off a 187-yard performance at BC.
Run defense is still one of the uncertainties for WVU. The Mountaineers (2-1) are allowing an average of 182.7 yards per game on the ground. NC State was effective running the ball against West Virginia's defense until the second half when WVU got a lead and forced the Wolfpack to throw.
If Herbert and Williams can have success running the ball that could be a major issue for the Mountaineers.
With the exception of the season opener against Indiana State, Kansas has run the ball effectively this year, even in its loss to the Chanticleers. However, Williams sat out the Indiana State game while serving a one-game disciplinary suspension for violating team rules.
This is West Virginia's fourth appearance in Lawrence with two of those resulting in blowout victories. Kansas' lone win since the series reboot in 2012 when West Virginia joined the Big 12 came in 2013, a 31-19 upset of the Mountaineers.
The two programs met once before that in 1941 in Morgantown when Bill Kern's Mountaineers produced a 21-0 victory.
"We've got to continue to get better and we've got to handle the trip much better than we did the first away game that we had (38-7 loss at Missouri)," Brown said. "But our guys are excited about it and we're looking forward to starting Big 12 play."
A 4:30 p.m. kickoff has been assigned for today's game, which will be livestreamed through Big 12 Now on ESPN+ (Dave Lamont, Mike Golic Jr., Lericia Harris and Steven Fenig). Click here for more information on how to access Big 12 Now.
The Mountaineer Sports Network from Learfield IMG College radio coverage begins at 1 p.m. with the GoMart Mountaineer Tailgate Show on affiliates throughout the state and online via WVUsports.com and the popular mobile app WVU Gameday.
Tony Caridi, Dwight Wallace and Jed Drenning will take over with regular network coverage beginning at 3:3:0 p.m.
Here is today's Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – The Mountaineer offense has produced three scoring drives of TEN plays or longer this year. WVU's season-long, 11-play, 89-yard drive against NC State resulted in an Evan Staley 23-yard field goal in last week's win over the Wolfpack.
9 – West Virginia comes into today's game with just NINE players possessing at least 10 game's worth of career starting experience. Senior left tackle Colton McKivitz leads the way with 38 career starts.
8 – Linebacker Josh Chandler's EIGHT tackles per game rank ninth among Big 12 defenders this week.
7 – There are SEVEN true freshmen listed on West Virginia's two-deep roster for today's game – WR Ali Jennings, WR Winston Wright Jr., NT Jordan Jefferson, CB Tae Mayo, FS Kerry Martin Jr., S Tykee Smith and CB Nicktroy Fortune.
6 – The Stills brothers, Darius and Dante, are responsible for SIX of West Virginia's nine sacks so far this season. The Fairmont Duo has also produced 10 ½ tackles for losses in three games.
5 – Linebacker Dylan Tonkery and wide receiver T.J. Simmons have made FIVE career starts heading into today's game against Kansas.
4 – All FOUR of West Virginia's 20-plus-yard scoring plays this year have come via the pass. WVU's longest run from scrimmage so far was quarterback Austin Kendall's 25-yard scramble in the second half of last week's NC State win.
3 – THREE of senior George Campbell's four receptions this year have gone for touchdowns. He's had touchdown catches in all three games this year.
2 – West Virginia's TWO fumble recoveries this year rank second in the Big 12 and 40th nationally.
1 – Freshman Sam James produced his FIRST career 100-yard receiving performance during last Saturday's NC State win, catching nine passes for 155 yards and one touchdown.
Enjoy today's game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete postgame coverage.
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