Countdown to Kickoff - Oklahoma State - West Virginia University Athletics

Countdown to Kickoff - Oklahoma State

September 26, 2020 09:00 AM | Football

By: John Antonik

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – All of that had work West Virginia put forth during the offseason will be put to the test when the Mountaineers face 15^th-ranked Oklahoma State today in steamy Boone Pickens Stadium.

OSU was picked to finish second in the Big 12 Conference and boasts some of the most explosive playmakers in the league this year.

"Offensively, they've got some weapons," West Virginia coach Neal Brown said. "Obviously, Chuba (Hubbard) is as good as any running back in the country. Tylan Wallace is back in the fold, and I think Dillon Stoner has been extremely productive so it's a huge challenge for us."

However, the Cowboys shot mostly blanks during last Saturday's tougher-than-expected 16-7 victory over Tulsa.

Of course, a lot of that had to do with starting quarterback Spencer Sanders' first-quarter right ankle injury that put him on the sidelines in a protective boot for the rest of the game.

Also, starting right guard Cole Birmingham was hobbled by a foot injury that Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy termed "more serious" than Sanders' causing the Cowboys to rotate many different players up front.

"We were below average up front based on it being musical chairs," Gundy said earlier this week. "You can call it like you want but when you move people around that much the continuity is difficult."

There wasn't much continuity at the quarterback position either until Gundy inserted true freshman Shane Illingworth in the third quarter. The Norco, California, resident responded by completing four of his five pass attempts for 74 yards and leading Oklahoma State to 13 fourth-quarter points, including Chuba Hubbard's 3-yard touchdown run to put it ahead 10-7.

Hubbard ran 27 times for 93 yards and Wallace, an NFL-caliber wide receiver, caught a team-best four passes for 94 yards.

Gundy said earlier this week that Sanders could be out of his boot by Wednesday, but his status for Saturday's game is unknown.

Defensively, Oklahoma State was terrific, limiting the Golden Hurricane to just 278 total yards and 0-for-11 on third down.

Ten of 11 starters from last year's unit that held West Virginia to just 13 points in Morgantown will be on the field once again this afternoon.

"If I'm not mistaken, I think they return the most experience on both sides of the ball in the league," Brown said.

The Mountaineer Sports Network from Learfield IMG College radio coverage begins at noon with the Go-Mart Mountaineer Tailgate Show leading into regular network coverage with Tony Caridi, Dwight Wallace and Jed Drenning at 2:30 p.m. on stations throughout West Virginia and online via WVUsports.com.

The game will be televised nationally on ABC.

For the first time this season, WVU will be performing in front of fans when it plays later today. Oklahoma State announced last month that Boone Pickens Stadium will be limited to 25% capacity because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The official attendance for last Saturday's Tulsa game was listed as 14,668.

"Our guys are looking forward to getting on the road and getting Big 12 play started," Brown said.

Here is today's Countdown to Kickoff, presented by Encova:

10 – The Mountaineers have recorded at least TEN first downs through the air in 19 of their last 25 games.

9 – Today's game will be West Virginia's NINTH Big 12 opener since joining the conference in 2012. The Mountaineers are 5-3 in Big 12 openers, including a 2-1 record on the road.

8 – West Virginia was predicted to finish EIGHTH in the Preseason Big 12 Media Poll released this summer. It's the fourth time WVU has been picked to finish eighth since joining the league in 2012, but the Mountaineers have finished higher than its predicted finish six times since then.

7 – Quarterback Jarret Doege ranks SEVENTH nationally in passing efficiency following his week-one performance against Eastern Kentucky when he completed 19-of-25 for 228 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

6 – Today's game will be West Virginia's SIXTH appearance in Stillwater where the Mountaineers hold a 2-3 record. WVU's last win in Stillwater came in 2014.

5 – West Virginia boasts 18 FIFTH-year seniors on the 2020 roster: Alonzo Addae, Chase Behrndt, Charlie Benton, Dante Bonamico, Michael Brown, Zach Davis, Lorenzo Dorr, Osman Kamara, Austin Kendall, Jake Long, Sean Mahone, Kyle Poland, Jeffrey Pooler Jr., T.J. Simmons, Evan Staley, Tyler Sumpter, Dylan Tonkery and Scottie Young.

4 – The Mountaineer offense has just FOUR returning players with more than 10 career starts – WR T.J. Simmons (15), C Chase Behrndt (13), WR Sam James (13) and LG James Gmiter (11).

3 – West Virginia had THREE explosive plays in the running game during its 56-10 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 12 – Leddie Brown's runs of 38 and 36 yards and Alec Sinkfield's 30-yard jaunt.

2 – TWO assistant coaches are in charge of the Mountaineer defense this year – cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae is responsible for the secondary calls while defensive line coach Jordan Lesley will handle the defensive front calls.

1 – Today's game will be Neal Brown's FIRST-ever appearance at Boone Pickens Stadium as West Virginia's football coach.

Enjoy the game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete postgame coverage.