Countdown to Kickoff – Oklahoma State
October 21, 2023 09:00 AM | Football
| Tale of the Tape |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 26.0 | 28.5 |
| Points Against | 24.7 | 22.7 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | 146.5 | 185.7 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game | 143.3 | 119.0 |
| Passing Yards Per Game | 243.5 | 194.8 |
| Passing Yards Allowed Per Game | 249.5 | 226.0 |
| Total Yards Per Game | 390.0 | 380.5 |
| Total Yards Allowed Per Game | 392.8 | 345.0 |
| First Downs For | 119 | 124 |
| First Downs Against | 109 | 110 |
| Fumbles/Lost | 2/1 | 5/3 |
| Interceptions/Return Yards | 6/73 | 5/95 |
| Net Punting | 40.4 | 40.3 |
| Field Goal/Attempts | 15/18 | 5/6 |
| Time of Possession | 29:36 | 33:32 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 35/96 | 34/84 |
| 3rd Down Conversion Defense | 36/88 | 23/81 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 5/8 | 10/19 |
| 4th Down Conversion Defense | 3/12 | 7/14 |
| Sacks By/Yards Lost | 16/86 | 14/90 |
The Mountaineers (4-2) are coming off a disappointing 41-39, Hail Mary loss at Houston on Thursday, Oct. 12. WVU scored 15 points in the game's final 7:28 to overcome an 11-point deficit only to see its comeback attempt foiled on the game's final play.
That loss to the Cougars snapped a four-game winning streak that was the longest of Neal Brown's five-year tenure at WVU. The Mountaineers won those four games with tough, physical defense, effective special teams play and great poise on offense – complementary football that was missing in the Houston loss.
Now, the team must put that dismal performance behind it before facing a vastly improved Oklahoma State team that is finding its way. After losing 33-7 to South Alabama in week three and falling 34-27 at Iowa State a week later, the Cowboys have recovered to win two straight in impressive fashion against Kansas State (31-29) and Kansas (39-32).
"Credit to coach (Mike) Gundy and his staff," Brown said. "They had a tough loss earlier in the year; they've rebounded with two ranked wins in a row and they're playing extremely well. They're one of the hottest teams in the country right now, and I think it starts with their running attack."
Running back Ollie Gordon II has been the constant in those two victories, the sophomore running for 136 yards and a touchdown against Kansas State before contributing 284 all-purpose yards against the Jayhawks.
The Fort Worth, Texas, resident ran 29 times for 168 yards and a touchdown and caught six passes for 116 yards and another score. He comes into Saturday's game on a streak of three straight 100-yard rushing performances, including a 121-yard effort in the loss to Iowa State.
The Mountaineers are well aware of Gordon after he ran 17 times for 136 yards and a touchdown in last year's game in Stillwater.
"He's been special the last two weeks, and he's a real physical runner," Brown said.
Former Texas Tech quarterback Alan Bowman is now playing for his third school after a two-year stint at Michigan. Bowman played in the Red Raiders' 2018 loss to the Mountaineers in Lubbock when he completed 9-of-20 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.
After finally settling on Bowman behind center, Gundy has seen his signal caller complete 100 of his 176 pass attempts for 1,084 yards and four touchdowns. Bowman threw for 235 in the Kansas State win and is coming off a 28-for-41, 336-yard passing performance last week against Kansas.
Jaden Bray (23 receptions for 296 yards), Rashod Owens (18-224) and Brennan Presley (27-217) are Bowman's top three pass catching targets.
"(Bowman) is getting the ball to their playmakers, and they have skill at wideout," Brown pointed out. "It will be a huge challenge for us defensively against that offense."
New defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo has switched to a version of the 3-3-5 stack defense he learned at Emporia State. The Cowboys are giving up 392.8 yards per game, which ranks 86th this week, but they have been effective stopping teams in the red zone and on fourth down.
Linebacker Nickolas Martin leads Oklahoma State with 54 tackles, eight tackles for losses, three quarterback pressures and an interception.
"It's going to come down to who can win the turnover battle and who scores in the red zone? Who scores touchdowns and who can hold the opponent to field goals or force some takeaways down there?" Brown said.
Overall, the Cowboys have generated 37 tackles for losses, 16 sacks and six interceptions in six games. Pass defense has been an issue, OSU giving up 249.5 yards per game through the air and ranks 108th nationally with a 146.25 pass efficiency rating.
West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene, coming off by-far the best passing performance of his career at Houston, will look to build on that this afteroon. The junior completed 20-of-38 passes for a career-high 391 yards with two touchdowns.
Explosive plays that were lacking in West Virginia's first five games came in abundance against Houston. NC State transfer Devin Carter showed season highs of five catches for 116 yards, while tight end Kole Taylor continues to be a force with five catches for 62 yards.
The WVU run game, effective in wins over Duquesne, Pitt, Texas Tech and TCU, was less effective against the Cougars with starting offensive linemen Wyatt Milum and Tomas Rimac sidelined. Brown said earlier this week that he expects Milum to return to the field this afternoon, while Rimac is probably still another week away from being ready.
Brown also said safety Aubrey Burks practiced earlier this week, which is a good development for the defense.
"We've got to respond, and life is all about response," Brown explained. "We had a game that didn't go the way we wanted it to go. We definitely didn't finish it in a manner that any of us have ever experienced, so you've got to stand up and fight."
Here is today's Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – The Mountaineers have produced nine scoring drives lasting TEN plays or longer so far this season.
9 – West Virginia has held six of its last NINE opponents to 21 points or fewer.
8 – West Virginia ranks EIGHTH nationally in third-down defense this week allowing its opponents just a 28.4% success rate.
7 – The WVU defense is producing SEVEN tackles for loss per game, which ranks 22nd nationally this week.
6 – SIX players have recorded at least 20 tackles so far this season. They are Lee Kpogba (46), Beanie Bishop Jr. (31), Anthony Wilson (29), Trey Lathan and Jared Bartlett (27) and Hershey McLaurin (22).
5 – The Mountaineer offense has generated FIVE scoring plays from scrimmage covering at least 35 yards. The longest scoring play was Garrett Greene's 70-yard touchdown pass to Hudson Clement in the Duquesne victory.
4 – Oklahoma State has won FOUR times in Morgantown, including a 24-3 triumph in 2021.
3 – The Mountaineers have the THIRD most rushing touchdowns in the Big 12 this week with 14.
2 – Quarterback Garrett Greene produced multiple rushing touchdowns for the SECOND straight game on Oct. 12 against Houston.
1 – Redshirt freshman wide receiver Hudson Clement ranks FIRST nationally with an average of 24.8 yards per reception.
Today's Homecoming affair will kick off at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN (Mike Monaco, Robert Griffin III and Kris Budden).
Mountaineer Sports Network radio coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. with the GoMart 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 and the popular Varsity Network and WVU Gameday apps.
Oklahoma State leads the series 9-5, including a 4-2 mark in Morgantown. West Virginia won last year's game in Stillwater 24-19.
Be sure to stop back afterward for complete postgame coverage.
Players Mentioned
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