The Mountaineers will attempt a quick rebound in their all-time series against TCU this Saturday after losing their four game win streak last season.
Historically, West Virginia holds a 7-5 record against the Horned Frogs, including a victory in 1984, which was the two teams’ only matchup before WVU joined the Big 12 in 2012. In the 11 straight years of WVU vs. TCU games since then, the series has been fairly even, but, from 2018 to 2021, it did not feel that way, as the Mountaineers held a four game win streak in the series before falling to TCU in 2022.
As the Horned Frogs broke the Mountaineers’ winning streak over them last season, though, the program also went on to play in the College Football Playoff National Championship. As such, head coach Sonny Dykes is certainly capable of making an impact in TCU’s favor on the history of this short-lived rivalry.
With history still on the side of the Mountaineers, though, there are a few moments that either team could look to for motivation ahead of this weekend.
2012 and 2013: Rivalry begins with overtime thrillers in back-to-back seasons
In West Virginia’s debut season as a member of the Big 12, the Horned Frogs welcomed the Mountaineers to the conference by defeating them 39-38 after two overtimes in Morgantown. The loss was the third straight of WVU’s season after starting on a five game winning streak.
The game ended on a two point conversion that, if missed, would have kept the Mountaineers on top. The Josh Boyce reception was very controversial, as, even after review, it is difficult to say whether or not the pass was completed. Nevertheless, officials ruled in favor of TCU, and the Horned Frogs won the game.
The next season, Dana Holgorsen’s team returned the favor. In Fort Worth, Texas, the Mountaineers found themselves in overtime again after a TCU field goal, but they did not allow the game to go any further this time, as Josh Lambert kicked a field goal of his own to win the game 30-27 for WVU.
2018-2021: Mountaineers Winning Streak
While Holgorsen fully led the charge of the win streak against Texas Tech, he only coached the first game in the streak against TCU, with three of the four straight victories coming under the direction of Neal Brown.
In the 2018 home win, the seventh nationally ranked West Virginia won convincingly to bring their record to 8-1. Down 3-0 after the first quarter, the Mountaineers held TCU scoreless for the rest of the game until the final quarter. In doing so, the offense, led by quarterback Will Grier and a solid all-around run game, hiked up the score to 24-3 in the second quarter, ending the game with a 47-10 victory.
In 2019, with Neal Brown at the helm, West Virginia were heavy underdogs against TCU this time around. In a shocking 20-17 win in the last game before the postseason, though, the Mountaineers spoiled TCU’s hopes for their 18th bowl game appearance under Gary Patterson.
The following year, Brown evened his coaching record with WVU to 10-10 as they beat the lesser Horned Frogs 24-6, this time at home. They repeated the story in 2021, a bit more evenly matched but still with the Mountaineers victorious before TCU’s stark turn-around the following year. The Mountaineers brought their record to 3-4 and knocked TCU down to the same record as running back Leddie Brown ran for three touchdowns in the 29-17 victory.
Though Brown’s team lost the winning streak in 2022, the Mountaineers were heavy underdogs in the matchup, regardless. Even so, WVU scored 31 points at home, falling to the seventh ranked team in the nation by 10 points and keeping the game close throughout. As such, with a record matching TCU’s at 3-1 this season, Neal Brown and the Mountaineer players must feel like history is on their side for the upcoming game.
Texas Christian University will host the West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Photo by Aaron Parker, Blue Gold Sports
