ESPN Podcast Explores Possibility of West Virginia Upsetting No. 8 Penn State

On ESPN’s Always College Football last week, host Greg McElroy dived into West Virginia’s week one matchup with No. 8 Penn State.

“I cannot emphasize how important this game is, potentially for the Big 12,” McElroy said. “For Penn State this is just a really difficult non-conference game. It’s a really difficult non-conference opener. One, you travel into a place that’s extremely hard to play. It’s going to be absolutely insane when you walk into Morgantown and you have to play in that level of hostility week one. It’s going to be a really tough venue, really tough place to play. I’ve done multiple games in Morgantown, one of the most underrated places in America. I love it.”

McElroy then gave credit to Penn State, keying in on their defensive success the last few seasons. However, he mentioned the one “black eye” for them last season was their game against Michigan and how WVU can take a similar approach to the Wolverines.

“But if you think back to the recipe Michigan used in success against Penn State last year, it was by pounding the football. Guess what West Virginia can do? They can pound the football. They’re the only team in the country with three 750(+) yard rushers last year and what’s interesting is all three are back which is unique and all three can exploit you in different ways,” McElroy said.

Quarterback Garrett Greene finished with 772 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. Running back CJ Donaldson finished last season with 798 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. Fellow running back Jahiem White finished with 842 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

“Garrett Greene, excellent. As a quarterback, would like to see him to continue to become more consistent throwing it. CJ Donaldson is a hammer, 240 pounds, difficult to bring down, not a guy that you want to face in the hole when short-yardage gains and plays are there in the balance. Jahiem White, we know what he’s like you get him out in space, the guy is ridiculous, absolutely electric,” McElroy said. “The Mountaineers, last year averaged almost 230 rushing yards a game. That was the fourth most in the country, it was the most among the power-five.”

McElroy finished his case by reiterating that the Mountaineers should try to follow Michigan’s “recipe” for defeating the Nittany Lions but said he wasn’t sure how successful they’ll be.

“If there’s ever been a recipe or a recreating what they’re going to try to do, I think West Virginia’s going to watch that Michigan tape and they’re going to say ‘we’re going to do exactly what they did’,” McElroy said. “I don’t know how successful they’ll be because I don’t think West Virginia’s offensive line is as good as Michigan’s last year, but still I think they’re going to try to pound it, I think they’re going to shrink the game. I think it’s going to be a really physical game week one in Morgantown.”