Another week of college football is in the books as West Virginia heads into game week after their bye.
The Mountaineers are 2-2 on the season and will travel to take on Oklahoma State. They look to move to 2-0 in the Big 12 and improve their cumulative record. The Cowboys suffered a big 42-20 loss to Kansas State on Saturday, and there may be a lot that can be learned from it.
While the Mountaineers will play Kansas State later in the season, let’s solely focus on their next opponent.
Ollie Gordon Improves Against P4
One of the Heisman favorites coming into the season, Ollie Gordon, has gotten off to a slow start against power four teams. Saturday’s game was the first time the 6-foot-2, 225-pound back went for 50 or more rushing yards against a power four team this season. He finished with 15 carries for 76 yards against Kansas State. As Gordon looks to get on the right track this season, WVU could look to contain him. Last season, Gordon had 282 yards and four carries against West Virginia.
Put Pressure on Bowman
One of the reasons the Wildcats were successful defensively may have been the pressure they put on OSU quarterback Alan Bowman. Kansas State finished with seven quarterback hurries, which may have led to turnovers and Bowman’s struggles. Bowman completed just 26 passes on 50 attempts for a touchdown and had two interceptions. With West Virginia’s secondary looking to take the next step, it has to start with the defensive front.
Force Turnovers
Another factor in Kansas State’s big win was turnovers. The Wildcats had three turnovers, two interceptions, and one fumble, which allowed them to generate 14 points. The Mountaineers haven’t had many turnovers this year, except against Kansas, one of which sealed the game. In what could be a tough road game, turnovers will be crucial.
No. 1 Receiver
While he may not have been targeted the most, De’Zhuan Stribling made the most of his targets and was a standout. He finished with seven catches for 157 yards and a 77-yard touchdown in the loss. Stribling has 27 catches for 502 yards and three touchdowns on the season. Stribling should be the biggest concern for West Virginia in defending the pass.
