West Virginia
Game Preview: West Virginia football vs. Baylor
West Virginia is looking to make it three wins in a row with Baylor coming to Morgantown for a Big 12 Conference matchup. WVSports.com offers a look at some key elements of the match-up to get you ready for kick-off.
In this game preview, we dive into numbers and notes, a depth chart, our video preview of the game as well as where to can watch the contest.
Series: 8-4 West Virginia
Last meeting: 2023 WVU 34 BU 31
Television: 4 p.m. ESPN2, Mike Monaco (PBP), Kirk Morrison (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline)
Current Odds: BU -2.5 | Over/Under 59/5
COACHES:
Dave Aranda:
BAYLOR RECORD: 28-29, 5th Year
OVERALL RECORD: 28-29, 5th Year
VS. WEST VIRGINIA: 1-3
Neal Brown:
WEST VIRGINIA RECORD: 36-33, 6th Year
OVERALL RECORD: 71-49, 10th Year
VS. BAYLOR: 3-2
NOTES:
–West Virginia head coach Neal Brown is in his sixth season atop the Mountaineers football program and has gone 36-33 in Morgantown during that time. Overall, Brown is 71-49 as a head coach in his tenth season in that role.
–WVU is 8-6-1 in games played on Nov. 16, including 4-3 at home. The last time WVU played on that date was in 2019 at Kansas State (W 24-20)
–Overall, the Mountaineers are 31-11 in the Neal Brown era when rushing for at least 100 yards.
–West Virginia has surpassed at least 140 rushing yards in 23 of the last 25 games, dating back to 2022.
–West Virginia has reached 100 yards on the ground 42 times in the Neal Brown era.
–The Mountaineers are ranked No. 5 nationally for fewest penalty yards per game and No. 10 in fewest penalties per game
–Since 2002, the Mountaineers are 104-15 when winning the turnover battle.
-Since 1980, West Virginia has been 218-30-1 when scoring 30 or more points in a game. During the 1990s, West Virginia was 44-4 when scoring 30 or more points in a contest and was 40-2-1 in the ‘80s when reaching that mark. WVU is 133- 25 since 2000 when scoring 30 points or more in a contest.
–The ESPN2 broadcast of the Baylor game marks the 334th network television game for WVU. All-time, the Mountaineers are 176-156-1 in nationally televised games.
-The 2024 roster consists of 125 players from 24 different states and three foreign countries: Australia (1), Finland (1) and Liberia (1). Leading the way are West Virginia (28), Ohio (17), Pennsylvania (14), Florida (13), Georgia (8), Maryland (7), Virginia (5), South Carolina (4), Kentucky (3), New Jersey (3), New York (3), Alabama (2), Delaware (2), Illinois (2), Oklahoma (2), Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington.
–Eleven true freshmen have seen action for the Mountaineers in 2024: Clay Ash (RB), Israel Boyce (DB), Makai Byerson (DL), Trae’von Dunbar (RB), Ric’Darious Farmer (WR), Nate Gabriel (DL), Zae Jennings (SPEAR), Curtis Jones Jr. (LB), Elijah Kinsler (DL), Keyshawn Robinson (S) and Jack Sammarco (TE).
–Coaching assignments: AHC-OL Matt Moore (Field), OC-RB Chad Scott (Field), Co-DC-Secondary ShaDon Brown (Press Box), ST Coordinator-ILB Jeff Koonz (Press Box), QB Tyler Allen (Press Box), DL Andrew Jackson (Field), WR Bilal Marshall (Field), TE Blaine Stewart (Field) and OLB Victor Cabral (Field).
–Dating back to the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina, West Virginia has made 19 bowl appearances in the last 22 years, missing only the 2013, 2019, and 2022 seasons.
–Breaking down the West Virginia offensive numbers for the 2024 season shows that the Mountaineers have run 586 plays, 355 on the ground and 231 through the air.
–The rushing game has totaled 1,710 yards, an average of 4.8 yards per carry and 17 touchdowns. The passing attack has totaled 1,786 yards, 14 touchdowns and an average of 13.1 yards per completion. Combine the two and the Mountaineers have turned in 3,496 yards of total offense, 31 touchdowns, an average of 6.0 yards per play and an average of 29.0 points per game.
–Deeper analysis shows that the Mountaineer offense has gained 92 first downs by the run and 82 via the pass. On average, West Virginia has totaled 190.0 yards per game on the ground, 198.4 yards per game passing and 388.4 yards per game of total offense.
–On first down, the Mountaineers have run 257 plays and have gained 1,600 yards for a 6.2 average. On second down, the Mountaineers have run 186 plays for 997 yards and a 5.4 average. On third down, the Mountaineers have run 117 plays for 786 yards and a 6.7 average gain. West Virginia has run 26 plays on fourth down for 113 yards and a 4.3 average.
–WVU’s touchdowns have come nine times on first down (5 rush/4 pass), 11 times on second down (8 rush/3 pass), seven times on third down (1 rush/6 pass) and four times on fourth down (3 rush/1 pass).
West Virginia
Weir High senior Hailey Hans named 2026 West Virginia student journalist of the year
Hancock County, WV — A Weir High School senior has been recognized as the 2026 West Virginia Student Journalist of the Year.
Hailey Hans was selected for the statewide honor after building a journalism portfolio since her freshman year. She also serves as the staff manager of Weir Student Media, where she oversees articles and is in charge of deadlines.
“When I was a freshman I was placed in the journalism one class, and I actually tried to get pulled from the class. But, then after I sat in the class and I learned a little bit, that’s where my love grew and then from there I continued to take classes, I helped pass a law, and I got to these national conventions. Where it just lit a fire inside me,” Hans said.
Hans is planning to attend West Liberty University in the fall to study education with a minor in journalism, with the goal of becoming a journalism teacher. She will now submit her portfolio for the national-level contest.
West Virginia
Big 12 Conference Bracket Matchups, Dates, and Start Times
The regular season is now behind us, and we are moving on to the next chapter of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season, the week of conference tournaments.
With their win on Friday over UCF and thanks to TCU taking care of business against Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon, the West Virginia Mountaineers have locked up the No. 7 seed in the Big 12 tournament, meaning they will receive a first-round bye. Ross Hodge’s squad will await the winner of No. 10 BYU and No. 15 Kansas State.
While most may think it’s best to pull for K-State to spring the upset, it’s actually probably better if BYU wins. Why? Well, simply because beating Kansas State isn’t going to boost your resume. If there’s any chance at an at-large bid for the Mountaineers, they need to beat more quality teams. Beating BYU a second time would go a long way, and then springing the upset against Houston in the quarterfinals would really open some eyes.
Anyways, here is a look at all of the matchups and the entire bracket.
First round byes: Iowa State, TCU, West Virginia, UCF
Double byes: Arizona, Houston, Kansas, Texas Tech
Tuesday (First Round)
Game 1: No. 12 Arizona State vs. No. 13 Baylor, 12:30 p.m. on ESPN+
Game 2: No. 9 Cincinnati vs. No. 16 Utah, 3 p.m. on ESPN+
Game 3: No. 10 BYU vs. No. 15 Kansas State, 7 p.m. on ESPN+
Game 4: No. 11 Colorado vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN+
Wednesday (Second Round)
Game 5: No. 5 Iowa State vs. winner of No. 12 Arizona State/No. 13 Baylor, 12:30 p.m. on ESPN/2
Game 6: No. 8 UCF vs. winner of No. 9 Cincinnati/No. 16 Utah, 3 p.m. on ESPNU
Game 7: No. 7 West Virginia vs. winner of No. 10 BYU/No. 15 Kansas State, 7 p.m. on ESPNU
Game 8: No. 6 TCU vs. winner of No. 11 Colorado/No. 14 Oklahoma State, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2/U
Thursday (Quarterfinals)
Game 9: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Game 5 winner, 12:30 p.m. on ESPN/2
Game 10: No. 1 Arizona vs. Game 6 winner, 3 p.m. on ESPN/2
Game 11: No. 2 Houston vs. Game 7 winner, 7 p.m. on ESPN/2
Game 12: No. 3 Kansas vs. Game 8 winner, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN/2
Friday (Semifinals)
Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m. on ESPN/2
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN/2
Saturday (Championship)
Game 15: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 6 p.m. on ESPN
Full Bracket
West Virginia
Gia Cooke hits clutch 3-pointer and No. 15 West Virginia women land in Big 12 Tournament title game
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Gia Cooke scored 14 points and her go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute helped No. 15 West Virginia escape with a 48-47 victory over Colorado in a Big 12 Tournament semifinal on Saturday night.
A 3-pointer by Desiree Wooten gave sixth-seeded Colorado a 45-43 lead with 1:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. On West Virginia’s next possession, Cooke’s offensive rebound led to her clutch 3-pointer that gave the second-seeded Mountaineers a 46-45 lead with 38 seconds remaining.
After a miss by Colorado, Jordan Harrison made two free throws for a three-point West Virginia lead at 16 seconds. Wooten was then fouled on a 3-point try with two seconds left but made only two free throws. Cooke was fouled immediately but missed both free throws, leaving Colorado one last chance. Instead, a steal by Harrison preserved the win for West Virginia.
The sluggish performance was not indicative of two teams that came into the matchup on a roll. Colorado had won seven of nine games and the Mountaineers had won eight of nine.
Harrison led West Virginia (26-6) with 15 points and Kierra Wheeler contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Zyanna Walker scored 16 points and Wooten 12 off the bench for Colorado (22-11).
West Virginia led 13-12 after one quarter, then neither team made a shot in the final six minutes of a dismal second quarter. The Mountaineers missed their last 10 attempts, the Buffaloes their last six, and the score was 17-17 at halftime.
West Virginia’s Jordan Harrison chases after the ball after knocking the ball away from Colorado’s Jade Masogayo during second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. Credit: AP/Charlie Riedel
The Mountaineers opened up a 12-point lead in the third quarter, but missed their last nine shots. Still, they took a 34-30 lead to the fourth quarter.
Up next
West Virginia will play No. 10 TCU in the championship game on Sunday.
Colorado is hoping for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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