West Virginia
Texas Tech, Iowa State and West Virginia carrying the banner for holdovers in new-look Big 12
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Texas Tech leads several holdover programs standing tall in the new-look Big 12.
The conference has added eight schools the past two years, and several are affecting the race to reach the title game. But longtime members Tech, Iowa State and West Virginia are carrying the banner for the old guard, joining newcomers Colorado and BYU as unbeaten teams in conference play.
Texas Tech defeated Arizona 28-22 last Saturday to improve to 3-0 in the league. The Red Raiders’ conference wins have been by a combined 17 points, but those victories have them alone at the top of the standings. They have a week off before they host Baylor.
“We got to the bye, we put ourselves in a good position,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “We’ve got to get healthy. We’ve got to fix some things, you know, and then we’ve got to go 1-0. … You can’t get ahead of your head of yourself. You’ve got to be in the moment.”
In 1996, four Texas schools from the old Southwest Conference and the Big 8 members merged to form the Big 12. Iowa State from the Big 8 and Texas Tech from the Southwest joined the Big 12 in its inaugural year. West Virginia joined the league in 2012.
None of the three have claimed a Big 12 title, but their chances of finally breaking through increased significantly when Texas and Oklahoma left for the Southeastern Conference in July. No. 1 Texas and No. 18 Oklahoma meet in Dallas on Saturday in a game that usually had Big 12 title implications.
Now, Iowa State at West Virginia has title implications, with both off to 2-0 starts in the league. Iowa State — at No. 11, the highest-ranked team in the Big 12 this season — rolled past Baylor 43-21 last Saturday while West Virginia knocked off Oklahoma State 38-14.
Iowa State’s offense has leaned on quarterback Rocco Becht. He’s passed for 1,173 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said Becht is making smart decisions.
“It’s great to have great targets to throw to, but I think the ability to have the poise in the moment and be able to read the entire field … the thing that’s been fun about those — it’s not the first read, it’s the second, third or fourth read in the progression,” Campbell said. “It tells you his moxie and his growth.”
Iowa State leads the Big 12 in total defense, allowing just 271.6 yards per game.
West Virginia is fueled by a ground game that ranks third in the conference with 223 yards per game. Quarterback Garrett Greene and running backs C.J. Donaldson and Jahiem White have been a dangerous triple threat. The Mountaineers ran for 389 yards and had the ball for nearly 44 minutes on Saturday.
Oklahoma State entered the season as one of the favorites in the conference. The Cowboys have been tough to beat at home under coach Mike Gundy the past two decades, so the win was important to the Mountaineers.
“Against a team like this — even though the season may not be going for them like they would like it to, for us to come out like that for a full 60 minutes and play the way we did — that adds a lot of confidence, especially going to next week’s game with a really good team,” West Virginia linebacker Josiah Trotter said.
All three of Texas Tech’s Big 12 wins have come against newer conference members — Arizona State, Cincinnati and, most recently, Arizona on the road last Saturday.
Tahj Brooks leads the conference with 679 yards rushing, good for 135.8 yards per game. He ran for 128 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona. The Red Raiders are third in the league with 460.5 total yards per game.
The number that matters most to McGuire is the record.
“There have been dogfights,” the Texas Tech coach said. “I think that’s how the Big 12 is going to be every single week. And then we’ll be right there as far as, Iike — I mean, we’re OK playing these one-score games, and we’re going to play for four quarters.”
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West Virginia
What Kansas football coach Lance Leipold saw on targeting calls during win against WVU
The Topeka Capital-Journal’s Jordan Guskey talks Kansas football win
Check out what The Topeka Capital-Journal reporter Jordan Guskey had to say following Kansas football’s Big 12 Conference win against West Virginia.
LAWRENCE — Kansas football’s 41-10 victory against West Virginia this past weekend saw a pair of players ejected due to targeting calls, one on each side.
In the second quarter, WVU nickel/safety Fred Perry was disqualified because of a hit he made on KU quarterback Jalon Daniels. In the third quarter, Jayhawks safety Devin Dye was disqualified for a hit he made on a Mountaineers running back Cyncir Bowers. Holistically, Kansas football coach Lance Leipold acknowledged Saturday the calls were made in the interest of player safety.
But while Leipold thought Dye’s ejection was unfortunate, Perry’s led to a little longer of a conversation postgame. That’s because after the hit, some pushing and shoving ensued until players from both teams were separated. Kansas offensive lineman Kobe Baynes, who appeared to shove Perry right after the hit on Daniels, would eventually be called for a late hit.
Leipold, at one moment concerned the situation would get out of hand, was glad to see it get settled as quickly as it did. Although he understands a player’s desire to defend their teammate, he called for composure in all situations. He called it a tough situation for officials to handle.
Here are a few more takeaways from the Big 12 Conference matchup between the Jayhawks (3-1, 1-0 in Big 12) and Mountaineers (2-2, 0-1).
Why Trey Lathan was selected to be Kansas’ 4th captain for game
Kansas has three lead captains this season in Daniels, offensive lineman Bryce Foster and defensive end Justice Finkley, but each game there’s a fourth “rotational” captain who is honored as well. Against West Virginia, that individual was linebacker Trey Lathan. Lathan, who finished the game with three tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and an interception, transferred to KU during the offseason from WVU.
Leipold acknowledged Lathan’s past stop in his college career with the Mountaineers did play a factor in the decision. However, Lathan’s also someone he felt has been playing well and become more confident. Lathan is also someone he felt had become a more vocal leader within the defense and is well respected.
Kansas’ offensive line doesn’t allow any sacks
West Virginia’s defense collected six sacks against Pittsburgh just the week before this matchup. But by game’s end against the Jayhawks, the Mountaineers didn’t have a single sack. So, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Leipold was pleased with the protection Kansas’ offensive line gave Daniels and for how Daniels at times escaped pressure.
On film, Leipold had seen an impressive defense that was athletic up front. It could use multiple looks and was aggressive. But KU proved capable of stymying that aspect of WVU’s defense.
West Virginia’s tempo offensively doesn’t prove to be much of a factor
Leipold thinks Kansas’ defense can get better at playing against tempo, based on what he saw against West Virginia. However, considering how well the Jayhawks played and what he heard as the game unfolded, he thought they did well. Physical play and quality tackling helped force numerous punts and stops as KU took control of the game.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
Injuries are piling up for the West Virginia Mountaineers early in the season, particularly in the running back room. To everyone’s surprise, Tye Edwards was unable to play this past weekend against Kansas, and despite being a game-time decision for that game, his status for this week’s matchup versus Utah remains in question.
“Hopeful might be too much,” Rodriguez responded when asked about Edwards’ status. “I’m more… he’s probably still doubtful right now with his hip pointer. He’s trying to. It’s not where he’s wanting to sit out. He’s a kid that really wants to play.”
Rodriguez also noted that Cyncir Bowers is in the concussion protocol and is also questionable for Saturday’s game.
So, what in the heck do the Mountaineers manufacture a rushing attack against a Utah defense that allows just over 110 yards on the ground per game? It’s a great question, especially given the Mountaineers’ offensive line struggles.
As far as available backs, WVU will have Clay Ash, Diore Hubbard, Tyler Jacklich, and Andre Devine. Those four have combined to rush for 127 yards on 38 carries, averaging 3.3 yards per tote. Ferris State transfer Kannon Katzer is still working his way back from injury, but his status as of this morning is unknown. If it is just those four aforementioned backs, WVU may have to get creative with Rodney Gallagher III and maybe go as far as starting Jaylen Henderson at quarterback to make Utah respect the threat of him pulling it and keeping it.
On today’s episode of Between The Eers, I discuss this huge problem the Mountaineers may have in the run game.
If you haven’t yet, please go over to our YouTube page, West Virginia On SI (@SI_WVU), and subscribe. You’ll get a notification the second a new episode of Between The Eers, The Walk Thru GameDay Show, or Mountaineer Postgame drops.
Recent Between The Eers episodes:
WVU’s Painfully Bad Offense Needs to Make Some Changes
Did One Game Flip the Narrative on WVU Entering Big 12 Play?
A Night West Virginia Needed
West Virginia Found Its Identity in Backyard Brawl Win
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Rodriguez Candid on Why WVU’s Offense is Struggling and What Must Change
Why Scotty Fox Didn’t Play vs. Kansas and What He Needs to Do to Take the Next Step
Rich Rodriguez Shares His Message to the Team Following Embarrassing Loss to Kansas
Offensive Line Shakeup Could Be Coming Soon for West Virginia Football
Everything Rich Rodriguez Said on His Radio Show Monday Night Following Kansas Loss
West Virginia sent Pitt home with an overtime loss and will have bragging rights in the Backyard Brawl for the next four years. Following the game, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi met with reporters, discussing several different topics such as quarterback play, the lack of a run game, officiating, WVU’s offense, and more.
The one thing that stood out most, though, was his take on the officiating.
“Whew. You guys watched the game, I don’t know. There was some stuff out there, but we’ll look at the videotape. Not happy with that at all. 14 penalties, a little lopsided there. Eli got punched, got his helmet ripped off, punched in the face; no call there. We had somebody get spit in the face, too, but things didn’t go our way.”
To be honest, I truly don’t understand how Narduzzi can be upset with the officiating. Many of those 14 penalties were clear and preventable penalties, whether it was a false start, a hold, defensive pass interference, or offside. There were only maybe two that were 50/50.
But let’s not forget how Pitt caught a break at the end of the first half. Nicco Marchiol ran the ball up the middle for a first down, slid, and was hit late. The flag was dropped, but the officials said that because there was no time left on the clock, the half was over. I’ll need a better description from a rules analyst to explain this one because I don’t understand how the half can just end on that. I assumed there would either be one untimed down or Pitt would have to be penalized on the kickoff to start the second half. Neither happened.
What about the MarShon Oxley sack in the third quarter that was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct when all he did was stand up and walk away? That not only bailed Pitt out, but they would score a touchdown on that drive just a few plays later.
How about the first half when linebacker Ashton Woods was ejected for targeting on what appeared (by every angle shown) to be a clean shot?
There were also multiple times where Pitt defenders arrived way too early on a pass and should have been flagged for defensive pass interference. Instead, the flag remained tucked into the official’s waist pocket.
The penalties West Virginia had were way more costly and timely than those Pitt was guilty of.
MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI
Sunday Morning Thoughts: Grit, Guts, and Glory
Stock Up, Stock Down: Major Movement Following West Virginia’s Win Over Pitt
Quick Hits: Rich Rodriguez Discusses Final Scoring Drives, Tye Edwards Big Night and More
Three Rapid Takeaways from West Virginia’s Backyard Brawl Win
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