Tag: West Virginia Mountaineers Football

Oklahoma Sooners release 2022 football schedule

Oklahoma released its 2022 football schedule. The Sooners are set to open Big 12 play at home against Kansas State.

In the midst of a head coaching search, Oklahoma released its finalized 2022 football schedule.

The Sooners open up with non-conference home dates against UTEP on Sept. 3 and Kent State on Sept. 10 before a road contest at Nebraska on Sept. 17.

OU owns a 4-0 all-time mark against UTEP and last played the Miners in 2017 when the Sooners won 56-7. It will be the first-ever meeting between Oklahoma and Kent State.

After that, Oklahoma travels to Nebraska for the first time since losing in Lincoln 10-3 during the 2009 season. OU beat Nebraska this year in Norman 23-16 and leads the overall series record 46-38-3.

The Sooners begin Big 12 play with a home date against Kansas State on Sept. 24. OU won in Manhattan this season 37-31. Then, OU travels to TCU on Oct. 1.

After the Sooners play the Horned Frogs, Oklahoma squares off against Texas in the annual Red River Showdown on Oct. 8. OU rallied back from an early 28-7 deficit against the Longhorns this season and won 55-48.

True freshman quarterback Caleb Williams finished the rivalry game against Texas with 212 passing yards and a pair of passing touchdowns after replacing then-starting quarterback Spencer Rattler.

Oklahoma returns home the following week to take on Kansas on Oct. 15. Then, the Sooners get a bye week before a Thursday date at Iowa State on Oct. 27.

OU opens the month of November with Baylor in Norman on Nov. 5. Oklahoma will follow that game with a trip to West Virginia on Nov. 12.

Lastly, the Sooners close their home schedule by hosting Oklahoma State on Nov. 19 in Bedlam and then the regular season schedule with a trip to Lubbock to play Texas Tech on Nov. 26.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

[listicle id=49161]

Recapping the Big 12 Weekend that was

Oklahoma got the big win against Kansas State. But how did the rest of the Big 12 fair?

The Oklahoma Sooners got another close win to remain undefeated on the year, defeating Kansas State for the first time since 2018, 37-31. However, this win may have been the Sooners’ most complete performance of the season.

Spencer Rattler played great, throwing more touchdowns (2) than interceptions (1) for 243 yards as the offense scored on seven of its eight drives. While some may look at the 37-31 box score and worry about another one-score win, Oklahoma continues to improve to remain ahead of surging Big 12 foes Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and Texas.

Opinion: The Sooners have flaws, but don’t dub them “losers”

Is concern over the Sooners valid after four weeks of play? Absolutely. But is it fair to dub them one of college football’s “losers?”

Many words adequately describe the start of the Oklahoma Sooners 2021 football season. You could call it surprising; a Lincoln Riley team struggling in three of its first four games is something few anticipated — especially when you consider how easy the nonconference schedule was supposed to be.

You could also label it an offensive disappointment. Fans anxiously awaiting another year of high-flying offense and blowout wins haven’t received what they anticipated. That much is undeniable. 

The one thing you can’t call Oklahoma at this point of the year is a loser. However, that’s precisely how CBS Sports categorized the Sooners after their 16-13 win over the West Virginia Mountaineers.

 The Sooners survived one-score quarterback battles against Tulane’s Michael Pratt and Nebraska’s Adrian Martinez early in the season. Needing a field goal as time expired to beat a mediocre West Virginia team is disgusting.

The game against WVU was the third straight Big 12 game in which Oklahoma scored 27 points or fewer. The Sooners didn’t have a single game under 28 points in Lincoln Riley’s head coaching tenure before this streak. The last time Oklahoma scored fewer than 24 points in consecutive home games at all was 1998, according to ESPN’s Chris Fallica.

Oklahoma is the only team CBS Sports places in the “loser” category after winning its game. 

Mentioned alongside the Sooners is Clemson, who fell to NC State 27-21, and North Carolina, who took a 45-22 drubbing at the hands of Georgia Tech. Both the Tigers and the Tar Heels sit at 2-2 after week four. 

The Sooners? A perfect 4-0. 

Say what you want about the offense’s inability to live up to expectations, but a team that has yet to lose a game absolutely cannot, under any circumstance, be deemed a loser. 

I will concede that this is the year Oklahoma is supposed to be the unstoppable force and the immovable object. To see the defense consistently rise to the occasion while the offense vanishes for drives at a time is certainly frustrating.  

Yes, the fact that this has happened against every FBS opponent Oklahoma has faced is concerning. However, is this pattern instead revealing an identify shift within the team?

Oklahoma’s defense — particularly its defensive front — has forced Tulane, Nebraska, and West Virginia into the mud with them. Opponents convert just 29 percent of their third downs against the Sooners, a mark that leads the Big-12 and is top 25 in the entire FBS. If that’s not enough, OU ranks ninth in the country in rush defense, conceding just over four yards per carry.

Against West Virginia, the defense held quarterback Jarret Doege to 160 passing yards and he rushed for just 1.6 yards per carry. And finally, when the Sooners needed it most, the offense reignited on a 14-play, 80-yard drive that set up Gabe Brkic for the game-winning field goal.  

Is the strength of this Oklahoma team shifting from offense over to defense? I don’t know, maybe. It’s still too soon to tell.

What I do know is the Sooners are undefeated through four games and anything but losers. 

Kickoff time announced for the 2021 Red River Showdown

The University of Oklahoma announced the kickoff time for the 2021 Red River Showdown.

The Oklahoma Sooners have announced that the Red River Showdown will kickoff at 11:00 a.m CT on ABC. Although the Sooners first travel to Manhattan to face Kansas State and the Longhorns head to Fort Worth to battle TCU, it’s time to peek ahead to the October 9th showdown. 

The week six matchup has the potential to be a top 25 affair. Texas was the highest unranked vote-getter in the USA Today SPORTS AFCA Coaches Poll  (101) and the AP Top 25 (131) following week four. UT’s 41-20 loss in Fayettville is now viewed in a more favorable light following Arkansas’ 20-10 upset win over Texas A&M last weekend. If the Longhorns can knock off TCU on Saturday, they should be back in the top 25 and in control of their own destiny two weeks from now.

In Oklahoma’s case, a win is a win. The Sooners have placed their sputtering offense on the back of a formidable defense and fought their way to a 4-0 record. While they aren’t winning games in a commanding fashion — and are paying the price in the polls because of it — their undefeated record ensures that the road to the Big 12 title game still rolls through Norman. 

If OU can exorcise its Kansas State demon and UT doesn’t drop the ball against TCU, Red River is poised to carry Big 12 championship implications. 

Oklahoma has won five of the last six Red River Showdowns, including last season’s 53-45 thriller that went to four overtimes.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

[listicle id=40138]

Oklahoma continues its slide down the AP Top 25 Poll

Despite a 4-0 record, Oklahoma continues to slide in the AP Top 25.

Another week, another hard-fought win for the Oklahoma Sooners. 

OU’s 16-13 win over West Virginia is its third nail-biting victory through four games. Despite a 4-0 record, Oklahoma continues to fall in the polls due to its inability to win games in a commanding fashion.

After dropping to no. 4 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll, Oklahoma also slides to no. 6 in the latest AP Top 25.  

Two members of the Big 10 now sit above the Sooners. Penn State (4-0) moves into the four spot after knocking off Villanova, and the Iowa Hawkeyes (4-0) continue to hold steady at no. 5.

After OU, Cincinnati (3-0), Arkansas (4-0), Notre Dame (4-0), and Florida (3-1) round out the top 10.  

Arkansas skyrocketed to no. 8 after taking down Texas A&M, 20-10. And Clemson plummeted to no. 25 after falling to NC State on the road.

Dropped from the rankings:

No. 14 Iowa State, No. 18 Wisconsin, No. 21 North Carolina, No. 25 Kansas State

Others receiving votes:

Texas 131, Maryland 91, San Diego State 57, Boston College 55, SMU 44, Kentucky 26, Iowa State 25, LSU 24, Arizona State 23, Virginia Tech 20, Wisconsin 13, Rutgers 6, Kansas State 5, UTSA 4, Oregon State 4, Louisville 3, North Carolina 1

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

Which under-the-radar Sooner can make an offensive impact vs. WVU?

Which under-the-radar Sooner can make an offensive impact in week 4?

This week, we find our under-the-radar player in the middle of Oklahoma’s offensive line. With the first three weeks of the college football season in the books, the spotlight slowly begins to shift toward position groups that have yet to declare a bonafide starter.

 Lincoln Riley told the media that he feels the offensive line will come together just fine, and Bryant Crews of Sooners Wire believes Andrew Raym gives the offense its best chance for success. 

In the second quarter of the Nebraska game, he replaced Robert Congel to start a drive and the Sooners immediately ripped off a 22-yard run in a game that saw them run the ball the best they had all season.

Raym, a sophomore, has all the natural talent in the world, and if the past game versus Nebraska was any indication, he can help take this line to another level. It remains to be seen who will get the start, but replacing Congel mid-game and not relinquishing the spot seems like a real possibility.

Does Raym give the Sooners their best chance vs. a sturdy West Virginia run defense?

Through three games, the Mountaineers are allowing a meager 2.6 yards per rushing attempt. That could be trouble for a Sooners’ offense that needed every inch of its 194 rushing yards to beat Nebraska. West Virginia has been winning the line of scrimmage with a cast of various players, as linebackers, defensive backs, and linemen have all found ways to push the ball backward.

Player TFLs Yards Lost
Jared Bartlett, LB 3.5 20
Alonzo Addae, S 3.0 11
Jackie Matthews, DL 2.5 13

Whether Raym or Robert Congel gets the start on Saturday, their performance is crucial to a Sooners win. The ability to hold up inside against lineman or extra box defenders could give Rattler the opportunity he needs to jumpstart the engine of Oklahoma’s passing game. 

Or, worst-case scenario, if big plays don’t appear downfield, the Sooners may need to fight through the teeth of West Virginia’s run defense or beat it horizontally. 

Either way, Andrew Raym’s play on Saturday or the impact of his absence makes him an under-the-radar candidate.

[listicle id=39940]

3 defensive keys for Sooners vs. Mountaineers

What are the three defensive keys the Sooners should focus on against the Mountaineers in week 4?

The Oklahoma Sooners face their first conference opponent of the 2021 season when the West Virginia Mountaineers roll into town Saturday night. 

Yesterday, Sooners Wire provided an in-depth look at WVU’s strength, weakness, and key players heading into the matchup. Armed with that knowledge, here are the Sooners’ three defensive keys vs. the Mountaineers.

Up Next: First Key to the game!

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Threat Assessment: A deep dive into the Mountaineers before week 4

Get to know the strength, weakness, and threat level of West Virginia before they roll into town to play the Sooners in week 4

Opponent: West Virginia

Record: 2-1

Threat level (1-10): 7

Rundown:  

If the Mountaineers can find a way to hold onto the football, they could be a pretty good team this year. Through just three games, they have coughed up four fumbles and three interceptions and rank 124th in the FBS in turnovers lost.

Takeaways proved to be the difference-maker in week one. West Virginia was perfectly capable of knocking off Maryland, going 4-5 in the red zone and starting with terrific field position after 217 return yards. But a muffed kickoff return and a pair of Jarret Doege interceptions spotted the Terrapins an extra three possessions and the 30-24 win.

Much like Oklahoma against Tulane and Nebraska, West Virginia grabbed a big lead against Virginia Tech before the Hokies clawed their way back into it. The passing game dried up in the second half, and the Mountaineers survived by bludgeoning VT quarterback Braxton Burmeister with six sacks.

Strength: Rush defense

WVU allows a meager 2.6 yards per rushing attempt.

Weakness: Ball security

At -6, the Mountaineers hold the second-worst turnover margin in the FBS.

Monitor:

Redshirt freshman quarterback Garrett Green. Head coach Neal Brown likes to incorporate him in running situations.

Up Next: Leddie Brown

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

West Virginia Mountaineers: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the West Virginia season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the West Virginia season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– West Virginia Schedule Analysis
– West Virginia Mountaineers Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

2020 Record: 6-4 overall, 4-4 in Big 12
Head Coach: Neal Brown, 3rd year, 11-11 (46-27 overall)
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 43
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 55
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 94

West Virginia Mountaineers College Football Preview 2021: Offense

– West Virginia had a decent season thanks its defense. It seems outside of the norm for the Mountaineer offense to be along for the ride, and while that wasn’t exactly the case, it wasn’t far off.

The O averaged 413 yards and 27 points per game with a mediocre rushing attack and an okay passing game. With eight starters potentially back and most of the key skill guys returning, here comes the production in Year Three under head coach Neal Brown.

– The Mountaineer offensive line was fine. It didn’t do quite enough for the ground game and allowed way too many tackles for loss. Now comes the shuffling with tackles Brandon Yates and Virginia Tech transfer Doug Nester set and veterans in the interior, but where does All-Big 12 blocker Zach Frazier play? He was a guard who’ll likely work at center.

The line has the back to blast for – senior Leddie Brown ran for 1,010 yards and nine scores, averaging more than five yards per carry. Second-leading rusher Alec Sinkfield took off for Boston College, and Tony Mathis needs more work after carrying it just 18 times last year.

– Jarret Doege is a decent veteran quarterback who isn’t going to run much, but he’s careful with the ball and has the time logged in to be a whole lot stronger. He hit 64% of his throws with 14 touchdowns and four picks, and he’s not bad at spreading the ball around.

The former Bowling Green transfer has the gig with Austin Kendall transferring out, putting the pressure on redshirt freshman Garrett Greene and freshman Will Crowder to battle it out for the No. 2 job.

Winston Wright earned All-Big 12 honors with a team-high 45 catches for 529 yards and two scores, and he’s not alone. 6-3 Bryce Ford-Wheaton adds size, and there’s enough talent returning to fill in the gaps if the top two guys carry most of the load.

– What You Need To Know: Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– West Virginia Schedule Analysis

NEXT: West Virginia Mountaineers College Football Preview 2021: Defense

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Twitter reacts: Tykee Smith transfers to Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs have added former West Virginia defensive back Tykee Smith via the NCAA transfer portal.

The Georgia Bulldogs have added former West Virginia defensive back Tykee Smith via the NCAA transfer portal. Smith is a versatile defensive back, who plays safety and slot corner.

Tykee Smith will be immediately eligible and have multiple years of eligibility left. Smith has four career interceptions and was named PFF’s No. 5 returning defensive back in college football.

The former West Virginia star is reuniting with his old defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae in Athens. The pair helped West Virginia have the nation’s top pass defense in 2020.

Georgia football social media was very excited to add a talent transfer at a position of need:

[vertical-gallery id=40896]