From a football fan’s perspective, it couldn’t get any worse.
Saturday’s game in Pittsburgh was against a sworn enemy and WVU was hoping to win, but the Mountaineers held a 10-point lead with under five minutes left before completely collapsing in disastrous fashion.
West Virginia fans started the season optimistic with many of their playmakers returning and coming off a nine-win season in 2023. However, we are only three games into the 2024 season and there are signs that it’s all starting to fall apart.
Good teams don’t allow touchdowns on blocked punts, fail to hold a three-point lead at the end of the game on offense, and allow 162 yards and two touchdowns in a game-deciding four-minute period.
This was a battle between two evenly matched teams. The Panthers showed their weaknesses, giving up 112 yards in penalties, but when it mattered most they made plays and showed they know how to win. The Mountaineers did the exact opposite. In a strange statistical anomaly, West Virginia outgained Pittsburgh 175 yards to 4 before the final five minutes and completely dominated the second half. With the game remaining, West Virginia was outgained 160 yards to minus-7.
West Virginia enters a nine-game Big 12 Conference schedule with no objective observer feeling optimistic about its chances of success. There are several quality quarterbacks waiting for the Mountaineers, and their eyes will light up when they watch game tape. West Virginia’s pass defense is terrible, allowing Pittsburgh 10 passes of 17 yards or more.
The Panthers were able to convert first downs after 2nd down 17 yards, 2nd down 19 yards, 1st down 25 yards and 2nd down 30 yards, and the quarterback was able to scramble 63 yards on his final two scoring drives.
Teams can’t win with a defense like this. They have to get better, but it’s not a quick fix. As Coach Neil Brown said after the game, you can’t make personnel changes. The best players are already on the field. So what’s the answer? A different strategy? A different defensive coordinator?
And how can we execute any of them successfully in just the next five days?
This Saturday: Kansas comes to Morgantown for a noon game on Saturday. They’re in just as bad a mood as the Mountaineers. The Jayhawks were in the preseason Top 25 rankings but lost two games in their favor against Illinois and UNLV, making plenty of mistakes along the way. The Jayhawks are led by a talented quarterback in Jaylen Daniels, and that alone should worry WVU fans. Two desperate teams looking to turn around disappointing seasons. Let’s hope home field advantage makes a difference. But just to be safe, don’t bet on the outcome.
West Virginia 31, Kansas 27.
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