--Let me start by saying that this was an ugly, ugly football game. Both teams looked out of sorts for most of it with a lot of miscues and mistakes all around but that doesn't take anything away from the fact that this is the first West Virginia team to finally topple Oklahoma. The Mountaineers had been 0-9 against the Sooners and while this was definitely the worst outfit they've brought to Morgantown during that span, a win is a win no matter how it occurs. With their backs against the ropes, West Virginia made just enough plays to beat the Sooners and keep their bowl hopes alive. Yes, it's slim at this point with a home game against Kansas State and a road trip to Oklahoma State but it was nice to see this team continue to battle and be on the other side of these close games especially against a team they just haven't ever found a way to do it against in league play.
--Oklahoma clearly wasn't prepared for Garrett Greene but he was the difference on offense in this one completing 12 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown in the air and rushing for 119 yards and 2 more scores on the ground. Greene was able to keep plays alive with his legs and while his passing certainly needs improvement, he did just enough to get the Mountaineers started. He is the first quarterback to rush for over 100-yards since Skyler Howard had 109 yards against Kansas in 2015 and gave the offensive some life. I don't know what should happen next, but Greene at least gave the offense a chance in this one when starter JT Daniels continued to struggle all around. West Virginia has denied an injury for Daniels, but the ball just hasn't came off the same recently and he simply made some inexcusable mistakes such as taking a sack to get the team out of field goal range that you can't make as a freshman, forget a senior.
--Credit to the West Virginia defense for yet again playing a solid game all-around but this time finishing. The Mountaineers only allowed 18 points in this one and held Oklahoma to 1-11 on third down and 0-2 on fourth down. They gave up some yards, but when they needed to make stops more often than not this unit did it with a lot of different names in there due to injury. I give Jordan Lesley a lot of credit for patching this unit together although there were some miscues that made no sense such as subbing on a fourth down. You can live with some of it though because the effort overall was very good and while the unit gave up 426 yards, they made stops when it mattered.
--It wasn't the best game for redshirt junior Bryce Ford-Wheaton but really impressed with how he fought for the ball late in the game. His touchdown catch, his yards after the catch and everything in between is what you want to see in those type of situations. The Mountaineers need their wide receivers to fight for the ball and at times that just hasn't happened. You saw that late. Kaden Prather seemed to not be on the same page as Greene for a chunk of the game but the pair converted in some key situations late.
--West Virginia had +19 in snaps compared to the Sooners and the last drive was a master class in using the time and setting the offense up for a game winning field goal. The Mountaineers traveled 65 yards in 15 plays and used up all 6:24 on the clock by grinding it out and mostly running the football. Greene made some of his best plays of the night on this drive. That was a grown man drive on the last one to run out the clock.
--Sometimes you win some games you need so bounces. A missed field goal off the upright, a dropped touchdown and some other things that just haven't happened for West Virginia in this series unfolded and now the program can at least be excited to get that one off their back before the Sooners depart for the SEC.
--Thought Jasir Cox played his best game. He was around the football for most of it and really made some critical plays especially early. Dante Stills, Sean Martin and Jordan Jefferson don't get enough credit as the pair combined for 3 sacks, 4 tackles for loss and one giant pass deflection.
--West Virginia makes this hard on themselves too often with bad penalties in key situations and just avoidable mistakes. The win doesn't change that but credit to this team for finding a way to battle through it for the victory. I do think play calling has become a little predictable especially in second and long situations withe running the ball. But this staff has been dunked on for some of this stuff a lot and they still found a way. I liked the aggressiveness in this one with the team sitting 3-6.
--How good has Oliver Straw been this season? He averaged 43.8 yards per kick in this one and continued to flip the field. Special teams were big all day with the fake punt, field position, the kickoff return and more. Outside the bobbled PAT attempt it was very good all day.
--Up next is Kansas State at home and another chance to keep the bowl dreams alive. This is a big win, but in the grand scheme of things doesn't mean much if this team goes out and plays poorly next week. But enjoy this one because that's a lot of losses to Oklahoma.
--Oklahoma clearly wasn't prepared for Garrett Greene but he was the difference on offense in this one completing 12 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown in the air and rushing for 119 yards and 2 more scores on the ground. Greene was able to keep plays alive with his legs and while his passing certainly needs improvement, he did just enough to get the Mountaineers started. He is the first quarterback to rush for over 100-yards since Skyler Howard had 109 yards against Kansas in 2015 and gave the offensive some life. I don't know what should happen next, but Greene at least gave the offense a chance in this one when starter JT Daniels continued to struggle all around. West Virginia has denied an injury for Daniels, but the ball just hasn't came off the same recently and he simply made some inexcusable mistakes such as taking a sack to get the team out of field goal range that you can't make as a freshman, forget a senior.
--Credit to the West Virginia defense for yet again playing a solid game all-around but this time finishing. The Mountaineers only allowed 18 points in this one and held Oklahoma to 1-11 on third down and 0-2 on fourth down. They gave up some yards, but when they needed to make stops more often than not this unit did it with a lot of different names in there due to injury. I give Jordan Lesley a lot of credit for patching this unit together although there were some miscues that made no sense such as subbing on a fourth down. You can live with some of it though because the effort overall was very good and while the unit gave up 426 yards, they made stops when it mattered.
--It wasn't the best game for redshirt junior Bryce Ford-Wheaton but really impressed with how he fought for the ball late in the game. His touchdown catch, his yards after the catch and everything in between is what you want to see in those type of situations. The Mountaineers need their wide receivers to fight for the ball and at times that just hasn't happened. You saw that late. Kaden Prather seemed to not be on the same page as Greene for a chunk of the game but the pair converted in some key situations late.
--West Virginia had +19 in snaps compared to the Sooners and the last drive was a master class in using the time and setting the offense up for a game winning field goal. The Mountaineers traveled 65 yards in 15 plays and used up all 6:24 on the clock by grinding it out and mostly running the football. Greene made some of his best plays of the night on this drive. That was a grown man drive on the last one to run out the clock.
--Sometimes you win some games you need so bounces. A missed field goal off the upright, a dropped touchdown and some other things that just haven't happened for West Virginia in this series unfolded and now the program can at least be excited to get that one off their back before the Sooners depart for the SEC.
--Thought Jasir Cox played his best game. He was around the football for most of it and really made some critical plays especially early. Dante Stills, Sean Martin and Jordan Jefferson don't get enough credit as the pair combined for 3 sacks, 4 tackles for loss and one giant pass deflection.
--West Virginia makes this hard on themselves too often with bad penalties in key situations and just avoidable mistakes. The win doesn't change that but credit to this team for finding a way to battle through it for the victory. I do think play calling has become a little predictable especially in second and long situations withe running the ball. But this staff has been dunked on for some of this stuff a lot and they still found a way. I liked the aggressiveness in this one with the team sitting 3-6.
--How good has Oliver Straw been this season? He averaged 43.8 yards per kick in this one and continued to flip the field. Special teams were big all day with the fake punt, field position, the kickoff return and more. Outside the bobbled PAT attempt it was very good all day.
--Up next is Kansas State at home and another chance to keep the bowl dreams alive. This is a big win, but in the grand scheme of things doesn't mean much if this team goes out and plays poorly next week. But enjoy this one because that's a lot of losses to Oklahoma.
