--After the first drive of this game, West Virginia just got outclassed on both sides of the ball. I felt coming into this game that the Mountaineers were going to have to play very well to pull it off, but that wasn’t even an option as Oklahoma cut the defense up and the offense couldn’t get much of anything going for a big stretch of this game. This was a Sooners team hitting on all cylinders, but West Virginia didn’t do much to offer any resistance either. West Virginia has fared well in primetime this season for the most part, but this game wasn’t even as close as the score indicates. Any slim chance that West Virginia had in the Big 12 title race is now all but over. This team now has to focus up and try to finish strong because 8-4 with three of those losses to Penn State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State plays a lot better than 7-5 or 6-6 with losses to either Cincinnati or Baylor which both have no bowl in sight.
--West Virginia started this game with a beautifully executed 8-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown but over the next five drives the Mountaineers had just 13 yards on 17 plays (1.3 yards per play) with a trio of three and outs, a missed field goal and a failed fourth down conversion. In a game that you knew that you were going to have to score, that isn’t going to get it done especially when Oklahoma countered that with three touchdowns and a field goal on their four drives spanning 262 yards on 31 plays or 8.4 yards per play. That sequence is what really let this game get away and it was breakdowns on both sides.
--Even the positives in this game turned negative quickly. The Mountaineers got a turnover early in the game on exactly what unfolded against them in the Oklahoma State game on a punt return and proceeded to go three-and-out and miss a field goal. It was that kind of night.
--The offense was 5-18 on third and fourth downs. That isn’t going to get it done.
--It was also disappointing that West Virginia simply got beat at the line of scrimmage in this game. The offensive line is supposed to be the strength, and this wasn’t their best effort, while the defensive line also struggled to generate anything as well. The sequence with three attempts from the one where the Mountaineers couldn’t put the ball in the end zone summed it up. On the plus side, West Virginia didn’t allow a sack but this was a game that just was forgettable all around.
--The defense was just overmatched in this game. West Virginia allowed a score on six of the first seven drives of the game and the only stop was the one deep in their own end before the half. The Sooners had 38 points and 9.5 yards per play after the first drive of the second half. West Virginia simply didn’t tackle well, cover well or really anything on that side of the ball. The defense held Oklahoma to third and fourth down 10 times but allowed 7 and three of those resulted in touchdowns. One of the primary focuses of this coaching staff this off-season is to address the safety room. Teams have really been able to pick on them at times, especially outside of Aubrey Burks. There was a play in this game where the Mountaineers had 12 defenders on the field and gave up a first down. The Sooners rolled up 646 yards and hung 59 points on the board and thoroughly dominated this game.
--Very few players played well in this game, but West Virginia has got to get more out of quarterback Garrett Greene. He had some good throws on the opening drive and sprinkled in at various other points in the game, but missed a lot of easy ones and the offense needs him for this thing to go. Greene completed just 10-27 passes and some of those were just misses on easy throws. He had 154 yards and 2 touchdowns, with an interception and just never really found a rhythm. Truthfully though this was just a poor effort all around and in no way do I want to put this entirely at his feet.
--A losing effort, but really liked what I saw out of freshman Traylon Ray making plays on the football down the field. He battled in contested catch situations and finished with 2 catches for 56 yards but was close to an even bigger day when he couldn’t get a foot in on a potential touchdown. There is a lot to like here moving forward here as he continues to develop at the position.
--It was a bad night for the defense, but I do want to highlight the effort of Beanie Bishop especially early in this game. He kept three plays from being touchdowns with two tackles and a pass breakup. He has been about as good of an addition as West Virginia has made of late in the portal.
--The Mountaineers did keep alive their streak now 13-straight games over 140-yards rushing. Small victories.
--This one is over; it was highly disappointing but it’s over, but the Mountaineers need to flush this one and regroup in a hurry to close this season against Cincinnati at home on Senior Day and then on the road at Baylor. Those two teams combined are 6-14 on the season. As mentioned above, there is a stark contrast between finishing 8-4 and the other alternatives when it comes to optics and momentum. This was an embarrassment and really the first time all season it just felt that the Mountaineers were overmatched by an opponent. It’s not the first time it’s happened to a West Virginia team in Norman, but they need to get this out of their system and focus on what’s left on the slate. Head coach Neal Brown also is going to need to win those last two games to get over .500 in his first five years. So, a significant stretch against some football teams that the Mountaineers should beat. Will they, though?
--West Virginia started this game with a beautifully executed 8-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown but over the next five drives the Mountaineers had just 13 yards on 17 plays (1.3 yards per play) with a trio of three and outs, a missed field goal and a failed fourth down conversion. In a game that you knew that you were going to have to score, that isn’t going to get it done especially when Oklahoma countered that with three touchdowns and a field goal on their four drives spanning 262 yards on 31 plays or 8.4 yards per play. That sequence is what really let this game get away and it was breakdowns on both sides.
--Even the positives in this game turned negative quickly. The Mountaineers got a turnover early in the game on exactly what unfolded against them in the Oklahoma State game on a punt return and proceeded to go three-and-out and miss a field goal. It was that kind of night.
--The offense was 5-18 on third and fourth downs. That isn’t going to get it done.
--It was also disappointing that West Virginia simply got beat at the line of scrimmage in this game. The offensive line is supposed to be the strength, and this wasn’t their best effort, while the defensive line also struggled to generate anything as well. The sequence with three attempts from the one where the Mountaineers couldn’t put the ball in the end zone summed it up. On the plus side, West Virginia didn’t allow a sack but this was a game that just was forgettable all around.
--The defense was just overmatched in this game. West Virginia allowed a score on six of the first seven drives of the game and the only stop was the one deep in their own end before the half. The Sooners had 38 points and 9.5 yards per play after the first drive of the second half. West Virginia simply didn’t tackle well, cover well or really anything on that side of the ball. The defense held Oklahoma to third and fourth down 10 times but allowed 7 and three of those resulted in touchdowns. One of the primary focuses of this coaching staff this off-season is to address the safety room. Teams have really been able to pick on them at times, especially outside of Aubrey Burks. There was a play in this game where the Mountaineers had 12 defenders on the field and gave up a first down. The Sooners rolled up 646 yards and hung 59 points on the board and thoroughly dominated this game.
--Very few players played well in this game, but West Virginia has got to get more out of quarterback Garrett Greene. He had some good throws on the opening drive and sprinkled in at various other points in the game, but missed a lot of easy ones and the offense needs him for this thing to go. Greene completed just 10-27 passes and some of those were just misses on easy throws. He had 154 yards and 2 touchdowns, with an interception and just never really found a rhythm. Truthfully though this was just a poor effort all around and in no way do I want to put this entirely at his feet.
--A losing effort, but really liked what I saw out of freshman Traylon Ray making plays on the football down the field. He battled in contested catch situations and finished with 2 catches for 56 yards but was close to an even bigger day when he couldn’t get a foot in on a potential touchdown. There is a lot to like here moving forward here as he continues to develop at the position.
--It was a bad night for the defense, but I do want to highlight the effort of Beanie Bishop especially early in this game. He kept three plays from being touchdowns with two tackles and a pass breakup. He has been about as good of an addition as West Virginia has made of late in the portal.
--The Mountaineers did keep alive their streak now 13-straight games over 140-yards rushing. Small victories.
--This one is over; it was highly disappointing but it’s over, but the Mountaineers need to flush this one and regroup in a hurry to close this season against Cincinnati at home on Senior Day and then on the road at Baylor. Those two teams combined are 6-14 on the season. As mentioned above, there is a stark contrast between finishing 8-4 and the other alternatives when it comes to optics and momentum. This was an embarrassment and really the first time all season it just felt that the Mountaineers were overmatched by an opponent. It’s not the first time it’s happened to a West Virginia team in Norman, but they need to get this out of their system and focus on what’s left on the slate. Head coach Neal Brown also is going to need to win those last two games to get over .500 in his first five years. So, a significant stretch against some football teams that the Mountaineers should beat. Will they, though?
