Should Oklahoma, Baylor, or Somebody Else Top Our Week 4 Big 12 Power Rankings?
Saturday Blitz Big 12 Power Rankings Week 4
5.West Virginia Mountaineers, 2-2 (0-1), Lost to Oklahoma Sooners 45-33 Last Saturday
For being .500 only four games into the season, the Mountaineers wouldn’t seem like they belong above some of the other Big 12 teams. But West Virginia has played the toughest schedule of any Bog 12 team so far, going up against three likely bowl opponents and two potential College Football Playoff opponents.
To emerge from that at 2-2 and still avoid being blown out in any game is remarkable for a team that couldn’t catch a break last year. Despite losing to Oklahoma last week, this team still has a lot to be encouraged about. Clint Trickett is still a star, and his numbers are looking more and more impressive.
West Virginia looks like it will likely move up this list as the season goes on, but one issue it has to solve is its defensive woes, particularly on the line. The pass defense is fine, but Maryland torched the Mountaineers on the ground despite losing, and Oklahoma used its running game to simply punish the Mountaineers’ defense. That is the one area that could hurt this team going forward, but it looks okay most other places.