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Most Important College Football Game for Each Top 25 Team During 2016 Season

By Zach Bigalke

Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) moves past Mississippi Rebels linebacker DeMarquis Gates (3) during the fourth quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) moves past Mississippi Rebels linebacker DeMarquis Gates (3) during the fourth quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback Jordan Parker (9) recovers a fumble during the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback Jordan Parker (9) recovers a fumble during the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

16. West Virginia’s Big 12 Dream Ends in 56-28 Loss to Oklahoma (Nov. 19)

Like Utah, West Virginia’s most important game of 2016 wasn’t a victory but a defeat that ended conference title hopes. On a snowy day in Morgantown, the Mountaineers had a chance to shift the balance of power eastward with its first Big 12 crown since moving to the conference in 2012. Instead, Oklahoma stampeded West Virginia, doubling up the score in a 56-28 rout that ensured the league championship would remain in the state of Oklahoma for another season.

The WVU defense held the Sooners on the opening drive of the game, but then handed the ball right back on a fumbled punt. Six plays later, Samaje Perine punched in the touchdown from a few yards out and the blowout was on. Oklahoma scored touchdowns on four of its next five possessions to open up a 34-7 lead by halftime. Things turned from bad to worse in the third quarter, as Jordan Evans intercepted Skyler Howard deep in Oklahoma territory and returned the pick 80 yards for a defensive touchdown. Justin Crawford rushed for 331 yards in the defeat, but never managed to find the endzone.

The loss wasn’t enough to knock the Mountaineers out of the College Football Playoff Top 25, but it prevented them from climbing into the top ten. Dana Holgorsen’s team closed out the year with wins over Iowa State and Baylor to get to 10-2, but the Mountaineers were left with a lot of what-if scenarios to think about after missing their chance to take the Big 12 title and threaten for a spot in the playoffs.

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