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West Virginia Football: 3 bowl game possibilities for Mountaineers

By Andrew Miller

MORGANTOWN, WV - NOVEMBER 04: Ka'Raun White #2 of the West Virginia Mountaineers celebrates after catching a touchdown pass that was later challenged and overturned in the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Mountaineer Field on November 04, 2017 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - NOVEMBER 04: Ka'Raun White #2 of the West Virginia Mountaineers celebrates after catching a touchdown pass that was later challenged and overturned in the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Mountaineer Field on November 04, 2017 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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Another bowl appearance for West Virginia football under Dana Holgorsen’s direction has an outcome that relies on the health of Will Grier.

West Virginia football had another solid season under head coach Dana Holgorsen. A finger injury to star quarterback Will Grier did cause the Mountaineers to sputter some at the end of the regular season. Late season losses to teams like the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys derailed any chance that the Mountaineers had of getting into the Big 12 Championship Game.

The Sooners would end up taking the Big 12, with a title game victory over the TCU Horned Frogs in commanding fashion. Yet, West Virginia is a solid representative of the conference as well in the postseason. West Virginia finished the 2017 campaign with a 7-5 (5-4 Big 12) record.

It was a step down from the 10-win season the Mountaineers enjoyed in 2016. Yet, that team was much healthier and faced an easier Big 12 slate. The Big 12 was one of the better conferences in the nation this year, spearheaded by the Frogs, Pokes, and Sooners.

Improvement from teams like the Iowa State Cyclones and Texas Longhorns also helped advance the Big 12’s reputation. No longer could teams like West Virginia only feast on the Clones and Kansas Jayhawks.

West Virginia became bowl eligible after a huge home win at Milan Puskar Stadium over Iowa State, when the Clones were ranked No. 15. A win over the Kansas State Wildcats the following week got the Mountaineers to the seven win mark.

If Grier does not play in the bowl game, it will hurt West Virginia’s chances badly with backup Chris Chugunov having to get the nod. Here’s three of the most likely bowl game possibilities for the West Virginia Mountaineers.

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