West Virginia (5-3) will travel to Iowa State (7-2) for a critical Big 12 Conference contest with both teams still alive in the conference race. WVSports.com offers a look at some key elements of the match up to get you ready for kick off.
In this game preview, we dive into numbers and notes, a depth chart, our video preview of the game as well as where to can watch the contest.
Series: WVU 5-3
Last meeting: 2019: WVU 14 ISU 38
Television: 3:30 p.m., ESPN, Dave Pasch (PBP), Mike Golic (analyst) Paul Carcaterra (Sideline
NUMBERS AND NOTES:
--Neal Brown is in his second season atop the West Virginia football program after a 5-7 campaign in his first year. Overall, Brown has a 45-26 record as a head coach.
--West Virginia is 15th all-time in wins.
--West Virginia is 16-18 all-time in the month of December/11-16 on the road/4-7 since 2010, including 1-7 on the road
--West Virginia is 1-1 in games played on Dec. 5, both on the road. The last time WVU played on Dec. 5 was at Kansas State in 2015, a 24-23 loss.
--This is the 283nd nationally broadcast game for the program. The Mountaineers are 148-133-1 in those previous contests.
--West Virginia is No. 4 nationally in total defense permitting 274.0 yards per game. The Mountaineers are also No. 15 nationally in interceptions with 10.
--West Virginia is No. 1 nationally in pass defense allowing only 161.5 yards per game.
--The Mountaineers defensive unit ranks No. 12 in passing efficiency defense (111.66), No. 14 in scoring defense (17.8) and No. 21 in rushing defense (112.5).
--The offense is ranked No. 21 nationally in red-zone offense (.909), No. 24 in passing offense (285.8), No. 25 in completion percentage (.657), No. 32 in fewest interceptions thrown (3), No. 35 in total offense (442.6) and No. 37 in first-down offense (184).
--Coaching staff assignments: Matt Moore (AHC-OL/Field), Gerad Parker (OC-WR/Press Box), Chad Scott (Co-OC-RB/Field), Jordan Lesley (Defensive Lead-DL/Field), Jahmile Addae (Defensive Lead-CB/Field), Jeff Koonz (ST Coordinator-ILB/Field), Jeff Casteel (OLB/Press Box), Sean Reagan (QB/Press Box), Travis Trickett (TE-IR/Field), Dontae Wright (S/Press Box)
--West Virginia is 40-39 in Big 12 Conference games but 49-43 all-time against teams from the Big 12 Conference.
--West Virginia is 93-14 since 2002 when winning the turnover battle.
--The Mountaineers have gone to a bowl game in 16 of the last 18 years.
--West Virginia has 109 players from 20 different states.
--West Virginia has 19 fifth-year seniors and 18 players that have already graduated.
--In 2020 the makeup of the offensive roster includes offensive roster includes 12 true freshmen, 10 redshirt freshmen, three sophomores, 11 redshirt sophomores, five juniors, five redshirt juniors and seven redshirt seniors. The total offensive personnel includes five quarterbacks, eight running backs, 17 wide receivers, four tight ends/fullbacks and 19 offensive linemen.
--In 2020 the makeup of the defensive roster includes 10 freshmen, 11 redshirt freshmen, four sophomores, three redshirt sophomores, four juniors, eight redshirt juniors, two seniors and nine redshirt seniors. The total defensive personnel for 2020 includes 14 defensive linemen, nine linebackers, 11 cornerbacks, two spears, five bandits and 10 safeties.
--Since 1980, West Virginia is 205-22-1 when scoring 30 or more points in a game. Since 2000, the Mountaineers are 65-6 when hitting the 40-point plateau, and WVU is 195-6 all-time when scoring at least 40 or more points in a game.
--A total of 15 true freshmen have played for West Virginia during the 2020 season: Sam Brown (WR), Lanell Carr (DL), Jairo Faverus (SP), Garrett Greene (QB), Charles Finley (TE), Zach Frazier (OL), Sean Martin (DL), Chris Mayo (OL), Akheem Mesidor (DL), Daryl Porter Jr. (CB), Taurus Simmons (BAN), Reese Smith (WR), A'Varius Sparrow (RB), James Thomas (LB) and Jordan White (OL).
-- Over the last five years, West Virginia has produced 125 takeaways, good for No. 19 nationally and tied for No. 10 among Power 5 schools.
--West Virginia has run a total of 624 plays, 306 on the ground and 318 through the air. The rushing game has totaled 1,255 yards, an average of 4.1 yards per carry and 15 touch- downs. The passing attack has totaled 2,286 yards, 13 touchdowns and an average of 10.9 yards per completion.
--Combine the two and the Mountaineers have turned in 3,541 yards of total offense, 28 touch- downs, an average of 5.7 yards per play and an average of 29.4 points per game.
--The Mountaineers offense has gained 65 first downs by the run and 102 via the pass. On average, West Virginia has totaled 156.9 yards per game on the ground, 285.8 yards per game passing and 442.6 yards per game of total offense.
OFFENSE:
QB: 2 Jarret Doege, 6-2, 208, r-Jr.
12 Austin Kendall, 6-2, 214, r-Sr.
RB: 4 Leddie Brown, 5-11, 214, Jr.
20 Alec Sinkfield, 5-9, 184, r-Jr.
TE: 87 Mike O'Laughlin, 6-5, 255, r-So.
85 T.J. Banks, 6-5, 248, r-So.
WR (X): 0 Bryce Wheaton, 6-3, 218, r-So.
19 Ali Jennings, 6-1, 195, So.
WR (H): 16 Winston Wright, 5-10, 174, So.
13 Sam James, 6-0, 184, r-So.
SLOT: 1 T.J. Simmons, 6-2, 201, r-Sr.
15 Reese Smith, 5-10, 186, Fr.
WR (Z): 10 Sean Ryan, 6-3, 204, Jr.
9 Isaiah Esdale, 6-0, 203, r-Jr.
17 Sam Brown, 6-2, 197, Fr.
LT: 50 Brandon Yates, 6-4, 306, r-Fr.
58 Nick Malone, 6-4, 292, r-Fr.
LG: 54 Zach Frazier, 6-2, 308, Fr. -or-
74 James Gmiter, 6-3, 301, r-So.
69 Blaine Scott, 6-3, 315, r-So.
C: 76 Chase Behrndt, 6-4, 315, r-Sr.
54 Zach Frazier, 6-2, 308, Fr.
RG: 57 Michael Brown, 6-3, 345, r-Sr.
53 Jordan White, 6-3, 300, Fr.
RT: 68 Briason Mays, 6-3, 308, r-So.
79 John Hughes, 6-5, 298, Jr.
DEFENSE:
DT: 55 Dante Stills, 6-3, 275, Jr.
90 Akheem Mesidor, 6-2, 268, Fr.
NT: 56 Darius Stills, 6-1, 282, Sr.
99 Quay Mays, 6-1, 302, r-Jr. -or-
95 Jordan Jefferson, 6-2, 295, So.
DE: 9 Jeffery Pooler, 6-2, 258, r-Sr.
52 Jalen Thornton, 6-2, 265, r-Fr.
BANDIT: 10 Dylan Tonkery, 6-0, 228, r-Sr.
50 Jared Bartlett, 6-2, 233, r-Fr.
WLB: 7 Josh Chandler-Semedo, 5-11, 228, Jr.
6 Exree Loe, 6-0, 212, r-Jr.
MLB: 1 Tony Fields, 6-1, 220, Sr.
10 Dylan Tonkery, 6-0, 228, r-Sr.
SPEAR: 23 Tykee Smith, 5-10, 202, So.
24 Jairo Faverus, 6-0, 198, Fr.
CS: 29 Sean Mahone, 5-11, 204, r-Sr.
2 Noah Guzman, 5-11, 202, Jr.
FS: 4 Alonzo Addae, 5-11, 192, r-Sr.
22 Jake Long, 5-11, 198, r-Sr.
LCB: 5 Dreshun Miller, 6-1, 190, r-Jr.
3 Jackie Matthews, 5-10, 189, Jr.
RCB: 11 Nicktroy Fortune, 6-0, 196, So.
28 Daryl Porter, 5-11, 179, Fr.
SPECIAL TEAMS:K: 48 Casey Legg, 6-4, 210, r-So.
35 Tyler Sumpter, 5-10, 220, r-Sr.
H: 89 Graeson Malashevich, 5-9, 177, r-Fr.
P: 40 Kolton McGhee, 6-0, 188, r-Fr. -or-
35 Tyler Sumpter, 5-10, 220, r-Sr.
KO: 48 Casey Legg, 6-4, 210, r-So.
LS: 51 Kyle Poland, 6-2, 234, r-Sr.
52 JP Hadley, 6-2, 239, r-So.
KOR: 16 Winston Wright, 5-10, 174, So.
13 Sam James, 6-0, 184, r-So.
PR: 20 Alec Sinkfield, 5-9, 184, r-Jr.
89 Graeson Malashevich, 5-9, 177, r-Fr.
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