West Virginia will close out the regular season on the road at Baylor. 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: West Virginia, 7-4
Last meeting: 2022 WVU 43 BU 40
Television: 7 p.m. ET = FS1 - Alex Faust (PBP), Petros Papadakis (analyst)
COACHES:
Neal Brown:
WEST VIRGINIA RECORD: 29-29, 5th Year
OVERALL RECORD: 64-45, 9th Year
VS. BAYLOR: 2-2
Dave Aranda:
BAYLOR RECORD: 23-23, 4th Year
OVERALL RECORD: 23-23, 4th Year
VS. WEST VIRGINIA: 1-2
Related: Behind Enemy Lines: Baylor
NOTES:
--West Virginia head coach Neal Brown is in his fifth season atop the Mountaineers football program and has gone 29-29 in Morgantown during that time. Overall, Brown is 64-45 as a head coach in his ninth season in that role.
--The Mountaineers are the 15th winningest program of all time.
--West Virginia is 1-4 against Baylor in Waco.
--West Virginia is 87-77-3 all-time in games played after 5 p.m., including 44-49-1 on the road, 36-17-2 at home and 7-11 at a neutral site.
--WVU is 10-8 in games played on Nov. 25, including 3-5 on the road. The last time WVU played on that date was in 2017 at Oklahoma (59-31/L).
--West Virginia has rushed for over 140-yards in 14 straight game.
--With the 42-21 win over Cincinnati, the Mountaineers posted at least seven or more wins in 53 different seasons
--With the win over BYU, WVU became bowl eligible for the 40th time in school history.
--The Mountaineers are 99-15 since 2002 when winning the turnover battle.
--West Virginia is ranked No. 25 nationally in fewest penalties per game (53) and No. 28 in fewest penalty yards (477)
--West Virginia is averaging 33:42 per game of possession time, ranking No. 3 nationally
--This is the 322th nationally televised game for West Virginia. All-time, the Mountaineers are 168-152-1 in nationally televised games.
--In the Neal Brown era, the Mountaineers are 25-8 when rushing for at least 100 yards.
--West Virginia has three blocked kicks for the season, ranking No. 6 nationally.
--Cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. is ranked No. 1 nationally in passes defended (24 total, 2.2 per game) and pass breakups (20) and No. 11 in interceptions (4)
--On first down, the Mountaineers have run 347 plays and have gained 2,248 yards for a 6.5 average. On second down, the Mountaineers have run 250 plays for 1,525 yards and a 6.1 average. On third down, the Mountaineers have run 151 plays for 821 yards and a 5.4 average gain. West Virginia has run 33 plays on fourth down for 145 yards and a 4.4 average. WVU’s touchdowns have come 20 times on first down (13 rush/7 pass), 13 times on second down (9 rush/4 pass), eight times on third down (5 rush/3 pass) and three times on fourth down (2 rush/1 pass).
--Breaking down the West Virginia offensive numbers for the 2023 season shows that the Mountaineers have run 781 plays, 498 on the ground and 283 through the air.
--The rushing game has totaled 2,562 yards, an average of 5.1 yards per carry and 29 touchdowns. The passing attack has totaled 2,177 yards, 15 touchdowns and an average of 14.5 yards per completion. Combine the two and the Mountaineers have turned in 4,739 yards of total offense, 34 touchdowns, an average of 6.1 yards per play and an average of 31.4 points per game.
--Deeper analysis shows that the Mountaineer offense has gained 141 first downs by the run and 85 via the pass. On average, West Virginia has totaled 232.9 yards per game on the ground, 197.9 yards per game passing and 430.8 yards per game of total offense.
--Over the last nine years, West Virginia has produced 163 takeaways, tied for No. 36 among Power 5 schools.
--West Virginia is 80-61 all-time against current members of the Big 12 Conference. WVU is 7-4 vs. Baylor; 2-0 against BYU; 17-3-1 vs. Cincinnati; 0-1 against Houston; 6-5 against Iowa State; 10-2 vs. Kansas; 6-7 against Kansas State; 3-11 vs. Oklahoma; 5-11 against Oklahoma State; 8-5 vs. TCU; 6-6 against Texas; 7-6 vs. Texas Tech and 3-0 against UCF.
--Dating back to the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl, played in Charlotte, North Carolina, West Virginia has made 19 bowl appearances in the last 22 years, missing only the 2013, 2019 and 2022 seasons. The Mountaineers are one of 16 Power 5 schools to accomplish that feat.
--In 2023, the Mountaineers have 44 players with at least one game of starting experience.
--Fifteen true freshmen have played for the Mountaineers in 2023: DJ Cotton (DL), Ben Cutter (LB), Oreyend Fisher (DL), Rodney Gallagher III (WR), James Heard Jr. (BAN), Jordan Jackson (CB), Josiah Jackson (CB), Nick Krahe (OL), Corey McIntyre Jr. (DL), DJ Oliver (RB), Aden Tagaloa-Nelson (S), Traylon Ray (WR), Jahiem White (RB), Johnny Williams IV (OL) and Cooper Young (OL).
--Coaching assignments: AHC-OL Matt Moore (Field), OC-RB Chad Scott (Field), DC-OLB Jordan Lesley (Field), Co-DC-DBs ShaDon Brown (Press Box), ST Coordinator-ILB Jeff Koonz (Press Box), PGC-QB Sean Reagan (Press Box), DL Andrew Jackson (Field), WR Bilal Marshall (Field), TE Blaine Stewart (Field) and S Dontae Wright (Field).
--The 2023 roster currently consists of 113 players from 24 different states and four foreign countries: Australia (1), Finland (1), Sweden (1) and The Netherlands (1). Leading the way is West Virginia (19), Florida (13), Pennsylvania (13), Ohio (12), Georgia (8), Kentucky (6), Maryland (5), North Carolina (5), South Carolina (3), New Jersey (3), New York (3), Virginia (3), Alabama (2), Delaware (2), Michigan (2), Texas (2), Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri and Washington.
DEPTH CHART:
No depth chart has been released for this contest but this is our projection.
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