Series: Kansas State 5-1

Last meeting: WVU 23 KSU 24

Television: 3:30 p.m., ESPNU, Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analysis)

Since joining the Big 12 Conference in 2012, West Virginia (3-0) has beaten every team in the league outside of two and the Mountaineers will look to end one of those streaks this weekend against Kansas State (2-1).

The Wildcats have dominated the series over the last four meetings outscoring the Mountaineers 140-69 during those games. The last two have been much closer falling by a total of seven points, but West Virginia has still yet to secure a win against Kansas State as a member of the Big 12 Conference.

This represents the conference opener for both programs and Kansas State is led by Bill Snyder, who is in his second tenure atop the Wildcats program and has amassed a career record of 195-102-1. One of the most respected men in his profession, Snyder has led the Wildcats to two Big 12 Championships and is one of only four people to ever be named to the College Football Hall of Fame as an active coach.

The veteran head coach has built the Kansas State program through a unique combination of junior college talent and program players and the Wildcats are known for their lack of mistakes and general discipline from the top down. Snyder has turned around the Kansas State program twice during his career first from 1989 to 2005 and then reassuming the role in 2009 after retiring.

The Wildcats will lean on the nation's top ranked defense entering this matchup and one that has only allowed a total of 179.9 yards per game, while holding each of its first three opponents under 275 total yards and allowing only 33 points.

Kansas State also has forced a total of seven turnovers on the year and have recorded at least seven tackles for loss in all three of its opening games. The unit is led by pre-season all-Big 12 defensive end Jordan Willis and junior linebacker Elijah Lee.

Offensively it is the same outfit that West Virginia has seen since joining the Big 12 Conference as Kansas State will attempt to keep the ball on the ground while mixing it the pass and work off some run-pass option to hit plays at all levels.

Junior Jesse Ertz is the starting quarterback for the Wildcats and has attempted only 55 passes on the season with four touchdowns and an interception. Also a threat in the run game with the quarterback power play as well as scambles, Ertz has rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown leading the Wildcats in that category.

In the red zone, Kansas State will use fullback Winston Dimel to punch the ball in and to date he has scored six of the ten rushing touchdowns for the Wildcats. The wide receiver group is full of new faces, but is talented as six different players have caught a pass.

The offensive line is in a state of transition with only 32 career starts under its belt but has been able to protect and create plays in the run game.

Special teams have proven to be the major difference in the last two games against West Virginia. including the game-clinching 97-yard kick return by Morgan Burns last season, and once again the Wildcats boast one of the nation's best in that department.

The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. inside Mountaineer Field.

West Virginia Depth Chart:

OFFENSE:

QB - 3 Skyler Howard (Sr), 11 Chris Chugunov (r-Fr), 16 William Crest (r-So)

FB – 28 Elijah Wellman (r-Jr), 47 Michael Ferns (r-So)

RB – 7 Rushel Shell (r-Sr), 25 Justin Crawford (Jr), 4 Kennedy McKoy (Fr)

WR (X) - 1 Shelton Gibson (r-Jr), 12 Gary Jennings (So)

WR (Z) – 2 Ka’Raun White (Jr), 82 Devonte Mathis (r-Sr)

IR (Y) - 6 Daikiel Shorts (Sr), 5 Jovon Durante (So)

LT - 57 Adam Pankey (r-Sr), 74 Sylvester Townes (r-Sr)

LG – 70 Tony Matteo (r-Sr), 71 Rob Dowdy (r-Fr)

C - 65 Tyler Orlosky (r-Sr), 79 Matt Jones (r-Fr)

RG - 62 Kyle Bosch (r-Jr), 56 Grant Lingafelter (r-Jr)

RT - 77 Marcell Lazard (r-Jr) or 53 Colton McKivitz (r-Fr)

DEFENSE:

DE - 97 Noble Nwachukwu (r-Sr), 88 Adam Shuler (r-Fr)

NT - 49 Darrien Howard (Sr), 67 Alec Shriner (r-Fr)

DE - 95 Christian Brown (r-Sr), 92 Jon Lewis (r-Jr)

SAM – 30 Justin Arndt (r-Sr), 5 Xavier Preston (Jr)

MIKE - 3 Al-Rasheed Benton (r-Sr), 44 Hodari Christian (r-Jr)

WILL – 27 Sean Walters (r-Sr), 11 David Long (r-Fr)

CB – 1 Antonio Crawford (r-Sr), 14 Nana Kyeremeh (r-Sr)

FS – 2 Jeremy Tyler (Sr), 16 Toyous Avery (r-So)

SPUR – 8 Kyzir White (Jr), 18 Marvin Gross, Jr. (r-Jr)

BS - 22 Jarrod Harper (r-Sr), 7 Khairi Shariff (r-Sr)

CB – 13 Rasul Douglas (r-Sr), 24 Maurice Fleming (r-Sr)

SPECIAL TEAMS:

PK - 48 Mike Molina (r-Jr), 86 Josh Lambert (r-Sr)

P - 15 Billy Kinney (r-So), 80 Jonn Young (Fr)

LS -46 Nick Meadows (r-Jr), 43 R.C. Brunstetter (r-So)

H – 15 Billy Kinney (r-So), 80 Jonn Young (Fr)

KO - 48 Mike Molina (r-Jr), 15 Billy Kinney (r-So)

PR - 12 Gary Jennings (So)

KR - 1 Shelton Gibson (r-Jr), 12 Gary Jennings (So)

Notes:

--Coaching assignments for this season include: DC/LB Tony Gibson (field), OC/TE-FB Joe Wickline (press box), CB Blue Adams (field), WR Tyron Carrier (field), S Matt Caponi (field), OL Ron Crook (field), D/ST Mark Scott (press box), RB JaJuan Seider (field), DL Bruce Tall (field)

--West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen is 0-4 against Bill Snyder.

--West Virginia is 50-33-3 all-time in Homecoming games, with a 26-9-1 mark at Milan Puskar Stadium. Head Coach Dana Holgorsen is 3-2 in those games.

--A total of 24 players have seen their first WVU action this season: CB Jordan Adams, S Toyous Avery, CB Elijah Battle, QB Chris Chugunov, CB Antonio Crawford, RB Justin Crawford, CB Mike Daniels, OL Rob Dowdy, FB Michael Ferns, CB Maurice Fleiming, DE Reese Donahue, LB Adam Hensley, P Billy Kinney, LB David Long, OL Colton McKivitz, RB Kennedy McKoy, LB Zach Sandwisch, DL Alec Shriner, DE Adam Shuler, WR Marcus Simms, WR Steven Smothers, S JoVanni Stewart, S Kyzir White and TE Stone Wolfley.

--The 2016 roster consists of 120 players from 15 different states.

--There are 34 juniors and seniors on the West Virginia depth chart.

--The West Virginia offensive rosters includes 13 players that have started at least one game. The offensive roster consists of 19 true freshmen, eight redshirt freshmen, three sophomores, seven redshirt sophomores, one junior, eight redshirt juniors, two seniors and six redshirt seniors.

--Breaking down the West Virginia offensive numbers for the season the Mountaineers have run a total of 239 plays, 129 on the ground and 110 through the air. The rushing game has totaled 625 yards for an average of 4.8 yards per carry and five touchdowns. The passing attack has totaled 974 yards for an average of 13.2 yards per completion and six touchdowns.

--The West Virginia offense has gained 27 first downs via the run and 46 via the pass.

--The West Virginia offense ranks No. 4 nationally in sacks allowed, No. 12 in total offense, No. 18 in third down conversions and passing offense and No. 42 in rushing offense.

--The West Virginia defensive roster includes 6 players that have started at least one game. The West Virginia defensive rosters includes 20 true freshmen, 10 redshirt freshmen, one sophomore, three redshirt sophomores, nine juniors, four redshirt juniors, two seniors and 10 redshirt seniors.

--The West Virginia defense is No. 8 nationally in red zone defense and No. 21 in scoring defense.

--West Virginia has 14 senior starters on its depth chart and 20 seniors on its two deep, the most in the Big 12 Conference.

--The Mountaineers are No. 14 all-time in college football winning percentage.

--Since 2000, West Virginia is 103-13 when scoring 30 or more points in a contest.

Injuries/Suspensions: West Virginia junior free safety Dravon Askew-Henry is out for the season with an ACL injury same can be said for redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Yodny Cajuste. Freshman linebacker Brendan Ferns is also out for the season with an ACL injury. Freshman cornerback Jake Long is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Redshirt sophomore Jaleel Fields is out for the season with a knee injury. Redshirt junior Xavier Pegues is out until late October with a shoulder injury. Redshirt senior kicker Josh Lambert will return from his three-game suspension.

Redshirts: West Virginia has played true freshmen running back Kennedy McKoy, defensive end Reese Donahue, SAM linebacker Zach Sandwisch and WILL linebacker Adam Hensley, wide receiver Marcus Simms, wide receiver Steven Smothers and safety JoVanni Stewart to this point.

Points to Click:

Control the line of scrimmage and protect. West Virginia has done an excellent job up front through three games allowing only one sack, while giving senior Skyler Howard time to to throw the football down the field. It has been noticeable in his completion percentage as well as the fact that the offense has been churning on all cylinders. The Mountaineers also have been able to run the football effectively and that trend must continue against a very good Kansas State defense that is ranked as the nation's best in total defense. Kansas State has exceled at creating plays behind the line of scrimmage and the Mountaineers must win on first down to put the offense out of situations where the Wildcats can pin their ears back and get after the quarterback.

Do what you do. West Virginia has been a very good offensive football team this season in large part because they continue to take what the defense is giving them. Play back, they've rushed the ball, come up and they've thrown it over top. The Mountaineers also have been highly effectibe in the intermediate passing game and forced defenses to adapt to them as opposed to the other way around. Kansas State will be the biggest challenge to date when it comes to a defensive football team but the Mountaineers did just score 35 points on a team that hadn't allowed 20 all season.

Stop the run. Like a typical Kansas State team, the Wildcats want to run the football in order to move the ball offensively. The Wildcats rank as the nation's 44th best rushing team but 110 in passing, meaning that it will be key for the defense to respond much better than it did a week ago against BYU when the Cougars gashed the Mountaineers for 280 yards on the ground. The Cougars accomplished that by going big with several unbalanced looks and I expect that you'll see Kansas State take its chances running into the teeth of the West Virginia defense as well. West Virginia is going to have to win at the point of attack and the linebackers do a much better job of getting off blocks and making tackles. The gameplan will be force the Wildcats to throw in predictable situations and I believe it will be one of the biggest keys to this game.

Stay disciplined. This goes along with stopping the run and trusting the scheme to fill gaps but also given the amount of run/pass option that the Wildcats do it will require the linebackers and safeties to stay disciplined. Kansas State has the ability to do the pop pass, as well as pull the ball and throw it down the field. West Virginia must be prepared and in position to avoid those plays turning into chunks of yardage.

Start fast. This has been one of the biggest problems for West Virginia against Kansas State and it's not a situation you want to be in against the Wildcats. Since 1990, Kansas State is 157-29 when scoring first and the Mountaineers goal will be to start fast with a sold out crowd behind them to avoid a repeat of what's happened in the past. Perhaps as equally impressive is when leading at halftime Kansas State has won roughly 95-percent of those games during that same span. Getting out and on the board first is key.

Special teams. It seems like everytime that West Virginia and Kansas State get together there is a big play on special teams that goes against the Mountaineers. Last year it was the decisive blow when Morgan Burns returned a kickoff for a touchdown to put the Wildcats ahead for good. Kansas State is always solid in this area and West Virginia must avoid a situation like it had a week ago with the special teams playing its collective worst game of the season. The third phase of the game has been a thorn in the side of West Viginia in this series and that must change to come out with a win.

Score touchdowns in the red zone: West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen has said that the Mountaineers are shooting for at least a 50-percent touchdown rate in the red zone but in the season opener fell short of that goal punching the ball in only one time out of five and then only one out of three against Youngstown State. Things were much better against BYU scoring touchdowns four out of five times. That was an Achilles heel for the West Virginia offense last season and will continue to keep teams in games until the Mountaineers can turn those field goals into touchdowns. Whether it’s a combination of play calling, execution or bad luck West Virginia has to convert opportunities into touchdowns and that could be big in this game.

Turnovers: This is an area that goes without saying as turnovers both avoiding them on offense as well as forcing them on the defensive side play a giant role in deciding the overall outcome of games. The Mountaineers lost the battle 3-1 in the opener but still managed to come out with a victory and was even against Youngstown State. The Mountaineers flipped the script against BYU and won the battle 4-2, with 14 of their points coming off turnovers. This defense is going to allow yards, but forcing key turnovers will be essential and avoiding them on offense is a must against a disciplined Kansas State team that rarely, if ever, beats itself.