WVU looks to bounce back in Ames

Though West Virginia’s Big 12 title hopes vanished in the hands of a 56-28 thumping to Oklahoma, the Mountaineers look to regroup next Saturday in Ames against an improving Iowa State team.

A positive sign from Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma was the Mountaineer’s will to keep fighting until the end. West Virginia scored 21 points in the second half and at one point came within 13 points of the Sooners after trailing 41-7 in the third quarter.

“We just made too many mistakes, but they did keep fighting,” West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen said. “It’s not surprising to me that they did just because I know that this group cares and I know this group’s going to put forth effort and I don’t think that’s going to change now.”

It’s easy to view this upcoming Saturday as an quick and simple rebound win for West Virginia but this game will be far from an easy task for the Mountaineers. This is a dangerous Iowa State team. Even though the Cyclones started out the season 1-8, they have racked up two impressive victories in back-to-back weeks.

Iowa State is a team that cannot be overlooked or underestimated by anyone especially on its home field, just ask Texas Tech, who the Cyclones poured 66 points on this past Saturday.

The Mountaineers hold a favorable 3-1 record against the Cyclones since joining the Big 12 with two of those wins coming in Ames, but the team has endured some rough spots while playing in Ames in both victories during 2012 and 2014 seasons.

If Mountaineers hope to bounce back against Iowa State, they will have to clean up the obvious mistakes and miscues from Saturday’s loss such as turning the ball over and will once again have to prepare the defense to face a high potent offense.

Bouncing back strong this week is a must for the Mountaineers if they hope to avoid another late-season collapse shown in previous years but this West Virginia team has possessed a mentality different from previous teams.

“The one thing I knew about this group is that they continue to fight. They continue to work,” Holgorsen said. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that they’re not going to prepare and practice and put in as much into it as they possibly can.”

With their Big 12 title hopes gone, the college football world will soon find out the emotional impact the loss to the Sooners will have on the Mountaineers.

And with this Saturday being senior day in Ames, West Virginia will look to recover and come one win closer from achieving its second 10-win season in the Holgorsen era against an Iowa State team that has nothing to lose and will be seeking to end its season on a high note.

“It’s going to be the toughest week of the year,” Holgorsen said. “I’m anxious to see how our guys respond.”