WVU vs Oklahoma State: What to Look For
· Yahoo Sports
In what felt like the biggest game in years, the West Virginia Mountaineers laid the hammer down against the Virginia Cavaliers in a 38-27 win. The Mountaineers now have their biggest conference game since…Oklahoma in 2018 ? This also has the chance to be the biggest home game at Milan Puskar Stadium since those Kyler Murray-led Sooners’ team (besides Pitt in ‘23 & ‘25 of course).
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This is not only a monumental game for the Mountaineers’ season but also for the Pokes’ season as well. With the Big XII seemingly wide open after BYU any program with a pulse has a shot. Here’s what to look for in Saturday’s game!
Quarterbacks Playing to Their Strengths
Last week I noted how both Michael Hawkins Jr. and Beau Pribula played a similar way and to expect them to both use their arms and legs to gain an advantage over the defense. Well I was half right! Hawkins, of course was able to do that as he played himself into earning a BIG XII Offensive Player of the Week award, as well as the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week! Pribula on the other hand struggled on the ground as he had eight carriers for *checks notes* a NEGATIVE YARD.
We know how Hawkins plays and how it can lead to getting a win. His legs force defenses to try and load the box on him to try and keep him and Cam Cook contained and then that forces Hawkins to scramble and find a wide open receiver for a big chunk play. Then when the defenses are forced to cover DJ Epps, and Jaden Bray, etc he has a back breaking run. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker is not that kind of player. He is very mush a “traditional” quarterback who is always looking to pick apart the defenses through the air. Last year at North Texas, he completed 69% of his passes for 4,379 yards with 34 TDs and 9 INTs while only rushing 57 times for 89 yards and 5 TDs. This season at Stillwater he has completed 66% of his passes for 882 yards with 8 TDs and 4 INTs while rushing 12 times for 102 yards and a TD.
Will Michael Hawkins Jr be able to have another superhero performance to lead the Mountaineers to a 4-0 start or will Drew Mestemaker will the Cowboys to a big win on the road to show that the off-season hype in Stillwater is warranted. Whichever star quarterback can play up to their abilities will win this game.
Can Either Teams’ Pass Rush Wreck a Gameplan?
How do you limit Michael Hawkins Jr.’s ability to frustrate a defense? Containing him and getting TFLs. How do you force Drew Mestemaker into throwing into tough coverage? Getting pressure and limiting his time to throw. In order for these defenses to NOT let these star quarterbacks do whatever they want, their pass rush must be a factor all night.
West Virginia’s offensive line has been a huge upgrade over last years’ unit. They have been a huge piece as to why this offense has been able to be as electric as we’ve hoped. But, they have let up a ton of pressure so far through three weeks. Sure, Hawkins has capitalized on that so far and have made defenses pay, but that formula is not sustainable long-term. They are going to have to get better at allowing pressure and as the season progress I think they will. Oklahoma State likes to rotate a lot of guys in on their defensive line. In doing so that allows their lineman to to catch a break and have more energy as the games goes on. It also forces WVU’s line to have to worry about different guys and their skill sets.
For the Pokes in order for them to be able to win the amount of games they think they can they have to keep Mestemaker comfortable in the pocket and upright. In their upset win over Oregon in Week 2 you saw the good and the bad of Mestemaker. The good being the 317 yards through the air with 2 TDs and adding 109 yards on 6 carries and another TD. The bad being two bad INTs. The age old adage is if you can get to a quarterback consistently you have a great chance to win a ballgame. WVU needs to do that to knock Metemaker off his timing and forcing him to throw some balls into coverage.
Can the Crowd be a Difference
There really is nothing quite like a Gold Rush at WVU. There also is nothing quite like a night game at a packed and rowdy Milan Puskar Stadium. Combine the two and you have yourself one of the best venues in all of sports. As my colleague Dillon Clark wrote, we need to magic back for night games. I want the atmosphere to sound and feel like 2011 against LSU.
I know home field advantage is overrated in a lot of aspects. But I truly believe it doesn’t apply to a locked in crowd here at WVU. When the offense gets a first down, a big play, or a touchdown they need to show the Pokes that it’s going to be a long night.
When the Cowboys offense is on the field, I want them to have to burn a timeout to get a new play call in. When Mestemaker throws an interception, the crowd needs to show him that they themselves willed it. We the crowd have to be another thing that Oklahoma State has to prepare for. I say “we” because i am going to be in attendance for the first time in a few seasons. I will be doing my part, I know I won’t be the only one.
Let’s Go.