Big 12 Showdown
West Virginia Hosts Oklahoma State in a High-Stakes Big 12 Conference Opener
Anonymous
Oklahoma State visits West Virginia in Morgantown for the teams’ Big 12 opener. The 3-0 Mountaineers are coming off a win over Virginia, while the 2-1 Cowboys have won back-to-back games against Oregon and Murray State. West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez highlighted Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker’s quick decisions and the Cowboys’ improvement in the trenches. West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.’s mobility and the Mountaineers’ physical rushing attack will test an Oklahoma State defense that has excelled on third downs, while the Cowboys will face West Virginia’s disguised coverages and varied pressure. Forecasts are divided, with betting odds and several models favoring West Virginia while other projections pick Oklahoma State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Saturday, with the game airing on FS1.
Key Points
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Oklahoma State opened the season with a loss to Tulsa before rebounding with wins over Oregon and Murray State.
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Oklahoma State has won its last five trips to Morgantown; its most recent visit was in 2023.
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The betting line shifted from Oklahoma State favored by 2.5 points to West Virginia favored by 1.5. ESPN’s Football Power Index gave WVU a 58.3% win probability, while Bill Connelly’s SP+ favored Oklahoma State and projected a 28-26 Cowboys win.
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Rich Rodriguez said West Virginia expects roughly 35–40 recruits at the game, including many prospective 2028 and 2029 players, to experience the crowd, tailgating and game-day atmosphere.
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