Oklahoma State, West Virginia Bring 2 Ranked Wins Into Pivotal Big 12 Week 4 Clash

Q: Will the hostile Gold Rush atmosphere finally help the Mountaineers snap their five-game home losing streak against the high-flying Cowboys?

West Virginia has a real chance to end the streak, but the atmosphere alone probably will not be enough unless the Mountaineers control the game on the ground and keep Oklahoma State’s offense off schedule. The case for West Virginia is strong. The Mountaineers are 3-0, coming off a ranked win over Virginia, and their rushing attack has been one of the nation’s best at roughly 264 to 281 yards per game. In Morgantown, the Gold Rush setup should be significant: a night kickoff, a sold-out style environment, and 60,000 LED batons. West Virginia has also historically played well in Gold Rush games, going 11-2 in them since joining the Big 12. But Oklahoma State is exactly the kind of opponent that can neutralize crowd energy. Drew Mestemaker gets the ball out quickly, the Cowboys average more than 500 yards per game, and they already showed their ceiling by beating Oregon. Oklahoma State also has a proven road history in this series, with five straight wins in Morgantown. That matters because West Virginia’s biggest weakness a year ago was pass defense, and even with improvement, this is a much tougher test. So the answer is: possibly, but only if West Virginia turns the game into its kind of game. If Cam Cook and Michael Hawkins Jr. sustain drives, limit possessions, and force Oklahoma State to play through long fields, the crowd can become a real factor. If this turns into a fast, open, high-possession shootout, the Cowboys’ passing game still looks like the safer bet.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 25

Oklahoma State and West Virginia enter Week 4 with one ranked win apiece, setting up a Big 12 matchup framed as one of Saturday’s most overlooked games.
The appeal starts with contrasting offenses: Eric Morris’ Cowboys rank top 10 nationally in total offense and lead the Big 12 in passing, while Rich Rodriguez’s Mountaineers sit top three in rushing yards per game.
Oklahoma State’s resume is anchored by a Week 2 win over Oregon, and West Virginia already owns a top-25 victory over Virginia.
The winner would gain an early inside track to the Big 12 title game and strengthen its path toward a potential College Football Playoff push.