After a coach-saving 9-4 season, can Garrett Greene and West Virginia repeat its success in a Big 12 Conference wide-open for the taking?
At this same time last year, Neal Brown was at the center of scrutiny. He led West Virginia to three straight losing complete seasons and, in the only bowl WVU made, his team was crushed 18-6. Without a real answer at quarterback, the Mountaineers appeared to be in trouble. But Garrett Greene emerged as not just a satisfactory starter, but a real answer at the most important position in sports. WVU won nine games and Brown saved his job for a few years to come.
While the leash was far from short for Brown, the winning history does explain why he was firmly on the hot seat after a four-year stint that never broke six wins . Four of the previous six coaches won 10+ games at least once and one of the exceptions, interim-turned-full-time Bill Stewart, went 9-4 in three consecutive seasons .
WVU's top three rushers – White, Donaldson, and Greene – all return this season. The combined for over 2,300 yards and 28 touchdowns, a massive trio to return. While WVU's leading receiver, Devin White, leaves, the next four top receivers are all back. Two full-time offensive line starters need replacing, but the risers both started four games apiece in 2023.
While the offense improved, the defense regressed. Highs like holding Pitt to six points, Texas Tech to 13, and TCU to 21 fell to lows like allowing 41 to an abysmal Houston, 48 to Oklahoma State, and 59 to Oklahoma. In those four losses, WVU's defense allowed a shocking 46.5 points per game. The best of West Virginia is every bit a Big 12 Championship team as any other in this league. Despite major injuries last year , WVU won nine games. It pulled off three outright upsets over Texas Tech , TCU , and UCF . And it was a wild ending on the road against a former coach away from winning 10 games last year.
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