Big 12 Power Rankings: Conference Charges Towards Wild Finish

Oct 19, 2013; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers

(2) runs for a touchdown during second quarter against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Friend-USA TODAY Sports

8. West Virginia Mountaineers

Record: 3-4 (1-3)

Previous Ranking: 8

Last Week: Texas Tech 37, WVU 27

This Week: at Kansas State

Next Week: at TCU

After getting demolished by Baylor two weeks ago West Virginia came back and gave the other undefeated team in the conference a run for its money. WVU held a 27-16 lead late in the third quarter after a 12-yard touchdowns run by Dreamius Smith, but couldn’t hold on in the final 19 minutes of the game.

Clint Trickett had what is probably the best game for any WVU quarterback this season, completing 63% of his passes for 254 yards and a touchdown. Smith and Charles Sims combined for 166 yards rushing and two touchdowns in what was a very strong effort from the Mountaineers offense.

Tech’s air-raid offense just proved to be too much in the end.

WVU has a tough back-to-back road stretch against Kansas State and TCU. However, TCU, Kansas, and Iowa State are all very beatable teams for the Mountaineers. Even Texas, who has to travel to Morgantown, may be a spot where WVU can land a second major upset.

The Mountaineers are a solid team that just has a lot of trouble getting four consistent quarters from both their offense and defense. Better quarterback play in the future and a decent recruiting class should give them the depth they need to make noise in the Big 12 next season.