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A Little Know-Howe: In WVU's "If Not Now, When?" Season, the Moment of "Now" is Officially at Hand

By Brad Howe on November 17, 2018 from A Little Know-Howe via Connect-Bridgeport.com

Is today the day? 
 
West Virginia has been a member of the Big 12 for six seasons. There have been ups. There have been downs. There has not been a top two finish in the league standings.
 
Today could be the day that changes.
 
Yes, I know there is one more regular season game to play, but a spot in the Big 12 title game could be decided by tonight. With a win today over Oklahoma State and an Iowa State loss to Texas (the Longhorns are three point favorites at home)*, West Virginia will secure a spot in the Big 12 championship game regardless of the outcome of the Oklahoma game on Friday. 
 
I spent the entire spring and summer saying this was a MUST year for the West Virginia football program. “If not now, when?” was the phrase I attached to the season.
 
If West Virginia didn't get to the Big 12 championship game this season, then when would it?
 
As we looked at West Virginia’s team heading into this season we saw it was filled with elite talent at the skill positions on the offensive side of the ball.
 
David Sills had blossomed into one of the best receivers in the country after hauling in 18 touchdown catches in 2017. Gary Jennings has had an outstanding career even though he didn’t get the attention he probably deserved. Sills and Jennings are just the fourth duo in West Virginia history to have double digit touchdown receptions in a single season.  Sills is just the third player in WVU history to produce back-to-back seasons with double digit touchdown receptions. He joins Stedman Bailey and Chris Henry on that list.
 
And of course, the man responsible for all of this touchdown passes is Will Grier. WVU entered the season with not only one of the best quarterbacks in school history, but one of the best in the league and nation. 
 
Add to that mix a crowded backfield with four “starters” and an offensive line with at least two NFL prospects and there was good reason for the optimism. The other part of the equation to the “If not now, when?” mantra had to do with the rest of the league.
 
In a conference known for its great quarterback play, it was easy to see this summer that the majority of the schools had major question marks at the sport’s most important position entering the 2018 season. That has held true as we’ve moved though the season.
 
As is always the case though, a player or two will emerge that no one had heard of prior to this year.
 
Iowa State’s Brock Purdy is this season’s poster boy for coming out of nowhere. The true freshman didn’t see the field until October 6 against Oklahoma State. All he’s done since entering the lineup is lead Iowa State to a five game winning streak entering today’s big game against Texas.Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray had not played much, but most everyone knew he was a special talent.
 
Outside of those two and Grier, the quarterback play throughout the league has been as expected. Up and down at best. Not very good in many cases around the league.
 
West Virginia’s opponent today is a perfect example.
 
Taylor Cornelius is a great story. A former walk-on that waited his turn and finally got it in his final season of eligibility at Oklahoma State. He’s had some impressive moments. Just last week in the Bedlam matchup with Oklahoma, Cornelius threw for 500 plus yards that included a rope into coverage to freshman star receiver Tylan Wallace on fourth down to score what could have been the game-winning touchdown.
 
However, on the very next play - a two point attempt to win the game - Cornelius threw behind and low to an open receiver. Conversion failed. Cowboys lost.
 
It’s been that kind of year for Cornelius and Oklahoma State. Ups and downs. The Cowboys have been very good in games against the toughest opponents.
 
An early season win against ranked Boise State gave fans some early hope. An impressive win over Texas just a couple of weeks ago surprised many. And then last week, the Cowboys went up and down the field with the talented Sooners before falling just short.
 
But, mix in losses to Baylor and struggling Kansas State and you see why it’s been a maddening season in Stillwater.
 
And that sets up today’s game. West Virginia heads into the game playing its best football of the year. Three straight games scoring 40 or more points. Two games where the defense absolutely smothered the opponent (Baylor and TCU).
 
Can West Virginia knock off Oklahoma State for the first time in three seasons? This series hasn’t been all that close since WVU joined the league.The average margin of victory has been nearly 15 points per game.
 
Oklahoma State is playing to become bowl eligible. West Virginia is playing for much more. 
 
A berth in the Big 12 title game awaits if the chips fall correctly. A berth in the college football playoff is still alive. Yes, there’s a lot of football to be played even though just two regular season games remain. But, these next two games are the biggest of the year. 
 
And potentially the biggest in a decade for this Mountaineer football program.
 
What’s your score prediction today? Leave a comment or tweet me: @BradHowe07 and let me know.
 
For more WVU - Oklahoma State analysis, I invite you to join me, Hoppy Kercheval, Rasheed Marshall, Steve Dunlap and our entire crew as we bring you nine and a half hours of West Virginia football gameday coverage beginning at noon today on radio stations throughout the state.
 
To find a station near you or to listen live, click HERE.
 
*Oklahoma must win against Kansas today as well (The Sooners are 35.5 point favorites).
 
Editor's Note: Top three photos by Joe McNemar. Bottom photo by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.
 

 


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