As a Mountaineer football fan, you may be asking "what now?" The November swoon continued for WVU as they lost a third straight game this month and fell to 2-9 in the last three years during November. While the latest loss came to a team ranked number 12 in the country, it was a hard one to take.

 

For me, it wasn't so much the loss as it was the way in which the game was lost. Once again the story of the game was turnovers and mistakes, namely on the special teams "side of the ball." 

 

Let's start with the turnovers. It really is remarkable that this West Virginia team enters the final game of the season with a winning record given how many turnovers it has had this season. Need some statistical proof to back that statement up? With one game to play, WVU has the second worst turnover margin in the history of college football for a team with a winning record. The second worst in history. And had it not been for a late, meaningless interception, WVU would have the distinction of having THE worst turnover margin in the history of college football for a team with a winning record. 

 

We've heard coaches for years talk about how important the turnover battle is during a game. "We must win the turnover battle in order to win the game." I can't tell you how many coaches I've heard say that over the years. However, for much of this season that just simply wasn't true for this Mountaineer team.

 

Look no further than the Baylor game. West Virginia beat a top 5 team while turning the ball over three teams and getting zero in return. A minus 3 turnover margin against one of the best teams in the country and WVU walked out with a win. The Mountaineers almost pulled off a similar feat against TCU.

 

But, much as in life, things tend to balance out. Here we sit 11 games into the season and the Mountaineers' inability to protect the football has come back to bite them. There is only one team in the country with a worse turnover margin than WVU. That team ... Georgia State is 1-9. At some point you knew these mistakes would end up being a problem. Well, it appears that point is now. After a 6-2 start, WVU stands at 6-5 with one game left in the regular season.

 

The second area that continues to be an issue is special teams. It is simply amazing to me that this program can't find one guy who can be effective returning punts. This isn't a one game problem, it's a two-YEAR problem. Last year, WVU averaged less than two yards per punt return in Big 12 play. Coming into the Kansas State the punt return average for the Mountaineers was 3.7 yards per return. 

 

Here's the worst part though. I'm not even talking about the lack of a dynamic playmaker as a punt returner. I'm simply talking about finding someone that won't make mistakes. Mistakes that supposedly every punt returner is taught to avoid on day one. Mistakes that by his own admission, head coach Dana Holgorsen addressed personally this week. If you're not going to field the punt get away from it. Get far away from it. Run into the stands if you have to. Time and time again, WVU's punt returners make this costly mistake.

 

Heck, it was so bad at one point this season, Holgorsen chose to put no one back to receive a punt. NO ONE. Let that sink in for a minute. The unit has been so bad, the coaching staff thought the best option was to have no one play the position. And you know what - it was probably the right call at that time. Amazing.

 

It wasn't just the return unit that had issues Thursday night. Inexplicably, punter Nick O'Toole kicked the ball to Kansas State's all-world return specialist Tyler Lockett while the coverage was on the other side of the field. Lack of communication, lack of execution, whatever the issue was it was a stunning gaffe that once again highlighted how much of an issue special teams has been this year.

 

There were also numerous penalties against WVU's special teams units, a kickoff that went out of bounds and a missed field goal on Thursday night. Dana Holgorsen is fond of saying "all three sides of the ball." Right now, the third side of the ball is in some real trouble and needs to be fixed.

 

So, what's next for this WVU football team?

 

A very important game against a struggling Iowa State team. I know, you've heard this story before. It's a similar setup to last year. WVU was struggling with Iowa State rolling into town. Most thought it was a chance for WVU to end an awful season on a high note. Send the seniors out right. Well, it didn't exactly turn out that way did it? An early WVU lead turned into a collapse that saw the Cyclones sneak out of Morgantown with a 52-44 triple overtime win in front of an announced crowd of 33,735 at Milan Puskar Stadium, one of the worst crowds in years. Quite frankly, it was a fitting end to a dreadful season for WVU.

 

How will the story unfold this year?

 

This is a better WVU team than last year, although admittedly it may be hard to see that given the play of the team the past few weeks. Another difference ... WVU has already qualified for a bowl. Will that help with motivation? One would think it has to help. 

 

Other than the first half against Texas and Thursday against Kansas State, this Mountaineer team has come to play. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say they will be ready to play Saturday. Frankly, Iowa State just isn't that good. They have struggled all year, but have been particularly bad as of late, giving up 510 yards rushing to Oklahoma and losing badly to Kansas in the last few weeks.

 

There aren't many times you go up against the last place team in the league and say that it is a very important game. Well, this one is. In fact, I say it's a must win for a WVU program that is really struggling right now. 

 

What do you think? Is the Iowa State game a must win for WVU? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet: @bradhowe07 and let me know what you think.

 

Editor's Note: Photos from Thursday's game by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.