I said last week that the preseason was over for the West Virginia football team. Not only was it time for Big 12 Conference games, but the team was starting a stretch that many have called the most difficult in the history of Mountaineer football.

 

The October schedule will see West Virginia play four ranked teams, two of them currently ranked in the top three nationally, with three of those games coming on the road. 

 

Soccer fans are familiar with the term 'Group of Death' when it comes to a particularly challenging schedule in World Cup play. The month of October is the Big 12's version of the 'Group of Death' for West Virginia.

 

The enormously difficult road ahead is why I think this game tonight against Oklahoma State is a must-win for the Mountaineers. The Cowboys come into the game on a two game losing streak to West Virginia. The last time Oklahoma State visited Morgantown was in 2013 when they arrived as the number 11 team in the country. They left after suffering a 30-21 loss to a WVU team that would go on to win only one more game that season.

 

The Mountaineers found out last week against Oklahoma how difficult life can be on the road in the Big 12. With upcoming games at Baylor and at TCU, it is critical that West Virginia finds a way to beat Oklahoma State.

 

Here's what to watch when the teams take the field tonight at Milan Puskar Stadium:

 

Skyler Howard

After a tremendous start to the season, Howard had his toughest day in a West Virginia uniform last week. Howard finished just 17-32 passing for 173 yards and three interceptions. He also had two fumbles. Obviously those numbers have to improve if West Virginia is going to beat Oklahoma State tonight. 

 

It's not all just on Howard, though. Last week Oklahoma had seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Howard was pressured and hurried all day. Keep your eyes on Howard, but know the West Virginia offensive line is going to have to do a much better job protecting him or it will be another long day.

 

The Defense

The expectations placed on this Mountaineer defensive unit were greater than any other season under Dana Holgorsen. This wasn't supposed to just be an improved unit, but rather a dominant one.

 

Through the first three games of 2015, it was. West Virginia led the country in scoring defense and turnover margin as we closed the book on the month of September. That changed last week against Oklahoma. 44 points allowed and minus three in the turnover margin were a far cry from what we had seen previously in 2015.

 

Then, word came out earlier this week that All-Big 12 performer Karl Joseph had suffered a season ending knee injury. Joseph had started every game as a Mountaineer and had been on the field for more than 3,000 snaps in his career. How will the Mountaineers respond to losing its best player? 

 

By himself, Joseph would lead the Big 12 in interceptions with five (Texas, Baylor and Oklahoma State also have five as a TEAM). Joseph is also known to be one of the hardest hitters in the country. The challenge won't just be what West Virginia will lose on the field without Joseph. The question will also be how does West Virginia respond emotionally to losing one of its senior leaders? 

 

Dana Holgorsen, like most coaches, preaches the next man up mentality. He has talked about this team having the most depth of any team he has coached here at West Virginia. That depth will have to come through now that the defense's best player is out for the season.

 

Does West Virginia get the win tonight? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet: @bradhowe07.

 

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