Today's game between West Virginia and BYU is a big one for many reasons. 

 

Let's have a look:

 

The Obvious 

This West Virginia team needs all of the wins it can get. Off to a perfect start at 2-0, a third straight win will start to bring some national recognition. 

 

BYU is the new Maryland

How many times over the past two decades have you heard the following statement? "Maryland week. This game is the barometer. We'll have a good idea how good West Virginia is based on this game against the Terps." 

 

You heard it a lot because it was true. Take a look at these numbers just since Dana Holgorsen arrived. 

 

Under Holgorsen, West Virginia has beaten Maryland four times. The Mountaineers went to a bowl game in each of those seasons.

 

Only once has a Holgorsen-coached West Virginia team lost to Maryland. You guessed it, WVU did not go to a bowl game that year (2013). 

 

No Maryland on the schedule on this year, but I think BYU is a close approximation. 

 

I know the Cougars are not officially a power five school (yet), but they look like one. Not elite, but far from awful. I wouldn't hesitate to classify them as a middle of the pack team (at worst) most years if they competed in the ACC as Maryland did for so long. 

 

If you accept BYU as the new Maryland as I do, than I think you will agree that today will start to tell West Virginia's 2016 story. Win and WVU probably looks like the seven-nine win team many of you think it can be. 

 

Lose and getting to nine wins is really hard and eight might be in jeopardy. 

 

Build Momentum 

If the BYU game begins to tell the true story of the 2016 Mountaineers, than the upcoming three game stretch is when the plot thickens.

If West Virginia has its eyes on winning the Big 12, they must take care of Kansas State AND Texas Tech over the next few weeks. 

I know WVU has not beaten K State since joining the Big 12, so assuming a win against the fighting Bill Snyders would be unwise. 

But, WVU may not get a better situation against the Wildcats. K State doesn't look great on offense again. Add in that West Virginia will get K State early in the season, presumably before Bill Snyder can work his wizardry and find ways to win with receivers playing quarterback. 

 

After K State, West Virginia gets Texas Tech. Yes, the game is on the road. Never easy, I realize. 

 

But, until I see differently, I'll continue to say Texas Tech is half a team. Great offensively, featuring maybe the best quarterback in the league, but horrific defensively. Only five teams in FBS give up more yards than the Red Raiders. Only eight teams in college football give up more points. This is not a Tech team built to win a league title. If West Virginia is, it beats Tech on the road. 

 

I know we still have a bunch of questions about West Virginia's strengths and weaknesses. There's a ton of football left. Many chapters left to write, if I can continue the "story" analogy. But, I think the opportunity to make a run at a league title exists. 

 

The book on the 2016 Mountaineers begins today against BYU. The plot thickens over the next couple of weeks. 

 

I can't wait to see how this 2016 WVU story ends, but I won't speed read through it. Let’s settle in for some important games over the next few weeks. It starts today against BYU.

 

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