Column: All WVU football needs is a win over Iowa State to bring momentum back to program
Trending
MORGANTOWN -- On my way back from Charlotte, after covering West Virginia's big win over Virginia, my dad and I stopped at a gas station. I was busy working on some post-game stories, so my dad went in to get a few things. He came back out with a pack of "Bubble Yum" gum.
"I used to chew that a lot back in the day," he told me.
Fast-forward a week, and I was getting ready to leave to cover the Mountaineers’ home game against Oklahoma State. On my kitchen counter sat that pack of gum. I put it in my backpack just in case I felt I needed a palate cleanser.
By now, you know the story: WVU lost its first game of the season to Oklahoma State 41-24, where everything fell apart. The offense struggled to complete a pass, and the defense was gashed for 600 yards. The hopes of breaking into the top 25 and the "We are back" talk were squashed.
After postgame media and submitting my game story, I went into my backpack and chucked in a piece of that gum while I walked back to my car. By the time I reached the top of the College of Law stairs, the gum lost its flavor. It had that yucky stale taste. It made me want to get rid of that piece and have another. So, when I got to my car, I did.
The Mountaineers are at that yucky stale state right now. WVU played an uninspiring second half that had a lot of fans up in arms. Most frustrated with head coach Rich Rodriguez and defensive coordinator Zac Alley. Rightfully so. They are questioning if Rodriguez should've ever come back, and looking at Alley's pricey contract.
Oklahoma State exposed a lot of issues that were glazed over through the first three games because WVU was winning. Now that the Mountaineers have lost, those issues need to be addressed. The pass rush and passing attack need to tighten up, along with other adjustments.
Luckily, and what I think a lot of people are forgetting, there's still a lot of season left. There's time to get right.
Starting with this weekend in a matchup with Iowa State. The Cyclones aren't the Matt Campbell-led guaranteed eight-win roster anymore. Campbell took that culture to Penn State this offseason, along with quarterback Rocco Becht and most of the staff. Iowa State is in a rebuild under new head coach Jimmy Rogers, who came over from Washington State.
With the rebuild and difficulty it is to do so in Ames, the Cyclones were picked to finish last in the Big 12 by most media outlets. So far, they've been a bit better than advertised.
Iowa State is 2-2 on the season and is 0-2 against Power Four opponents. But both those games were against ranked teams. The Cyclones lost by three points to Iowa and by two touchdowns recently against Utah.
Iowa State quarterback Jaylen Raynor, who transferred from Arkansas State this offseason, isn't afraid to throw the ball, and the defense is top tier. The Cyclones have allowed 16 points per game, which is 30th in the nation, and are 26th in the nation in total yards per game allowed.
It'll be a great test to see on both sides of the ball if the issues from Oklahoma State are fixed.
For those curious, Iowa State is essentially a pick ’em on DraftKings if you count the three points for home-field advantage, and ESPN analytics gives a 62.3% chance to win the game. That says a lot about what people think of WVU after the loss to Oklahoma State, and how they don't think Iowa State is awful.
The Mountaineers need this game. WVU started 3-0, and everyone was over the moon. One bad loss to the Cowboys and everyone is back at rock bottom. Another loss to Iowa State could really start to sink the ship, especially with a tough Arizona squad coming to town the following week.
But it can all change with a win on the road. Like an extra piece of gum, it will get rid of the bad taste left in everyone's mouth. Until that runs out the following week.
Prediction: West Virginia 21, Iowa State 17