MORGANTOWN — Marshall Thundering Herd

Date: Sept. 1

Coach: Doc Holliday (Career record — 12-13)

2011 Record: 7-6, 5-3 Conference USA

Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 5.

Key losses: DE Vinny Curry

Last Meeting vs. WVU: WVU 34, Marshall 13 in 2011

Record vs. WVU: WVU leads series 11-0

Overview

Marshall has never beaten in-state rival and West Virginia and if it doesn’t do it this year it may never again get the chance as the series is about to end. Two years ago, of course, the Thundering Herd blew its best chance as QB Geno Smith, making just his second WVU start, led the Mountaineers from two TDs down in the fourth quarter to victory.

Last year the game turned when WVU’s Tavon Austin scored on a 100-yard kickoff return with five minutes to go in the third quarter.

Marshall should be better this year, although it must go without its star defensive end Vinny Curry, but QB Rakeem Cato is now in his second year as a starter and that should help the passing game. A Miami native, Cato threw 2,059 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2011.

The biggest area of improvement must come in the offensive line, as they have two talented returning running backs in Tron Martinez and Travon Van, who combined for more than 1,200 yards last year but missed spring practice.

The top recruit is on defense, a four-star corner named A.J. Legget from South Miami High.

Quote to note: “He really improved this spring, and we are certainly looking forward to him continuing to make additional progress. Playing last season as a true freshman really helped him.” – Co-offensive coordinator Tony Petersen on returning QB Rakeem Cato.

Schedule

Sept. 1 at WVU

Sept. 8 Western Carolina

Sept. 15 Ohio

Sept. 22 at Rice

Sept. 29 at Purdue

Oct. 6 Tulsa

Oct. 20 at Southern Miss

Oct. 27 UCF

Nov. 3 Memphis

Nov. 10 at UAB

Nov. 17 Houston

Nov. 24 at East Carolina



James Madison Dukes

Date: Sept. 15 (Landover, Md.)

Coach: Mickey Matthew (Career record — 96-61)

2011 Record: 8-5 in Colonial Athletic Association

Starters returning: Offense 8, defense 9.

Last Meeting vs. WVU: WVU 45, James Madison 10 in September, 2004

Record vs. WVU: WVU leads series 1-0.

Key losses: DE DJ Bryant, LB Pat Williams, WR Kerby Long.

Overview

West Virginia will go into this game as a huge favorite on a neutral field, facing a team that has pulled off a stunning surprise in a similar situation. Always a factor in FBS play, James Madison won the FBS championship in 2004 under coach Mickey Matthews.

That figured to be the most memorable game in school history until 2010 when the Dukes stunned No. 13 Virginia Tech, 21-16, on Tech’s home field, a game that laid warning to all future opponents like WVU that dares to take them on.

The Mountaineers faced JMU only once before, winning 45-10 in September, 2004, which was a game that helped toughen the Dukes up for the national championship run. That wasn’t the only help WVU gave the Dukes, one of their all-time greatest players being a WVU transfer, Curtis Keaton, who went on to play in the NFL.

It will be interesting to see how JMU tries to defense WVU as it normally presents an eight-man front to stop the running game but surely will be challenged by QB Geno Smith and his stable of fleet, sure-handed receivers.

JMU figures to show a whole lot of offense itself behind QB Justin Thorpe and a strong running game built around Dae-Quan Scott, who rushed for more than 1,300 yards last year.

Quote to note: “We think Justin is the best player in the country. He’s the best quarterback we’ve ever had, I think our whole season is (linked to) how well he plays.” Coach Mickey Matthew.

Schedule

Sept. 1 – St. Francis (Pa.)

Sept. 8 – Alcorn State

Sept. 15 – at WVU (Landover, Md.)

Sept. 22 – at Rhode Island

Oct. 6 – Towson

Oct. 13 – William & Mary

Oct. 20 – at Richmond

Oct. 27 – Georgia State

Nov. 3 – at Maine

Nov. 10 – at Villanova

Nov. 17 – Old Dominion



Maryland Terrapins

Date: Sept. 22

Coach: Randy Edsall (Career record — 76-80)

2011 Record: 2-10 in ACC

Last Meeting vs. WVU: WVU 37, Maryland 31 in 2011

Record vs. WVU: WVU Leads Series 25-21-2

Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 8.

Key losses: Transfers QB Danny O’Brien, RB Dave Meggert and OL Max Garcia.

Overview

With Pitt gone and Marshall leaving the schedule, Maryland becomes the regional rival for WVU as they play their 49th game. This has been a series where one team dominates for a while, then the other, WVU currently having won six in a row.

The Maryland coach is an old nemesis, Randy Edsall, the former Connecticut coach. He had a rough go last year with just two victories and a tumultuous off-season as his quarterback and an offensive line starter transferred.

The Terps lack depth as in 12 players from last year are gone and Edsall figures to go against the grain in college football, where the pass is becoming the main weapon while he likes to run the ball. With starting QB Danny O’Brien having transferred to Wisconsin, C.J. Brown will take over as a mobile quarterback. When he does throw he should have a solid receiver in top prospect Stefon Diggs.

Defensively the Terps figure to improve, especially against the run, where they were mauled all year.

While Maryland will not be a team of national note, the fact that they tested WVU last year at 37-31 could mean this won’t be an easy game, especially with the Big 12 opener and Homecoming game against Baylor scheduled the next week.

Quote to note: “I understand the players better. I understand what makes them tick. They understand what my expectations are and what direction we want to go with the program and what our program is all about. When people understand each other a little better, things will always run smoother.” – Coach Randy Edsall.

Schedule

Sept. 1 William & Mary

Sept. 8 at Temple

Sept. 15 Connecticut

Sept. 22 at West Virginia

Oct. 6 Wake Forest

Oct. 13 at Virginia

Oct. 20 NC State

Oct. 27 at Boston College

Nov. 3 Georgia Tech

Nov. 10 at Clemson

Nov. 17 Florida State

Nov. 24 at North Carolina



Baylor Bears (Homecoming)

Date: Sept. 29

Coach: Art Briles (Career record – 59-53)

2011 Record: 10-3 in Big 12

Last Meeting vs. WVU: None

Record vs. WVU: First Meeting

Starters returning: Offense 6, defense 8.

Key losses: Heisman Trophy winning QB Robert Griffin III, RB Terrance Ganaway, WR Kendall Wright, OL Phillip Blake.

Overview

You lose the Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback in Robert Griffin III, a Heisman winner, by the way, when there’s a guy named Andrew Luck at Stanford who stayed around to play his senior season, and you know you have some rebuilding to do, but coach Art Briles believes he has the right guy for the right offense in QB Nick Florence. In 2009 Florence had to fill in for an injured Griffin against a good Missouri team and simply threw for 427 yards in an upset victory. Now a senior, he knows the system and is mobile as well as a fluid passer.

Florence has receivers to throw to, starting with tall Terrance Williams on the outside, and with slick Tevin Reese on the inside, trying to match his four 100-yard games of a year ago. The running game lost a 1,500-yard rusher in Terrance Ganaway but they expect to still be able to move over land.

Defensively, Baylor has to improve. You can rest assured they are the perfect match for Holgorsen’s offense in the Big 12 opener, having ranked No. 118 in the nation on pass defense last year.

Quote to note: “You’re talking about (replacing) the guy that was the best player in college football last year. We’re going to have to have people become more accountable, become different playmakers, and we’re going to have to scheme differently.” – Coach Art Briles on losing QB Robert Griffin III, taken with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft after throwing for over 10,000 yards in his phenomenal career and winning the Heisman Trophy.

Schedule

Sept. 2 – SMU

Sept. 15 – Sam Houston State

Sept. 21 – at Louisiana-Monroe

Sept. 29 – at WVU

Oct. 13 – TCU

Oct. 20 – at Texas

Oct. 27 – at Iowa State

Nov. 3 – Kansas

Nov. 10 – at Oklahoma

Nov. 7 – Kansas State

Nov. 24 – Texas Tech (Arlington, Texas)

Dec. 1 – Oklahoma State



At Texas Longhorns

Date: Oct. 6

Coach: Mack Brown (Career record – 227-113-1, one national title)

2011 Record: 8-5 in Big 12

Last Meeting vs. WVU: 1956 (WVU 7-6)

Record vs. WVU: 0-1

Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 6.

Key losses: DL Kheeston Randall, LB Emmanuel Acho, LB Keenan Robinson, KR Fozzy Whittaker.

Overview

There are schools which will accept the 8-5 record Texas put together last year but the Longhorns are not one of them. They expect big improvement, much of it driven by one of the nation’s top defenses, which could be a huge plus in a conference that doesn’t play much defense. There are two potential All-Americans playing end on defense in Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat, while the secondary returns everyone and should be hard to throw against.

Offensively, Texas wound up running the ball in a passing conference last season, RBs Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron combining for 1,205 yards and 10 TDs. Coach Mack Brown adds a top freshman RB in Jonathan Gray.

A quarterback has to step up and give them the passing attack that eases the pressure on the running game. Coming out of spring it appeared that David Ash had the edge on the job over Case McCoy, brother of former Longhorn star Colt McCoy.

The Longhorns have to survive some early-season Big 12 scheduling woes as the first four games are at Oklahoma State, against WVU, then the traditional Texas showdown vs. Oklahoma and a home game against Baylor.

Quote to note: “We don’t have that senior leadership. We only have two seniors that would start today on defense, and we probably have two seniors that will start on offense. So it will still be a really young football team so the leadership is going to have to come from within with some of the younger guys.” – Texas coach Mack Brown.

Schedule

Sept. 1 — Wyoming

Sept. 8 — New Mexico

Sept. 15 — at Mississippi

Sept. 29 — at Oklahoma State

Oct. 6 – West Virginia

Oct. 13 — vs. Oklahoma (Dallas)

Oct. 20 — Baylor

Oct. 27 — at Kansas

Nov. 3 — at Texas Tech

Nov. 10 – Iowa State

Nov. 24 — TCU

Dec. 1 — at Kansas State



At Texas Tech Red Raiders

Date: Oct. 13

Coach: Tommy Tuberville (Career record – 123-72)

2011 Record: 5-7 in Big 12

Last Meeting vs. WVU: 1938 Sun Bowl (WVU 7, Texas Tech 6)

Record vs. WVU: 0-1

Starters returning: Offense 9, defense 10.

Key losses: DB Lonnie Edwards, P Adam Jones, TE Alex Torres.

Overview

A year ago, you may recall, Texas Tech stunned the nation by upsetting Oklahoma. The Red Raiders seemed to be off and running … then everything fell apart.

There were injuries that contributed to this, but the defense was just dreadful and, if you want to be honest, they didn’t have the quality talent there is in the Big 12. Now they are trying to put things back together, returning 19 starters, 10 of them on the defensive side.

The quarterback Seth Doege is a thrower in the Texas Tech tradition, last year passing for 4,004 yards with 28 TDs and 10 interceptions and his go-to guy, Eric Ward returns. He latched on to 84 of those passes, 11 of them for touchdowns.

If Eric Stephens makes it back from a bad knee injury, they will have a running game to go with the throwing.

In the end, though, it is going to come down to whether or not the defense improves. If it is anything like it was a year ago, it could be another long year.

 Quote to note: “Just being here a couple of years, everybody said: ‘You’re on the hot seat.’ I’d like to coach a few of these guys I recruited. So hopefully we can get this thing going a little bit better each year. We’re not there yet. I’ll be the first to tell you, but we’re much closer than we were three years ago.” – Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville.

Schedule

Sept. 1 — Northwestern State

Sept. 8 — at Texas State

Sept. 15 — New Mexico

Sept. 29 — at Iowa State

Oct. 6 — Oklahoma

Oct. 13 — WVU

Oct. 20 — at TCU

Oct. 27 — at Kansas State

Nov. 3 — Texas

Nov. 10 — Kansas

Nov. 17 — at Oklahoma State

Nov. 24 — Baylor (at Arlington, Texas)



Kansas State Wildcats

Date: Oct. 20

Coach: Bill Snyder (Career record – 159-83-1)

2011 Record: 10-3 in Big 12

Last Meeting vs. WVU: 1931 (Kansas State 19, West Virginia 0)

Record vs. WVU: 1-1

Starters returning: Offense 9, defense 7.

Key losses: WR Sheldon Smith, OT Zach Hanson, OG Colten Freeze, OT Clyde Aufner, DT Ray Kibble, DE Jordan Voelker, LB Emmanuel Lamure, CB David Garrett, FS Tysyn Hartman.

Overview

There were double takes all the way around the Big 12 when the pre-season media poll was released and K-State was picked sixth.

How could that be? This was last year’s Cinderella team, coached by the veteran Bill Snyder, who many believe may be the best coach in the conference.

There were a number of key losses and the offensive line has to be rebuilt for the Wildcats live off their running game. However, QB Collin Klein may be the best running quarterback in college football in 2012 and WVU knows what having a player like can do, talking about Pat White, of course.

It would help, however, if he could throw better than he does.

Defensively, junior transfer Nigel Malone had to win a starting job in camp last year and wound up becoming an All-American with seven interceptions. He is going to need help there, however.

Quote to note: “I think it’s a stable conference right now if there is such a thing in college football. It’s quite obvious that the universities that make up the Big 12 conference today are heavily committed to the conference. We lost two very fine universities and programs, but we gained two extremely talented football programs and quality universities, too.” – Veteran K-State coach Bill Snyder on the new Big 12.

Schedule

Sept. 1 — Missouri State

Sept. 8 — Miami (Fla.)

Sept. 15 — North Texas

Sept. 22 — at Oklahoma

Oct. 6 — Kansas

Oct. 13 — at Iowa State

Oct. 20 — at WVU

Oct. 27 — Texas Tech

Nov. 3 — Oklahoma State

Nov. 10 — at TCU

Nov. 17 — at Baylor

Dec. 1 — Texas



TCU Horned Frogs

Date: Nov. 3

Coach: Gary Patterson (Career record: 109-30)

2011 Record: 11-2 in Mountain West Conference

Last Meeting vs. WVU: 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl (West Virginia 31, TCU 14)

Record vs. WVU: 0-1

Starters returning: Offense 6, defense 7.

Key losses: S Tekerrein Cuba, S Johnny Fobbs, LB Tank Carder, LB Tanner Brock, DT D.J. Yendrey, OL Kyle Dooley.

Overview

This is the other newcomer to the Big 12 and in many ways TCU is every bit as well prepared as the Mountaineers. There was a time, in fact, when TCU was a Southwest Conference team that competed weekly with these same teams before it became odd-man out in the new Big 12 and wound up dominant in the Mountain West.

TCU lost three games last year, all by two points, two of them to Baylor of the Big 12 and western power Boise State.

The Horned Frogs run the ball with anyone and can play defense, having led the nation in defense in 2008-2010, three straight years.

They have an All-American candidate at quarterback in 6-5 Casey Pachall and have three running backs who each gained more than 700 yards. When he had to throw he passed for 473 yards and five TDs against Boise State.

Quote to note: “Our goal has always been to win a conference championship no matter what, if you look in our pyramid, no matter what our league is, and that’s going to be our strive in this league to do so also, and also someday play for a national championship.” – TCU coach Gary Patterson

Schedule

Sept. 8 — Grambling State

Sept. 15 — at Kansas

Sept. 22 — Virginia

Sept. 29 — at SMU

Oct. 6 — Iowa State

Oct. 13 — at Baylor

Oct. 20 — Texas Tech

Oct. 27 — at Oklahoma State

Nov. 3 — at WVU

Nov. 10 — Kansas State

Nov. 24 — at Texas

Dec. 1 — Oklahoma



At Oklahoma State Cowboys

Date: Nov. 10

Coach: Mike Gundy (Career record – 33-24)

2011 Record: 12-1 in Big 12

Last meeting vs. WVU: 1987 Sun Bowl (OSU, 35-33)

Record vs. WVU – 2-1

Starters returning: Offense 8, defense 8.

Key losses: QB Brandon Weeden, WR Justin Blackmon.

Overview

A year ago, Mike Gundy’s offense had a high powered, experienced trigger man in Brandon Weeden and the returning Biletnikoff Award winner to catch him in Justin Blackman. This season he starts over with a true freshman quarterback in Wes Lunt, the school’s first true freshman starter at quarterback in six decades.

He gets to run the offense that WVU coach Dana Holgorsen put in when he was at Oklahoma State, an offense that does seem simple enough for a freshman to run, but one suspects the running game will be key here, at least early in the season.

There is enough talent there to pull it off, as this was not simple Big 12 champion on the arm of Weeden alone. RB Joseph Randle figures to move up big time this season, especially since last year with all the passing weapons, he handled the ball most in the offense.

The Cowboys did not live by offense alone. Last year they also led the nation in turnover margin and have the athletes to continue to be aggressive.

And Oklahoma State has one added plus in P/PK Quinn Sharp, a top-line combination kicker who was the Big 12s Special Team Player of the Year last season.

Quote to note: “We’re at a point now that you win 41 games in four years and 23 in the last two years that we’ve established ourselves as being a quality program. Now the coaches and players understand that’s short lived if you aren’t willing to continue to put the time, effort and work in that we have over that period of time.” — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy.

Schedule

Sept. 1 – Savannah State

Sept. 8 – at Arizona

Sept. 15 – Louisiana-Lafayette

Sept. 29 – Texas

Oct. 13 – at Kansas

Oct. 20 – Iowa State

Oct. 27 – TCU

Nov. 3 – at Kansas State

Nov. 10 – WVU

Nov. 17 – Texas Tech

Nov. 24 – at Oklahoma

Dec. 1 – at Baylor



Oklahoma Sooners

Date: Nov. 17

Coach: Bob Stoops (Career record – 139-34)

2011 Record: 10-3 in Big 12

Last Meeting vs. WVU: 2008 Fiesta Bowl (West Virginia 48, Oklahoma 28)

Record vs. WVU: 2-2

Starters returning: Offense 8, defense 7.

Key losses: WR Ryan Broyles, DL Frank Alexander, DB Jamell Fleming, TE James Hanna.

Overview

This is college football royalty, royalty that owes WVU one for the 48-28 whipping the Mountaineers put on the Sooners in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.

The game shapes up to be a key battle not only for position in the Big 12, the Sooners being preseason favorites and WVU selected to finish second, but for the All-America quarterback spot and maybe the Heisman Trophy as it matches the Mountaineers‘ Geno Smith with the Sooners’ Landry Jones.

A year ago, even though he threw for 4,463 yards and 29 touchdowns, it wasn’t considered reaching his potential. Even though he would have been a first-round draft pick had he come out, Jones returned to try to win a national championship.

Jones doesn’t have much experienced, proven depth at the skill positions but works behind a magnificent offensive line that allowed only 11 sacks last season.

Defensively, Oklahoma might be scary. While it lost most of its pass rush, it returns almost everything else and you know these are top-shelf athletes, now to be coached by Bob Stoops’ brother, Mike, who left in 2003 to coach Arizona. The Oklahoma defense slipped while he couldn’t make it big time at Arizona.

Quote to note: “I think it’s fair to say our league, when you add West Virginia and TCU, two teams coming off bowl wins, two ranked football teams, you put them with the rest of what we’ve been doing here in the Big 12, that our league is every bit as strong as it’s ever been, if not stronger.” – Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.

Schedule

Sept. 1 – at UTEP

Sept. 8 – Florida &M

Sept. 22 – Kansas State

Oct. 6 – at Texas Tech

Oct. 13 – Texas (in Dallas)

Oct. 20 – Kansas

Oct. 27—Notre Dame

Nov. 3 – at Iowa State

Nov. 10 – Baylor

Nov. 17 – at WVU

Nov. 24 – Oklahoma State

Dec. 1 – at TCU



At Iowa State Cyclones

Date: Nov. 24

Coach: Paul Rhoads (Career record: 18-20)

2011 Record: 6-7 in Big 12

Last meeting vs. WVU: None

Record vs. WVU: 0-0

Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 5.

Key losses: OL Kelechi Osemele, RB Hayworth Hicks, DB Leonard Johnson, DE Jake Lattimer, DE Patrick Neal, WR Darius Reynolds, LB Matt Tau’o’ou.

Overview

An old nemesis, Paul Rhoads, is trying to lead Iowa State to respectability. He’s always been pretty good at pulling off upsets. You might remember him from the 2007 Pitt game when he stopped the Mountaineers’ high powered offense as Pitt’s defensive coordinator and kept them from playing for a national title.

Last year, as head coach, he did the same thing to Oklahoma State here, knocking them out of the national title picture with a Friday night upset.

Rhoads believes this year’s team is his most talented and deepest, and even though they need six new starters on defense they are anchored by senior linebackers A.J. Klein and Jake Knott, perhaps the conference’s best duo.

The offense is experience with nine starters coming back but went into summer camp still looking for its starting quarterback from between senior Steele Jantz and sophomore Jared Barnett.

Quote to note: “In the past maybe I didn’t want to seem stupid. Or that I didn’t know the defense, which is clear that I didn’t, and now I’m taking the coaching. If I play fast, take the coaching, relax and stop having to think so much on the football field, I’ll be a great player.” – Iowa State LB Jeremiah George.

Schedule

Sept. 1 – Tulsa

Sept. 8 – at Iowa

Sept. 15 – Western Illinois

Sept. 29 – Texas Tech

Oct. 6 – at TCU

Oct. 13 – Kansas State

Oct. 20 –at Oklahoma State

Oct. 27 – Baylor

Nov. 4 – Oklahoma

Nov. 10 – at Texas

Nov. 17 – at Kansas

Nov. 24 — WVU



Kansas Jayhawks

Date: Dec. 1

Coach: Charley Weis (Career record – 35-27)

2011 Record: 2-10 in Big 12

Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 7.

Key losses: QB Jordan Webb, RB Darrian Miller, WR Keeston Terry, OT Jeff Spikes, LB Steven Johnson.

Overview

Charlie Weis understands you don’t build a power in a major conference right away, that it takes time and patience after an 0-9 Big 12 record, so he is working for on improving the talent level and changing the mental approach to the game.

Looking for immediate hope, Weis is bringing at least a dozen transfers in, including three from Notre Dame, where he once served as head coach. The key transfer is former Notre Dame QB Deane Crist, who has the job for this, his senior season.

Kansas should have a solid offensive line, and there is good depth and talent at receiver. If Crist plays up to his potential, the offense should be fine, and Weis is something of an offensive genius. Defensively there is a lot of building to do, and they appear to be ready to do it by bringing a lot of pressure through blitzes.

Quote to note: “Once you get your team more competitive on a weekly basis more wins will follow.” – Kansas Coach Charlie Weis.

Schedule

Sept. 1 – South Dakota State

Sept. 8 – Rice

Sept. 15 – TCU

Sept. 22 – at Northern Illinois

Oct. 6 – at Kansas State

Oct. 13 – Oklahoma State

Oct. 20 – Oklahoma

Oct. 27 – Texas

Nov. 3 – at Baylor

Nov. 10 – at Texas Tech

Nov. 17 – Iowa State

Dec. 1 – at WVU