Saturday, October 10
Morgantown, W.Va.
12:00 p.m.
West Virginia University
vs
Arizona
Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Offensive Fireworks Expected on Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium
October 07, 2026 11:43 AM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It might be a good idea to keep one eye on the Milan Puskar Stadium scoreboard at all times on Saturday when West Virginia and Arizona hook up at high noon.
That's because this one has the makings of one of those good, old-fashioned Big 12 shootouts.
We've seen a few of these through the years, such as the first-ever Big 12 game played here in Morgantown on Sept. 29, 2012, when the goal line was crossed 19 times in ninth-ranked West Virginia's 70-63 victory over 25th-ranked Baylor.
There were a combined 1,507 yards and 67 first downs in that game!
It was said that the touchdown defeat left such a sour taste in coach Art Briles's mouth that he was determined to give West Virginia a payback the following year in Waco.
And he did – Baylor 73, West Virginia 42.
The 2012 season also saw West Virginia falling by one point to 13th-ranked Oklahoma, despite scoring 49 points, and the Mountaineers dropping home games to Texas and Iowa State in 2013 despite tallying 40 and 44 points respectively.
That period in Mountaineer football history is a pretty good starting point for what could be in store for fans and record researchers on Saturday afternoon when these two teams collide.
The 61½ points the oddsmakers have already established for the game's over/under represent the highest figure for any FBS game this weekend, which is a pretty good indicator of what the folks in Las Vegas are expecting.
Therefore, brace yourself for an afternoon full of first downs and touchdowns - and be sure to plan your beverage and restroom breaks accordingly.
Opposing quarterbacks from Deuce Bailey to Drew Mestemaker to Jaylen Raynor have taken advantage of West Virginia's pass defense to the tune of 288.2 yards per game so far this season.
Even running backs have gotten into the act.
Last Saturday, Iowa State's Aiden Flora did his best impersonation of the "Galloping Ghost," Red Grange, by passing for two touchdowns and running for three more in the Cyclones' frenetic 45-42 comeback victory.
The last time that happened to a West Virginia football team was a month after the stock market crash in 1929, two depressing events for sure!
Pass-oriented Arizona has the type of offense capable of continuing the trend if West Virginia's defense doesn't figure things out soon.
"Probably the best team we've played so far," is how West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez describes his former employer. Rodriguez coached the Wildcats from 2012-17 and his children, son Rhett and daughter Raquel, are Arizona alums.
The coach said he has fond memories of his time living in Tucson, but his mind is more preoccupied with what's in front of his football team this weekend - namely Wildcat quarterback Noah Fifita, whose 10,598 passing yards in 45 career college games should ring alarm bells. Fifita is completing nearly 74% of his throws this year with 13 of those going for touchdowns.
He's also an occasional threat to take off and run as his 73 rushing yards in last year's Holiday Bowl loss to SMU attest.
However, Fifita is now down his top receiver, Trey Spivey, who was lost for the season in last Saturday's blowout win over Cincinnati, and a couple more got banged up against the Bearcats, which could mean an increased role on Saturday for former Mountaineer performer Rodney Gallagher III.
By the way, Gallagher's 6.6 yards-per-reception average through five games at Arizona is similar to the figure he posted in 38 career games at West Virginia.
The Wildcats' rushing attack finally came alive last Saturday night against Cincinnati with 238 yards on 41 attempts to boost their average above 150 yards per game for the first time this season.
That is another canary in the coal mine to consider for a West Virginia defense that has struggled mightily to stop teams this year. Rodriguez addressed the defensive issues on his radio show Monday evening and again during his Tuesday afternoon press conference, as did defensive coordinator Zac Alley, who used some salty language to emphasize his frustrations.
In one blunt assessment, he labeled his group "the worst" in college football, which is technically not true, but it sure feels like it after seeing his unit surrender 1,186 yards in the last two Big 12 games - or the equivalent of opposing teams traversing the entire length of the field nearly 12 times in the last eight quarters.
That's where West Virginia's defense was back in 2012 when the Mountaineers had the offensive playmakers to keep up.
As was the case then with quarterback Geno Smith, running back Tavon Austin and wide receiver Stedman Bailey, West Virginia also possesses plenty of offensive firepower to remain in the race.
Through five games, Michael Hawkins Jr. continues to develop into the school's best dual-threat quarterback since Pat White.
The Oklahoma transfer produced a season-high 376 all-purpose yards in last Saturday's loss at Iowa State and is currently tied with Florida's Jadan Baugh with the most rushing touchdowns in FBS football with 13.
Hawkins has surpassed 100 yards rushing in four of five games this season, as has his backfield mate Cam Cook.
Two weeks ago, the senior running back ran for a season-high 193 yards against Oklahoma State and added 142 yards on 20 carries last week in Ames. Cook contributed 142 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Coastal Carolina and accounted for 123 yards in the Virginia win.
A blowout victory over UT Martin kept Cook and Hawkins from having five straight 100-yard rushing performances this year.
Overall, West Virginia ranks sixth nationally this week averaging an impressive 294 yards per game on the ground. That figure will be put under a microscope on Saturday against pressure-happy Arizona, which held Cincinnati to just 74 yards rushing last week and blitzes more than any team Rodriguez has seen in the last six years, he said on Tuesday.
That could require more production from senior DJ Epps, who has been West Virginia's most effective downfield receiving threat with 14 catches for 393 yards and four touchdowns (an impressive 28.1-yards-per-reception average). If not for a couple of drops, Epps would be well over 500 yards for the year.
The weekend weather forecast is calling for warm temperatures in the low 70s, which could add another explosive element to Saturday's affair. One more factor to consider is the noon start time, equating to 9 a.m. local time for Arizona, which will put the Wildcats' biorhythms to test.
Appropriately enough, TNT will handle the television coverage of Saturday's fireworks with J.B. Long, Mike Golic Jr. and Allie LaForce on the call. Sister stations TruTV and HBO MAX will also air the telecast.
Mountaineer Sports Network radio coverage begins at 9 a.m. with the GoMart Mountaineer Tailgate Show leading into regular network coverage with Tony Caridi, Dwight Wallace and Jed Drenning at 11 a.m. on stations throughout West Virginia.
The sports marketing staff has designated Saturday's game a "Coal Rush" and is encouraging fans to hit the WVU Team Store to purchase their black Mountaineer gear to wear on Saturday to help celebrate the state's rich mining heritage.
Prior to kickoff, West Virginia University will induct its 36th WVU Sports Hall of Fame class at 9 a.m. inside the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility.
This year's class includes men's basketball coach John Beilein and wrestling coach Craig Turnbull, women's soccer stars Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence, women's basketball standout Bria Holmes, cross country All-American Alex Kasich and football's Dennis Fowlkes.
The total number of inductees has now reached 250 since its inception in 1991.
Tickets for Saturday's game remain on sale through the Mountaineer Ticket Office and can be purchased by logging on to WVUGAME.com.
That's because this one has the makings of one of those good, old-fashioned Big 12 shootouts.
We've seen a few of these through the years, such as the first-ever Big 12 game played here in Morgantown on Sept. 29, 2012, when the goal line was crossed 19 times in ninth-ranked West Virginia's 70-63 victory over 25th-ranked Baylor.
There were a combined 1,507 yards and 67 first downs in that game!
It was said that the touchdown defeat left such a sour taste in coach Art Briles's mouth that he was determined to give West Virginia a payback the following year in Waco.
And he did – Baylor 73, West Virginia 42.
The 2012 season also saw West Virginia falling by one point to 13th-ranked Oklahoma, despite scoring 49 points, and the Mountaineers dropping home games to Texas and Iowa State in 2013 despite tallying 40 and 44 points respectively.
That period in Mountaineer football history is a pretty good starting point for what could be in store for fans and record researchers on Saturday afternoon when these two teams collide.
The 61½ points the oddsmakers have already established for the game's over/under represent the highest figure for any FBS game this weekend, which is a pretty good indicator of what the folks in Las Vegas are expecting.
Therefore, brace yourself for an afternoon full of first downs and touchdowns - and be sure to plan your beverage and restroom breaks accordingly.
Opposing quarterbacks from Deuce Bailey to Drew Mestemaker to Jaylen Raynor have taken advantage of West Virginia's pass defense to the tune of 288.2 yards per game so far this season.
Even running backs have gotten into the act.
Last Saturday, Iowa State's Aiden Flora did his best impersonation of the "Galloping Ghost," Red Grange, by passing for two touchdowns and running for three more in the Cyclones' frenetic 45-42 comeback victory.
The last time that happened to a West Virginia football team was a month after the stock market crash in 1929, two depressing events for sure!
Pass-oriented Arizona has the type of offense capable of continuing the trend if West Virginia's defense doesn't figure things out soon.
"Probably the best team we've played so far," is how West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez describes his former employer. Rodriguez coached the Wildcats from 2012-17 and his children, son Rhett and daughter Raquel, are Arizona alums.
The coach said he has fond memories of his time living in Tucson, but his mind is more preoccupied with what's in front of his football team this weekend - namely Wildcat quarterback Noah Fifita, whose 10,598 passing yards in 45 career college games should ring alarm bells. Fifita is completing nearly 74% of his throws this year with 13 of those going for touchdowns.
He's also an occasional threat to take off and run as his 73 rushing yards in last year's Holiday Bowl loss to SMU attest.
However, Fifita is now down his top receiver, Trey Spivey, who was lost for the season in last Saturday's blowout win over Cincinnati, and a couple more got banged up against the Bearcats, which could mean an increased role on Saturday for former Mountaineer performer Rodney Gallagher III.
By the way, Gallagher's 6.6 yards-per-reception average through five games at Arizona is similar to the figure he posted in 38 career games at West Virginia.
The Wildcats' rushing attack finally came alive last Saturday night against Cincinnati with 238 yards on 41 attempts to boost their average above 150 yards per game for the first time this season.
That is another canary in the coal mine to consider for a West Virginia defense that has struggled mightily to stop teams this year. Rodriguez addressed the defensive issues on his radio show Monday evening and again during his Tuesday afternoon press conference, as did defensive coordinator Zac Alley, who used some salty language to emphasize his frustrations.
In one blunt assessment, he labeled his group "the worst" in college football, which is technically not true, but it sure feels like it after seeing his unit surrender 1,186 yards in the last two Big 12 games - or the equivalent of opposing teams traversing the entire length of the field nearly 12 times in the last eight quarters.
That's where West Virginia's defense was back in 2012 when the Mountaineers had the offensive playmakers to keep up.
As was the case then with quarterback Geno Smith, running back Tavon Austin and wide receiver Stedman Bailey, West Virginia also possesses plenty of offensive firepower to remain in the race.
Through five games, Michael Hawkins Jr. continues to develop into the school's best dual-threat quarterback since Pat White.
The Oklahoma transfer produced a season-high 376 all-purpose yards in last Saturday's loss at Iowa State and is currently tied with Florida's Jadan Baugh with the most rushing touchdowns in FBS football with 13.
Hawkins has surpassed 100 yards rushing in four of five games this season, as has his backfield mate Cam Cook.
Two weeks ago, the senior running back ran for a season-high 193 yards against Oklahoma State and added 142 yards on 20 carries last week in Ames. Cook contributed 142 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Coastal Carolina and accounted for 123 yards in the Virginia win.
A blowout victory over UT Martin kept Cook and Hawkins from having five straight 100-yard rushing performances this year.
Overall, West Virginia ranks sixth nationally this week averaging an impressive 294 yards per game on the ground. That figure will be put under a microscope on Saturday against pressure-happy Arizona, which held Cincinnati to just 74 yards rushing last week and blitzes more than any team Rodriguez has seen in the last six years, he said on Tuesday.
That could require more production from senior DJ Epps, who has been West Virginia's most effective downfield receiving threat with 14 catches for 393 yards and four touchdowns (an impressive 28.1-yards-per-reception average). If not for a couple of drops, Epps would be well over 500 yards for the year.
The weekend weather forecast is calling for warm temperatures in the low 70s, which could add another explosive element to Saturday's affair. One more factor to consider is the noon start time, equating to 9 a.m. local time for Arizona, which will put the Wildcats' biorhythms to test.
Appropriately enough, TNT will handle the television coverage of Saturday's fireworks with J.B. Long, Mike Golic Jr. and Allie LaForce on the call. Sister stations TruTV and HBO MAX will also air the telecast.
Mountaineer Sports Network radio coverage begins at 9 a.m. with the GoMart Mountaineer Tailgate Show leading into regular network coverage with Tony Caridi, Dwight Wallace and Jed Drenning at 11 a.m. on stations throughout West Virginia.
The sports marketing staff has designated Saturday's game a "Coal Rush" and is encouraging fans to hit the WVU Team Store to purchase their black Mountaineer gear to wear on Saturday to help celebrate the state's rich mining heritage.
Prior to kickoff, West Virginia University will induct its 36th WVU Sports Hall of Fame class at 9 a.m. inside the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility.
This year's class includes men's basketball coach John Beilein and wrestling coach Craig Turnbull, women's soccer stars Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence, women's basketball standout Bria Holmes, cross country All-American Alex Kasich and football's Dennis Fowlkes.
The total number of inductees has now reached 250 since its inception in 1991.
Tickets for Saturday's game remain on sale through the Mountaineer Ticket Office and can be purchased by logging on to WVUGAME.com.
| Tale of the Tape | UA (4-1) | WVU (3-2) |
| Points Per Game | 32.4 | 37.4 |
| Points Against | 16.6 | 28.8 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | 151.6 | 294.0 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game | 79.0 | 168.4 |
| Passing Yards Per Game | 299.8 | 178.0 |
| Passing Yards Allowed Per Game | 213.2 | 288.2 |
| Total Yards Per Game | 451.4 | 472.0 |
| Total Yards Allowed Per Game | 292.2 | 456.6 |
| First Downs For | 123 | 110 |
| First Downs Against | 80 | 112 |
| Fumbles/Lost | 4/2 | 5/4 |
| Interceptions/Return Yards | 2/0 | 5/55 |
| Net Punting | 39.5 | 39.8 |
| Field Goal/Attempts | 5/7 | 4/4 |
| Time of Possession | 33:11 | 27:35 |
| Penalties/Yards | 28/270 | 29/229 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 37/64 | 38/75 |
| 3rd Down Conversion Defense | 28/72 | 22/63 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 3/5 | 3/6 |
| 4th Down Conversion Defense | 5/12 | 4/8 |
| Sacks By/Yards Lost | 18/95 | 12/84 |
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ FootballWednesday, October 07
Tuesday, October 06
Tuesday, October 06
Tuesday, October 06
