Kansas-West Virginia college football preview
When/where: 3 p.m. Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, W.Va.
TV/radio: Fox Sports Kansas City; KCSP (610 AM)
The series: West Virginia leads 2-1
The line: West Virginia by 26
KANSAS (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Sept. 6 | Southeast Missouri | W, 34-28 |
Sept. 13 | at Duke | L, 41-3 |
Sept. 20 | Central Michigan | W, 24-10 |
Sept. 27 | Texas | L, 23-0 |
Saturday | at West Virginia | 3 p.m. |
Oct. 11 | Oklahoma State | 3 p.m. |
Oct. 18 | at Texas Tech | TBA |
Nov. 1 | at Baylor | TBA |
Nov. 8 | Iowa State | TBA |
Nov. 15 | TCU | TBA |
Nov. 22 | at Oklahoma | TBA |
Nov. 29 | at Kansas State | TBA |
WEST VIRGINIA (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Aug. 30 | Alabama | L, 33-23 |
Sept. 6 | Towson | W, 54-0 |
Sept. 13 | at Maryland | W, 40-37 |
Sept. 20 | Oklahoma | L, 45-33 |
Saturday | Kansas | 3 p.m. |
Oc. 11 | at Texas Tech | 11 a.m. |
Oct. 18 | Baylor | TBA |
Oct. 25 | at Oklahoma State | TBA |
Nov. 1 | TCU | TBA |
Nov. 8 | at Texas | TBA |
Nov. 20 | Kansas State | 6 p.m. |
Nov. 29 | at Iowa State | TBA |
What’s at stake
The program now belongs to interim coach Clint Bowen, who has a chance to begin his eight-game audition with a solid performance on the road. A Lawrence native and KU grad, Bowen’s opportunity has a fairy-tale feel to it. Here’s the reality: The Jayhawks have lost 25 straight road games and West Virginia has bounced back from a down season in 2013. The Mountaineers’ only losses have come in competitive fashion against Alabama and Oklahoma — two teams that could make the inaugural College Football Playoff. Bowen has brought energy this week. But he’s now responsible for sparking an underperforming roster and lagging offense.
Cheers if …
The new voice in charge leads to more inspiring football. Bowen, in his second tenure as the Jayhawks’ defensive coordinator, has molded the KU defense into a reliable unit. Now he’ll have to find a way to make the whole team competitive in the Big 12.
Jeers if …
Kansas gets shellacked. The Jayhawks enter the game as a 26-point underdog. They are not expected to be competitive. But after a coaching change just four games into the season, it would be demoralizing to get run off the field in West Virginia.
Three things about West Virginia
1 Senior quarterback Clint Trickett ranks third in the Big 12 in passing efficiency, throwing for 400 yards per game while completing 72 percent of his passes. A shoulder injury limited Trickett’s effectiveness last season, but the former Florida State transfer has the Mountaineers’ offense rolling.
2 West Virginia running back Dreamius Smith, a Wichita native, originally committed to KU before academic issues forced him to attend Butler County Community College. Smith, now a senior, has rushed for 87 yards on 22 carries.
3 West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen is 23-19 in his fourth season guiding the Mountaineers. Since 2000, West Virginia is 87-10 when scoring more than 30 points.
Key matchup
KU secondary vs. West Virginia receiver Kevin White. One of the most improved players in the Big 12, White has 42 catches for 633 yards in four games. The Jayhawks’ secondary slowed a couple of playmaking receivers during an early-season loss to Duke. But as a result, perhaps, KU was consistently gashed in the running game. The Jayhawks must find a way to limit White while not being exposed on the ground.
KANSAS OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 19 | Justin McCay | 6-2 | 210 | Jr. |
LT | 61 | Pat Lewandowski | 6-5 | 290 | Sr. |
LG | 63 | Ngalu Fusimalohi | 6-2 | 310 | Sr. |
C | 70 | Keyon Haughton | 6-2 | 300 | Jr. |
RG | 65 | Mike Smithburg | 6-3 | 305 | Sr. |
RT | 78 | Larry Mazyck | 6-8 | 360 | Jr. |
TE | 41 | Jimmay Mundine | 6-2 | 240 | Sr. |
RB | 23 | De’Andre Mann | 5-9 | 198 | Jr. |
QB | 2 | Montell Cozart | 6-2 | 200 | So. |
WR | 8 | Nick Harwell | 6-1 | 193 | Sr. |
WR | 3 | Tony Pierson | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. |
K | 17 | Matthew Wyman | 6-1 | 200 | So. |
KANSAS DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DT | 90 | Andrew Bolton | 6-3 | 290 | Jr. |
NT | 98 | Keon Stowers | 6-3 | 297 | Sr. |
DE | 93 | Ben Goodman | 6-3 | 250 | Jr. |
LB | 55 | Michael Reynolds | 6-1 | 240 | Sr. |
LB | 31 | Ben Heeney | 6-2 | 230 | Sr. |
LB | 57 | Jake Love | 6-0 | 220 | Jr. |
NB | 30 | Tevin Shaw | 5-11 | 192 | So. |
CB | 24 | JaCorey Shepherd | 5-11 | 195 | Sr. |
SS | 5 | Isaiah Johnson | 6-1 | 210 | Jr. |
FS | 33 | Cassius Sendish | 6-0 | 195 | Sr. |
CB | 12 | Dexter McDonald | 6-1 | 205 | Sr. |
P | 16 | Trevor Pardula | 6-5 | 212 | Sr. |
WEST VIRGINIA OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 5 | Mario Alford | 5-9 | 177 | Sr. |
WR | 6 | Daikiel Shorts | 6-1 | 198 | So. |
LT | 57 | Adam Pankey | 6-5 | 302 | So. |
LG | 67 | Quinton Spain | 6-5 | 332 | Sr. |
C | 65 | Tyler Orlosky | 6-4 | 301 | So. |
RG | 64 | Mark Glowinski | 6-5 | 312 | Sr. |
RT | 78 | Marquis Lucas | 6-4 | 314 | Jr. |
WR | 11 | Kevin White | 6-3 | 210 | Sr. |
WR | 10 | Jordan Thompson | 5-7 | 165 | Jr. |
QB | 9 | Clint Trickett | 6-2 | 186 | Sr. |
RB | 7 | Rushel Shell | 5-10 | 215 | So. |
K | 86 | Josh Lambert | 5-11 | 215 | So. |
WEST VIRGINIA DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 97 | Noble Nwachukwu | 6-2 | 265 | So. |
DT | 93 | Kyle Rose | 6-4 | 294 | Jr. |
DE | 99 | Dontrill Hyman | 6-4 | 288 | Sr. |
LB | 37 | Wes Tonkery | 6-2 | 223 | Sr. |
LB | 35 | Nick Kwiatkoski | 6-2 | 236 | Jr. |
LB | 2 | Brandon Golson | 6-1 | 228 | Sr. |
S | 9 | KJ Dillon | 6-1 | 206 | Jr. |
CB | 34 | Ishmael Muldrow | 6-3 | 205 | Jr. |
FS | 6 | Dravon Henry | 5-11 | 198 | Fr. |
SS | 8 | Karl Joseph | 5-11 | 196 | Jr. |
CB | 16 | Terrell Chestnut | 5-10 | 190 | Jr. |
P | 91 | Nick O’Toole | 6-4 | 223 | Jr. |
Rustin Dodd’s pick: West Virginia 34-17
It’s been an emotional week for the Jayhawks. Their head coach was fired, but a much-respected assistant took the reins. Bowen’s presence will likely give the Jayhawks a shot of energy, but will it burn out by Saturday afternoon? West Virginia will be motivated after falling in Lawrence last season.
Rustin Dodd, rdodd@kcstar.com
This story was originally published October 2, 2014 at 9:40 AM with the headline "Kansas-West Virginia college football preview."