There is no reason to hit the panic button in Morgantown.
West Virginia is 3-1 through the first four games of the season, but after opening Big 12 play with a 41-24 loss to Oklahoma State, the Mountaineers are looking for a response.
That response will have to come quickly.
The old gold and blue are in Ames, Iowa, to take on Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium in the Mountaineers’ first true road game of the season. Read more: Scene Setter: West Virginia seeks to bounce back against Iowa State in pivotal game.
Both teams enter the contest coming off losses in their conference openers. Iowa State fell to No. 15 Utah, 31-17, last weekend and enters at 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the Big 12.
For West Virginia, though, the focus is less on what happened last week and more on what happens next.
The defense needs to respond
The biggest question heading into Saturday is simple: Can West Virginia’s defense make the adjustments it needs to make?
The Mountaineers gave up 609 yards to Oklahoma State, including 482 through the air. It was a major step back after a strong start to the season, and head coach Rich Rodriguez said Tuesday the coaching staff has spent plenty of time going back through the film.
“There’s always easy things to point out,” Rodriguez said. “Maybe we should have run this or could have ran this better. And certainly defensively, we look back at it and, like, probably could have had some different defenses for what they were doing.”
Rodriguez did not put the blame completely on his players.
He said the coaching staff has to do a better job of putting the players in position to make plays, especially after Oklahoma State was able to hit several big plays.
After watching the film, Rodriguez said it was not a matter of believing the secondary faltered. Instead, the Mountaineers need to find ways to put those players in better positions.
There could also be some new faces involved.
JaCorey Thomas has now been with the team for a couple weeks after arriving with experience playing in the SEC. Rodriguez said Thomas is now part of the safety rotation and that this is a big week for him to get ready to contribute.
West Virginia also recently added NaQuari Rogers, who Rodriguez said could eventually help give the Mountaineers another option in the backfield.
Whether those additions make an immediate impact remains to be seen, but this will be another chance for the Mountaineers to see how the new pieces fit into the team.
What Iowa State offers
While West Virginia is trying to fix its own problems, Iowa State presents a completely different challenge.
First-year Cyclones head coach Jimmy Rogers has changed the defensive identity in Ames, moving away from the 3-3-5 scheme Iowa State used previously and installing a more aggressive four-down front.
So far, it has worked.
Iowa State is allowing just 16 points and 272.5 yards per game. Rodriguez called the Cyclones physical, aggressive, and well-coached, while also pointing out the number of Washington State transfers Rogers brought with him to Ames.
“They don’t give up a lot of big plays,” Rodriguez said.
That will be something to watch with Michael Hawkins Jr. at quarterback.
Hawkins has already shown he can perform when the moment gets big. He did it against Virginia earlier this season, and he will get another opportunity Saturday against a defense that has been one of the better units in the Big 12 so far.
Iowa State’s offense has some playmakers of its own.
Quarterback Jaylen Raynor enters the matchup as the Cyclones’ leading passer, while running back Aiden Flora has already made a big impact this season. Flora had 296 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns against Bowling Green earlier this season.
Raynor threw for 205 yards and a touchdown against Utah while also rushing for a score, though he threw two interceptions in the loss.
Rodriguez also pointed out just how much Iowa State uses shifts, motions and different personnel groupings. The Cyclones can change the look of their offense before the snap, something West Virginia will have to be ready for.
“They do it as much as anybody we’ve seen,” Rodriguez said.
A chance to show where WVU stands
This is not a must-win game for West Virginia’s season, but it is an important one.
The Mountaineers opened the year 3-0, including a win over then-No. 25 Virginia, before falling to Oklahoma State. A win Saturday would give West Virginia its first Big 12 road victory and provide an opportunity to show the first three games were not just a product of a favorable start.
Rodriguez said he is anxious to see how his team responds after its first loss.
“I think they’ll respond well,” Rodriguez said. “I mean, I don’t think they got a choice.”
The Mountaineers know there is work to do.
“We need to get a lot better, that’s for sure,” Rodriguez said.
Game day in Ames gives them the chance to prove it.
It will be a different environment, with Iowa State hosting its Homecoming game at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones are also coming off a loss and will be aiming to respond in front of their home crowd.
Related: Keys to the game: WVU travels to Iowa State for Big 12 road opener
For West Virginia, this is about doing the same thing.
The Mountaineers have a chance to put the Oklahoma State loss behind them, make the defensive adjustments they have been talking about all week and show what this team can be away from Morgantown.
And with the first Big 12 road trip of the season waiting in Ames, there is no better time to find out what West Virginia is really made of.
Related: 2028 Duke’s Mayo Classic between WVU and Tennessee moved to new date
Leading up to kickoff
Head over to 100.9 FM The Torch or any of its affiliate stations between 10 a.m. and kickoff for The Mountaineer Tailgate pregame show. Catered toward the everyday fan with a more relaxed approach, join hosts Mitch Rogers and Santana Withrow for your pregame coverage. It also streams on JFMN.TV.
Stay up to date with WV Sports Nation for more WVU Athletics coverage.
