WVU is on the road for its second game of the season. They play Ohio in Athens, and the game is sold out, but expect there to be a lot of the Mountaineer faithful in the crowd. It is WVU’s first real test against an FBS school, and head coach Rich Rodriguez can see how his team holds up against a talented team before they play the Pittsburgh Panthers at home next week. Read more: WVU Faces First Road Test of 2025 at Ohio.
WVU Faces First Road Test of 2025 at Ohio
The Mountaineers started slowly last week, but scored 35 points in the second half against Robert Morris to win 45-10. Ohio had a close game against Rutgers, but lost 34-31 after the Scarlet Knights scored the only points of the fourth quarter with a field goal at the 11:11 mark. It could be a close game, especially in Ohio. The Mountaineer faithful typically travel well, but the Bobcats should feel at home in their own stadium.
Matchups To Watch
The biggest matchup to watch is the WVU defense against Ohio’s quarterback, Parker Navarro. Navarro dominated the game against Rutgers, accounting for four of his team’s touchdowns. He went 21 of 31 passing, with three touchdowns, and had nine carries for 93 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Navarro is a dual-threat quarterback with experience under center. He ran for 1,054 yards last season, with 18 rushing touchdowns. Navarro also threw for 2,423 yards and 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Related: Keys to the Game – Ohio University
WVU’s defense was stellar last week against Robert Morris. The only points they allowed came after WVU’s offense fumbled in their own territory. They held Robert Morris in the ensuing possession, but they gained the ball inside the 20 and kicked a field goal to get on the board.
They must pressure Navarro and stop him from running the ball. He averaged 10.3 yards per carry last week. The defense must make him throw the football. He is turnover-prone through the air, and WVU’s defensive backs can make him pay if he has to throw from the pocket.
Protect the Football
WVU was sloppy with the football last week, especially in the first half. It was a big reason for the lack of scoring in the first half against Robert Morris. They fumbled the ball three times in the first half last week, and again in the final possession of the game. Those mistakes could be costly against better opponents, which Ohio is. It also thwarted any momentum they had on offense after scoring on the first possession of the game.
Protecting the football is the most crucial factor of the game, which WVU can control. Ohio should remain competitive throughout the game, but its chances of winning the game increase significantly should the Mountaineers turn the ball over multiple times.
Final Analysis
The Mountaineers must limit Ohio’s quarterback Parker Navarro, especially on the ground. They need to pressure him and make him throw the football. He is prone to interceptions, and WVU’s defense has a lot of confidence after allowing three points last week.
The next key to the game is protecting the football and limiting negative plays. They had four turnovers and only forced two. They lost the turnover battle against Robert Morris and must win it against Ohio. WVU also had nine penalties for 69 yards, which is something they need to address. Negative plays can instantly kill drives and hurt the chances of winning games.
