Overview
- The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Milan Puskar Stadium and will be televised on FS1.
- West Virginia enters 3-0 with the Big 12’s top rushing offense at 281.3 yards per game and a third‑down conversion rate of 53.33 percent.
- Michael Hawkins Jr. has been a dual‑threat catalyst for WVU this season with 477 passing yards, 347 rushing yards, and more rushing touchdowns than passing touchdowns.
- Oklahoma State has tailored preparation to stop the run by using faster scout quarterbacks in practice and emphasizing tackling, gap integrity and quarterback containment.
- A statistical fulcrum will be third downs, where WVU’s high conversion rate meets OSU’s 16.22 percent third‑down defense, a matchup that will influence possession, Mestemaker’s passing chances and both teams’ national outlooks.