That Virginia win is the best name on either resume so far, but it came on a neutral field, not on the road, so West Virginia still hasn't had to travel into a hostile building this season. Oklahoma State, meanwhile, is about to make its first real road trip of the year in conference play, against a program that has outscored its first three opponents by a wide margin.
Oklahoma State Cowboys at West Virginia Mountaineers
Sep 26, 20266:00 PM CTMorgantown, WV
By JR·1 min read
TLDR: Two teams still finding their identity under new-ish leadership open Big 12 play against each other, and one of them is still unbeaten.
Kickoff58°
West Virginia brings a perfect start and a marquee neutral-site win over Virginia into its Big 12 opener, while Oklahoma State brings a competitive loss to Oregon and a blowout of Murray State under first-year coach Eric Morris. Neither team has faced true Big 12 competition yet, so Saturday in Morgantown is the first real test for both.
Oklahoma State
- Pushed Oregon to the final whistle in an 8-point home loss
- Mestmaker threw 5 TDs in the Murray State rout
- Defense allowed 39 points in its only loss this year
- First true road test comes in this Big 12 opener
West Virginia
- 3-0 start includes a neutral-site win over No. 25 Virginia
- Won its two home games by a combined 52 points
- Wins have come vs Coastal Carolina, UT Martin and a neutral-site Virginia
- Hasn't played a true road or true home underdog spot yet
West Virginia carries a perfect start into its Big 12 opener, while Oklahoma State arrives with a single loss and a new head coach in Eric Morris still figuring out who this team is. Neither side has faced true Big 12 competition yet, which makes Saturday's matchup at Milan Puskar Stadium the first real measuring stick for both programs.
Oklahoma State's lone blemish came at home against Oregon, an 8-point loss that still left the Cowboys' offense looking functional behind quarterback Zane Mestmaker, who threw 5 touchdowns the following week in a 59-0 rout of Murray State. West Virginia hasn't needed a bounce-back game yet — the Mountaineers have simply outscored everyone they've played, most recently knocking off a ranked Virginia team at a neutral site in Charlotte.