American college football season
The 2020 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Mountaineers played their home games at the Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium , in Morgantown, West Virginia , and competed in the Big 12 Conference . They were led by second-year head coach Neal Brown .
Offseason [ edit ] Coaching changes [ edit ] Offensive coordinator Matt Moore was promoted to assistant head coach, and was replaced in his role as offensive coordinator by Penn State wide receivers coach Gerad Parker . Parker also replaced Xavier Dye , who departed for South Florida , as wide receivers coach. Additionally, the Mountaineers hired Jeff Koonz from Ole Miss to serve as inside linebackers and special team coach and later became co-defensive coordinator.[1]
On July 22, Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning parted ways with West Virginia after allegations of mistreatment by West Virginia players.[2] To replace him, they promoted three defensive coaches to become co-defensive coordinators: Jordan Lesley, Jahmile Addae, and Jeff Koonz. They also moved linebackers coach Dontae Wright to safeties coach along with promoting analyst Jeff Casteel to outside linebackers coach.[3]
Preseason [ edit ] Big 12 media days [ edit ] The Big 12 media days were held on July 21–22, 2020 in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[4]
Big 12 media poll [ edit ] Big 12 media poll [5] Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place) 1 Oklahoma 888 (88) 2 Oklahoma State 742 (6) 3 Texas 727 (4) 4 Iowa State 607 5 Baylor 489 6 TCU 477 7 Kansas State 366 8 West Virginia 287 9 Texas Tech 267 10 Kansas 100
Schedule [ edit ] Spring game [ edit ] The West Virginia football spring "Blue-Gold game" was canceled due to COVID-19.
Regular season [ edit ] West Virginia released its 2020 schedule on October 21, 2019. The 2020 schedule originally consisted of 7 home games, 4 away games, and 1 neutral-site game in the regular season. The Mountaineers were to host two non-conference games against Eastern Kentucky and Maryland, and play a non-conference neutral site game against Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta . West Virginia was to host Kansas State, TCU, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Baylor; and travel to Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma State, and Iowa State in regular-season conference play.
The Mountaineers' games against Florida State , scheduled for September 5, and Maryland , scheduled for September 19, were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[6] [7]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 12 12:00 p.m. Eastern Kentucky * FS1 W 56–10976 September 26 3:30 p.m. at No. 15 Oklahoma State ABC L 13–2714,672 October 3 12:00 p.m. Baylor Milan Puskar Stadium Morgantown, WV ABC W 27–21 2OT 978 October 17 12:00 p.m. Kansas Milan Puskar Stadium Morgantown, WV FOX W 38–1710,759 October 24 5:30 p.m. at Texas Tech ESPN2 L 27–3413,532 October 31 12:00 p.m. No. 16 Kansas State Milan Puskar Stadium Morgantown, WV ESPN2 W 37–1010,441 November 7 12:00 p.m. at No. 22 Texas ABC L 13–1717,843 November 14 12:00 p.m. TCU Milan Puskar Stadium Morgantown, WV FOX W 24–611,111 December 5 3:30 p.m. at No. 9 Iowa State ESPN L 6–4214,256 December 31 4:00 p.m. vs. Army ESPN W 24–21 8,187
Schedule Source: [8]
Coaching staff [ edit ] Game summaries [ edit ] Vs. Eastern Kentucky [ edit ] Eastern Kentucky Colonels (0–1) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (0–0)
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Eastern Kentucky 0 7 3 0 10 West Virginia 14 28 7 7 56
at Milan Puskar Stadium • Morgantown, WV
Date : Saturday, September 12, 2020Game time : 12:00 p.m. EDT Game weather : mostly cloudy, 88°FTV : FS1 Pregame line : West Virginia -40.0
Game information First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter
Statistics EKU WVU First downs 9 31 Total yards 206 624 Rushes/yards 75 329 Passing yards 131 295 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9-17-1 25-35-0 Time of possession 24:17 35:43
Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Kentucky Passing Peyton McKinney 9-17, 131 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Alonzo Booth 7 carries, 45 yds Receiving Keyion Dixon 3 receptions, 53 yds, 1 TD West Virginia Passing Jarret Doege 19–25, 228 yds, 3 TD Rushing Alec Sinkfield 15 carries, 123 yds, 2 TD Receiving Sam James 5 receptions, 72 yds, 1 TD
At Oklahoma State [ edit ] West Virginia Mountaineers (1–0) vs. No. 15 Oklahoma State Cowboys (1–0)
Period 1 2 3 4 Total West Virginia 0 7 3 3 13 No. 15 Oklahoma State 0 20 0 7 27
at Boone Pickens Stadium • Stillwater, OK
Date : Saturday, September 26, 2020Game time : 3:30 p.m. EST Game weather : •Sunny Temperature : 87Game attendance : 14,672Referee : David AlvarezTV announcers (ABC ) : Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Dan Orlovsky (analyst), Kris Budden (sideline)Pregame line :
Game information First Quarter None
Second Quarter (13:43) OKST – LD Brown 66-yard run, Alex Hale kick (Drive: 3 plays, 76 yards, 1:04; Oklahoma State 7–0 ) (11:07) OKST – Tyren Irby 56-yard fumble return, Alex Hale kick (Drive: 8 plays, 31 yards, 2:36; Oklahoma State 14–0 ) (5:02) OKST – Alex Hale 40-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 48 yards, 2:22; Oklahoma State 17–0 ) (3:48) WVU – Winston Wright Jr. 70-yard pass from Jarret Doege, Evan Staley kick (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:14; Oklahoma State 17–7 ) (0:03) OKST – Alex Hale 40-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 40 yards, 0:56; Oklahoma State 20–7 ) Third Quarter (0:37) WVU – Evan Staley 26-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 32 yards, 2:12; Oklahoma State 20–10 ) Fourth Quarter (9:01) WVU – Evan Staley 30-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 57 yards, 4:40; Oklahoma State 20–13 ) (1:17) OKST – Chuba Hubbard 23-yard run, Alex Hale kick (Drive: 15 plays, 80 yards, 7:44; Oklahoma State 27–13 )
Statistics WVU OKST First downs 22 20 Total yards 353 342 Rushes/yards 42–68 41–203 Passing yards 285 139 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–37–0 15–22–1 Time of possession 32:51 27:09
Team Category Player Statistics West Virginia Passing Jarret Doege 20/37, 285 yards, TD Rushing Leddie Brown 26 carries, 104 yards Receiving Winston Wright Jr. 6 receptions, 127 yards, TD Oklahoma State Passing Shane Illingworth 15/21, 139 yards, INT Rushing LD Brown 11 carries, 103 yards, TD Receiving Tylan Wallace 6 receptions, 78 yards
Vs. Baylor [ edit ] Baylor Bears (1–0) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (1–1)
Period 1 2 3 4 OT Total Baylor 0 7 0 7 7 21 West Virginia 7 0 7 0 13 27
at Milan Puskar Stadium • Morgantown, WV
Date : Saturday, October 3, 2020Game time : 12:00 p.m. EST Game weather : partly cloudy • Temperature : 57°FGame attendance : 978Referee : Scott CampbellTV announcers (ABC ) : Bob Wischusen , Dan Orlovsky and Rocky BoimanPregame line : Baylor −1.0
Game information First Quarter (8:51) WVU – Jarret Doege 1 yard rush, Evan Stanley kick (Drive: 15 plays, 70 yards, 6:09; WVU 7–0 ) Second Quarter (6:44) BAY – Charlie Brewer 7 yard pass to R.J. Sneed, John Mayers kick (Drive: 5 plays, 30 yards, 2:43 7–7 ) Third Quarter (1:38) WVU – Leddie Brown 1 yard rush, Evan Stanley kick (Drive: 11 plays, 72 yards, 5:05, WVU 14–7 ) Fourth Quarter (1:19) BAY – Charlie Brewer 34 yard pass to Josh Fleeks, John Mayers kick (Drive: 4 plays, 59 yards, 0:36, 14–14 ) Overtime (OT) WVU – Jarret Doege 6 yard pass to Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Evan Stanley kick (Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards, WVU 21–14 ) (OT) BAY – Charlie Brewer 25 yard pass to Ben Sims, John Mayers kick (Drive: 1 play, 25 yards, 21–21 ) (2OT) WVU – Leddie Brown 3 yard rush (Drive: 4 plays, 25 yards, WVU 27–21 )
Statistics BAY WVU First downs 15 18 Total yards 256 345 Rushes/yards 33/27 39 /134 Passing yards 229 211 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–38–2 30–42–2 Time of possession 28:07 31:53
Team Category Player Statistics Baylor Passing Charlie Brewer 23–38, 229 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing John Lovett 14 carries, 23 yards Receiving R.J. Sneed 6 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD West Virginia Passing Jarret Doege 30–42, 211 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Leddie Brown 27 carries, 93 yards, 2 TD Receiving Sam James 8 reception, 66 yards
Vs. Kansas [ edit ] Kansas Jayhawks (0–0) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (0–0)
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Kansas 0 0 0 0 0 West Virginia 0 0 0 0 0
at Milan Puskar Stadium • Morgantown, WV
Date : Saturday, October 24, 2020Game time : EDT Game weather : • Temperature :Pregame line :
Game information First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter
Statistics KAN WVU First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Kansas Passing Rushing Receiving West Virginia Passing Rushing Receiving
At Texas Tech [ edit ] West Virginia Mountaineers (0–0) vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (0–0)
Period 1 2 3 4 Total West Virginia 7 6 14 0 27 Texas Tech 13 7 7 7 34
at Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TX
Date : Saturday, October 24, 2020Game time : 5:30 p.m. EDT Game weather : Temperature: 65 °F (18 °C) • weather: clear • wind: SSW 17 MPHGame attendance : 13,532Referee : Brandon CruseTV announcers (ESPN2 ) : Anish Shroff , Tom Luginbill and Ian FitzsimmonsPregame line :
Game information First quarter TTU – Henry Colombi 1-yard run (Trey Wolff kick), 9:29. Red Raiders 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 69 yards, 4:08. WVU – Leddie Brown 3-yard run (Evan Staley kick), 7:41. Tied 7–7. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:46. TTU – SaRodorick Thompson 48-yard run (kick failed), 1:35. Red Raiders 13–7. Drive: 3 plays, 61 yards, 1:11. Second quarter WVU – Evan Staley 41-yard field goal, 9:00. Red Raiders 13–10. Drive: 7 plays, 42 yards, 3:02. TTU – Trey Cleveland 11-yard pass from Henry Colombi (Trey Wolff kick), 2:36. Red Raiders 20–10. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 6:24. WVU – Evan Staley 45-yard field goal, 0:00. Red Raiders 20–13. Drive: 12 plays, 47 yards, 2:36. Third quarter WVU – T.J. Banks 2-yard pass from Jarret Doege (Evan Staley kick), 13:41. Tied 20–20. Drive: 3 plays, 24 yards, 1:07. TTU – Tahj Brooks 5-yard run (Trey Wolff kick), 10:05. Red Raiders 27–20. Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 3:36. WVU – Leddie Brown 1-yard run (Evan Staley kick), 6:00. Tied 27–27. Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 4:05. Fourth quarter TTU – Zech McPhearson 56-yard fumble return (Trey Wolff kick), 8:44. Red Raiders 34–27.
Statistics WVU TTU First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics West Virginia Passing Jarret Doege 32/50, 347 yards, TD Rushing Leddie Brown 21 rushes, 77 yards, 2 TD Receiving Winston Wright Jr. 9 receptions, 126 yards Texas Tech Passing Henry Colombi 22/28, 169 yards, TD Rushing SaRodorick Thompson 8 rushes, 68 yards, TD Receiving Myles Price 7 receptions, 79 yards
Vs. Kansas State (homecoming) [ edit ] Kansas State Wildcats (0–0) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (0–0)
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Kansas State 0 0 0 0 0 West Virginia 0 0 0 0 0
at Milan Puskar Stadium • Morgantown, WV
Date : Saturday, October 31, 2020Game time : EDT Game weather : • Temperature :Pregame line :
Game information First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter
Statistics KSU WVU First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Kansas State Passing Rushing Receiving West Virginia Passing Rushing Receiving
At Texas [ edit ] Game information First Quarter (12:35) UT – Brennan Eagles 7 yard pass from Sam Ehlinger (Dicker kick), UT 7–0 ; 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:25 (8:58) WVU – Leddie Brown 12 yard run (Legg kick), Tied 7–7 ; 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:37 Second Quarter (14:55) UT – Cameron Dicker 34 yard field goal, UT 10–7 ; 10 plays, 74 yards, 2:24 Third Quarter (10:11) WVU – Casey Legg 25 yard field goal, Tied 10–10 ; 11 plays, 66 yards, 4:49 (7:31) UT – Jake Smith 33 yard pass from Sam Ehlinger (Dicker kick), UT 17–10 ; 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:40 (0:22) WVU – Casey Legg 34 yard field goal, UT 17–13 ; 9 plays, 31 yards, 4:20
Statistics WVU TEX First Downs 21 17 Total Yards 360 363 Rushing: Att/Yds 26/43 36/9 Passing Yards 317 184 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 35–50–0 15–31–0 Time of Possession 34:21 25:39
Team Category Player Statistics West Virginia Passing Jarret Doege 35–50, 317 yards Rushing Leddie Brown 15 car, 47 yards, 1 TD Receiving T.J. Simmons 4 rec, 71 yards Texas Passing Sam Ehlinger 15–31, 184 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Bijan Robinson 12 car, 113 yards Receiving Jake Smith 3 rec, 59 yards, 1 TD
Vs. TCU [ edit ] TCU Horned Frogs (0–0) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (0–0)
Period 1 2 3 4 Total TCU 0 0 0 0 0 West Virginia 0 0 0 0 0
at Milan Puskar Stadium • Morgantown, WV
Date : Saturday, November 14, 2020Game time : EDT Game weather : • Temperature :Pregame line :
Game information First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter
Statistics TCU WVU First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics TCU Passing Rushing Receiving West Virginia Passing Rushing Receiving
At Iowa State [ edit ] West Virginia Mountaineers (5–3) vs. No. 9 Iowa State Cyclones (7–2)
Period 1 2 3 4 Total West Virginia 0 0 0 6 6 No. 9 Iowa State 7 14 14 7 42
at Jack Trice Stadium • Ames, IA
Date : Saturday, December 5, 2020Game time : 3:30 p.m. EST Game weather : Clear • Temperature : 49Game attendance : 14,256Referee : Kevin HassellTV announcers (ESPN) : Dave Pasch, Mike GolicPregame line : Iowa State -6
Game information First Quarter (5:51) ISU – Breece Hall 23 Yd Run (Connor Assalley Kick) (10 plays, 80 yards, 4:49; ISU 7–0 ) Second Quarter (14:17) ISU – Brock Purdy 10 Yd Run (Connor Assalley Kick) (11 plays, 44 yards, 4:31; ISU 14–0 ) (2:49) ISU – Landen Akers 2 Yd pass from Brock Purdy (Connor Assalley Kick (12 plays, 76 yards, 5:07; ISU 21–0 ) Third Quarter (3:10) ISU – Charlie Kolar 16 Yd pass from Brock Purdy (Connor Assalley Kick) (5 plays, 73 yards, 1:40; ISU 28–0 ) (0:07) ISU – Kene Nwangwu 47 Yd Run (Connor Assalley Kick (4 plays, 78 yards, 1:51; ISU 35–0 ) Fourth Quarter (12:00) WVU – Tyler Sumpter 32 Yd Field Goal (8 plays, 67 yards, 3:07; ISU 35–3 ) (7:07) ISU – Breece Hall 28 Yd pass from Brock Purdy (Connor Assalley Kick) (9 plays, 73 yards, 4:53; ISU 42–3 ) (2:46) WVU – Tyler Sumpter 32 Yd Field Goal (13 plays, 49 yards, 4:21; ISU 42–6 )
Statistics WVU ISU First downs 16 26 Total yards 263 483 Rushes/yards 25-54 44-236 Passing yards 209 247 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21-41-0 20-23-0 Time of possession 28:09 31:51
Team Category Player Statistics West Virginia Passing Jarret Doege 21–44, 209 YDS Rushing Leddie Brown 14 CAR, 48 YDS Receiving Sean Ryan 5 REC, 79 YDS Iowa State Passing Brock Purdy 20–23, 247 YDS, 3 TD Rushing Breece Hall 22 CAR, 97 YDS, TD Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 8 REC, 89 YDS
Vs. Army – Liberty Bowl [ edit ] Game information First Quarter (01:47) WVU FG: Tyler Sumpter 31-yard field goalDrive: 7 plays, 48 yards, 2:33; West Virginia 3–0 Second Quarter (09:31) ARMY TD: Tyhier Tyler 1-yard rush, Quinn Maretzki kickDrive: 14 plays, 74 yards, 7:12; Army 7–3 (04:21) WVU TD: T.J. Simmons 5-yard pass from Jarret Doege, Tyler Sumpter kickDrive: 12 plays, 77 yards, 5:04; West Virginia 10–7 (01:14) ARMY TD: Tyhier Tyler 6-yard rush, Quinn Maretzki kickDrive: 2 plays, 7 yards, 0:38; Army 14–10 Third Quarter (07:00) ARMY TD: Tyhier Tyler 2-yard rush, Quinn Maretzki kickDrive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 8:00; Army 21–10 (03:23) WVU TD: Mike O'Laughlin 3-yard pass from Austin Kendall , Austin Kendall pass failedDrive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 3:32; Army 21–16 Fourth Quarter (05:10) WVU TD: T.J. Simmons 20-yard pass from Austin Kendall, Reese Smith rushDrive: 8 plays, 65 yards, 3:11; West Virginia 24–21
Statistics WVU ARMY First downs 19 16 Total yards 322 239 Rushes/yards 27–42 59–182 Passing yards 280 57 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–42–1 4–6–1 Time of possession 26:19 33:41
Team Category Player Statistics West Virginia Passing Jarrett Doege 15/25, 159 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Leddie Brown 20 carries, 65 yards Receiving T.J. Simmons 4 receptions, 56 yards, 2 TD Army Passing Christian Anderson 4/6, 57 yards, 1 INT Rushing Tyhier Tyler 24 carries, 76 yards, 3 TD Receiving Chris Cameron 1 reception, 32 yards
Rankings [ edit ] Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP — — — RV RV — RV RV RV — RV — Coaches — — — RV RV — RV RV RV RV RV — CFP Not released Not released
Players drafted into the NFL [ edit ] References [ edit ] ^ Callihan, Schuyler. "Matt Moore Promoted to Assistant Head Coach" . si.com . ABG-SI LLC. Retrieved February 8, 2020 . ^ "West Virginia D-Coordinator Vic Koenning part ways" . ESPN.com . ^ Sallee, Barrett. "West Virginia defensive staff to share coordinator duties in 2020 season after parting with Vic Koenning" . CBSSports.com . ^ Rittenberg, Adam. "Big 12 football media days going virtual due to coronavirus" . ESPN.com . ESPN, Inc. Retrieved May 9, 2020 . ^ "Oklahoma Tops Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll" . big12sports.com . ^ Myerberg, Paul. "Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to follow" . USA TODAY . Retrieved July 10, 2020 . ^ Kelley, Kevin (July 30, 2020). "All three Chick-fil-A Kickoff games canceled in 2020" . FBSchedules.com . Retrieved July 30, 2020 . ^ "West Virginia Mountaineers Schedule 2020" . ESPN.com . ESPN, Inc. Retrieved February 8, 2020 . ^ "West Virginia vs. Army (2020 AutoZone Liberty Bowl) – Game Summary – December 31, 2020" . ESPN . Retrieved January 3, 2021 .
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