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 .
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]
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 [ 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
The West Virginia football spring "Blue-Gold game" was canceled due to COVID-19.
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]
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 ]
^ 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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