The 2018 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University in the 2018 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 compete in the Big 12 Conference. They were led by eighth-year head coach Dana Holgorsen.
2018 West Virginia Mountaineers football | |
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Camping World Bowl, L 18–34 vs. Syracuse | |
Conference | Big 12 Conference |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 22 |
AP | No. 20 |
Record | 8–4 (6–3 Big 12) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Jake Spavital (2nd season) |
Offensive scheme | Spread |
Defensive coordinator | Tony Gibson (5th season) |
Base defense | 3–3–5 |
Home stadium | Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 4 Oklahoma y$^ | 8 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 9 Texas y | 7 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iowa State | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 20 West Virginia | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TCU | 4 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Baylor | 4 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oklahoma State | 3 | – | 6 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kansas State | 3 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Texas Tech | 3 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kansas | 1 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Oklahoma 39, Texas 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Quarterback Will Grier and wide receiver David Sills were named to numerous preseason All-America teams by various media outlets.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Listed in the order that they were released
Award | Player | Position | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Chuck Bednarik Award[7] | David Long Jr. | LB | JR |
Maxwell Award[8] | Will Grier | QB | SR |
David Sills | WR | SR | |
Davey O'Brien Award[9] | Will Grier | QB | SR |
Fred Biletnikoff Award[10] | Gary Jennings Jr. | WR | SR |
David Sills | WR | SR | |
Jim Thorpe Award[11] | Dravon Askew-Henry | S | SR |
Bronko Nagurski Trophy[12] | Dravon Askew-Henry | S | SR |
David Long | LB | JR | |
Outland Trophy[13] | Yodny Cajuste | OL | SR |
Paul Hornung Award[14] | Marcus Simms | WR/KR | JR |
Wuerffel Trophy[15] | Will Grier | QB | SR |
Walter Camp Award[16] | Will Grier | QB | SR |
David Sills | WR | SR | |
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[17] | Will Grier | QB | SR |
Manning Award[18] | Will Grier | QB | SR |
The Big 12 media poll was released on July 12, 2018, with the Mountaineers predicted to finish in second place.[19]
Media poll | ||
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
---|---|---|
1 | Oklahoma | 509 (46) |
2 | West Virginia | 432 (2) |
3 | TCU | 390 (1) |
4 | Texas | 370 (1) |
5 | Oklahoma State | 300 |
6 | Kansas State | 283 (2) |
7 | Iowa State | 250 |
8 | Texas Tech | 149 |
9 | Baylor | 125 |
10 | Kansas | 52 |
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 1 | 3:30 p.m. | vs. Tennessee* | No. 17 | CBS | W 40–14 | 66,793 | |
September 8 | 6:00 p.m. | Youngstown State* | No. 14 | AT&TSN Pitt | W 52–17 | 58,446 | |
at | No. 13 | – | – | ||||
September 22 | 3:30 p.m. | Kansas State | No. 12 |
| ESPN | W 35–6 | 59,245 |
September 29 | Noon | at No. 25 Texas Tech | No. 12 | ESPN2 | W 42–34 | 55,283 | |
October 6 | Noon | Kansas | No. 9 |
| ESPN2 | W 38–22 | 57,419 |
October 13 | 7:00 p.m. | at Iowa State | No. 6 | FS1 | L 14–30 | 56,629 | |
October 25 | 7:00 p.m. | Baylor | No. 13 |
| FS1 | W 58–14 | 53,117 |
November 3 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 17 Texas | No. 13 | FOX | W 42–41 | 100,703 | |
November 10 | Noon | TCU | No. 9 |
| FS1 | W 47–10 | 60,007 |
November 17 | 3:30 p.m. | at Oklahoma State | No. 9 | ABC | L 41–45 | 52,842 | |
November 23 | 8:00 p.m. | No. 6 Oklahoma | No. 13 |
| ESPN | L 56–59 | 60,713 |
December 28 | 5:15 p.m. | vs. No. 20 Syracuse* | No. 16 | ESPN | L 18–34 | 41,125 | |
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Name | Position | Joined Staff |
---|---|---|
Dana Holgorsen | Head Coach | 2011 |
Doug Belk | Cornerbacks | 2017 |
Marquel Blackwell | Running Backs | 2018 |
Matt Caponi | Safeties | 2016 |
Tyron Carrier | Receivers | 2017 |
Dan Gerberry | Tight Ends/Fullbacks | 2018 |
Tony Gibson | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers | 2013 |
Mark Scott | Linebackers/Special Teams | 2015 |
Jake Spavital | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks | 2017 |
Bruce Tall | Defensive Line | 2015 |
Joe Wickline | Offensive Line | 2016 |
Position key
Back | B | Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB | |||
Defensive end | DE | Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | End | E | |||
Fullback | FB | Guard | G | Halfback | HB | Kicker | K | |||
Kickoff returner | KR | Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB | |||
Long snapper | LS | Punter | P | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB | |||
Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |
2018 West Virginia Mountaineers football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Roster |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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No. 17 Mountaineers | 10 | 3 | 20 | 7 | 40 |
Tennessee | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Game information | ||
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Statistics
Statistics | West Virginia | Tennessee |
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First downs | 26 | 19 |
Total yards | 547 | 301 |
Rushing yards | 118 | 129 |
Passing yards | 429 | 172 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 27:37 | 32:23 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Penguins | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
No. 13 Mountaineers | 7 | 14 | 21 | 10 | 52 |
at Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV
Game information | ||
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Statistics
Statistics | West Virginia | Youngstown State |
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First downs | 29 | 19 |
Total yards | 625 | 293 |
Rushing yards | 289 | 136 |
Passing yards | 336 | 157 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 29:15 | 30:45 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wildcats | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
No. 12 Mountaineers | 7 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
at Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV
Game information | ||
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Statistics
Statistics | West Virginia | Kansas State |
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First downs | 20 | 17 |
Total yards | 464 | 318 |
Rushing yards | 108 | 136 |
Passing yards | 356 | 157 |
Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
Time of possession | 26:37 | 33:23 |
West Virginia had originally planned to have a game the previous week against North Carolina State, but it was canceled due to Hurricane Florence. The team and coaches began preparations against Kansas State early. Mountaineer Coach Dana Holgorsen said, "Kansas State's a tough outfit that we've got to prepare for."[21]
Both teams started conference play with this game. Kansas State entered the game with a record of 2–1[22] where West Virginia had already secured victories against Tennessee (40–14) and Youngstown State (523–-17)."[21] This game is the ninth meeting between the two teams with the Wildcats holding a 5–3 overall lead. The teams have split the four games played at West Virginia.[23]
West Virginia managed to take control of the game mid-way through the second quarter after Kansas State failed to convert on fourth down. West Virginia ended ahead at the half 21–0.[24] Kansas State managed control the ball more on offense but it wasn't enough, as West Virginia achieved 464 total yards compared to Kansas State's 318. Although West Virginia had four turnovers to Kansas State's one, the Wildcats lost 69 yards on 8 penalties compared to the Mountaineer's 35 yards on 3 penalties. West Virginia was 8–12 on third down conversions compared to Kansas State's 3–14.[25]
In the second half of play, Kansas State was successful with two field goals and additional scores by the Mountaineers put the game to a conclusion of West Virginia's victory 35–6.[24]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 12 Mountaineers | 28 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 42 |
No. 25 Red Raiders | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 34 |
at Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, TX
Game information | ||
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Statistics
Statistics | West Virginia | Texas Tech |
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First downs | 26 | 28 |
Total yards | 489 | 463 |
Rushing yards | 119 | 168 |
Passing yards | 370 | 295 |
Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
Time of possession | 30:26 | 29:34 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jayhawks | 7 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 22 |
No. 9 Mountaineers | 14 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
at Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV
Game information | ||
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Statistics
Statistics | West Virginia | Kansas |
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First downs | 29 | 16 |
Total yards | 509 | 286 |
Rushing yards | 177 | 80 |
Passing yards | 332 | 206 |
Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
Time of possession | 34:11 | 25:49 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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No. 6 Mountaineers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Cyclones | 13 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
at Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA
Game information | ||
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Statistics
Statistics | West Virginia | Iowa State |
---|---|---|
First downs | 9 | 25 |
Total yards | 152 | 498 |
Rushing yards | 52 | 244 |
Passing yards | 100 | 254 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 22:39 | 37:21 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
No. 13 Mountaineers | 10 | 31 | 10 | 7 | 58 |
at Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV
Game information | ||
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Statistics
Statistics | West Virginia | Baylor |
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First downs | 22 | 17 |
Total yards | 568 | 287 |
Rushing yards | 172 | 82 |
Passing yards | 396 | 205 |
Turnovers | 0 | 4 |
Time of possession | 28:02 | 31:50 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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No. 12 Mountaineers | 10 | 17 | 0 | 15 | 42 |
No. 15 Longhorns | 14 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 41 |
at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
Game information | ||
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Statistics
Statistics | West Virginia | Texas |
---|---|---|
First downs | 28 | 28 |
Total yards | 578 | 520 |
Rushing yards | 232 | 166 |
Passing yards | 346 | 354 |
Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Time of possession | 26:00 | 34:00 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Horned Frogs | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
No. 7 Mountaineers | 0 | 24 | 16 | 7 | 47 |
at Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV
Game information | ||
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Statistics
Statistics | West Virginia | TCU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 26 | 12 |
Total yards | 535 | 222 |
Rushing yards | 164 | −7 |
Passing yards | 371 | 229 |
Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
Time of possession | 30:18 | 29:42 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 7 Mountaineers | 14 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 41 |
Cowboys | 7 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 45 |
at Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK
Game information | ||
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Statistics
Statistics | West Virginia | Oklahoma State |
---|---|---|
First downs | 25 | 35 |
Total yards | 553 | 604 |
Rushing yards | 189 | 266 |
Passing yards | 364 | 338 |
Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
Time of possession | 29:45 | 30:15 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 6 Oklahoma | 14 | 21 | 10 | 14 | 59 |
No. 13 West Virginia | 14 | 14 | 21 | 7 | 56 |
at Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, West Virginia
Statistics
Statistics | West Virginia | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|
First downs | 33 | 25 |
Total yards | 704 | 668 |
Rushing yards | 165 | 304 |
Passing yards | 539 | 364 |
Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
Time of possession | 31:53 | 28:07 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 17 Orange | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 34 |
No. 15 Mountaineers | 3 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 18 |
at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Week | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
AP | 17 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 20 |
Coaches | 20 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 22 |
CFP | Not released | 13 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 16 | Not released |
Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 100 | Will Grier | QB | Carolina Panthers |
3 | 101 | Yodny Cajuste | OT | New England Patriots |
4 | 120 | Gary Jennings Jr. | WR | Seattle Seahawks |
4 | 121 | Trevon Wesco | TE | New York Jets |
6 | 188 | David Long Jr. | LB | Tennessee Titans |