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 Coaching changes 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] Jeff Casteel to outside linebackers coach.[3]
Preseason Big 12 media days 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
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 Spring game The West Virginia football spring "Blue-Gold game" was canceled due to COVID-19.
Regular season 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
. 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 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. ) ESPN W 24–21 8,187
Schedule Source: [8]
Coaching staff Game summaries Vs. Eastern Kentucky
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
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
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
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
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)
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
West Virginia Mountaineers (4–2) vs. Texas Longhorns (4–2)
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
West Virginia
7
0
6 0 13
No. 22 Texas 7
3
7 0 17
at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX
Date : Saturday, November 7, 2020Game time : 12:00 p.m. Pregame line :
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
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
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
West Virginia Mountaineers (5–4) vs. Army Black Knights (9–2) (2020 AutoZone Liberty Bowl)
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
West Virginia 3
7
6 8 24
Army
0
14
7 0 21
at
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 Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking 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 References
^ 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 .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons
