The sleeper pick in the Big 12 to try to dethrone Oklahoma is believed by many to be a West Virginia team that returns the key pieces of an offense that lit up defenses last year. With a Heisman candidate in quarterback Will Grier and touchdown machine David Sills V at receiver, the Mountaineers hope to ride that momentum to a conference title and a possible playoff berth.
In the weather-delayed Belk College Kickoff in Charlotte against Tennessee, West Virginia took control in the second half, winning 40–14 against a Tennessee team coming off a 4–8 record and winless SEC season.