COMMENTARY
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia’s 42-31 loss to Texas sticks out as equal parts encouraging and frustrating.
If the Mountaineers had played a clean, turnover-free game, it’s fair to say they would have beaten the No. 11 team in the country. Statistically the teams were even or close to it in several categories. Texas had 26 first downs to West Virginia’s 24. Texas averaged 4.4 yards per carry to West Virginia’s 42. The Mountaineers outgained the Longhorns 463-427.
Every coach sets a goal of improving each week, and West Virginia has done so in some regard each week since losing to a Missouri team that looks increasingly capable of giving Georgia and Florida trouble in the SEC East.