A look back at WVU vs OK State and what it means for Neal Brown. Is he safe from being fired?
MORGANTOWN, WV—-The week off couldn’t have come at a better time for WVU head Coach Neal Brown. Not only can his Mountaineers heal up from a rough physical Kansas game but he is safe from fans calling for his firing, at least for a few more days. History does not favor the Mountaineers battling the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
However, when the two teams faced each other in 1928 WVU won handily 32-6 at home. The next season( in 1929) WVU traveled to Oklahoma and escaped with a narrow 9-6 victory. The rivalry was not renewed until 1987 in the Sun Bowl with WVU freshman quarterback Major Harris versus current head coach Mike Gundy under center. The Cowboys arguably had the best college backfield in history with 15 Pro Bowl selections, 15 All Pro honors and two Most Valuable Player awards between Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders. This Cowboy team had unbelievable offensive firepower. The Cowboys outlasted WVU 35-33 in an exciting game.
The two teams did not meet again until WVU joined the Big 12 in 2012. In another big scoring game the Cowboys evened the series at 2-2 with a 55-34 victory.
In 2013 at Mountaineer Field WVU upset the 11th ranked Cowboys 30-21. WVU now led the series 3 wins and 2 losses. In 2014 WVU beat the Cowboys again 34-10 in a dominant performance. WVU quarterback Clint Trickett put together 238 yards and two passing touchdowns. The Mountaineers now had a 4-2 series record.
In 2015 the Cowboys ended WVU’s modest two game win streak with a 33-26 overtime victory. In 2016 Mason Rudolph and the Cowboys rallied for a 37-20 win. Ok State won two consecutive games against the Mountaineers for the first time in history. The series was even at 4-4.
In 2017 Will Grier and the Mountaineers fell in another high scoring game 50-39. In 2018 in Stillwater, WVU was eliminated from the Big 12 Championship race losing in another high scoring affair 45-41. This gave Oklahoma State its 4th straight win over WVU.
In 2019 Ok State 20-WVU 13
2020 Oklahoma State 27 WVU 13
2021 Oklahoma State 24 WVU 3
2022 WVU 24 Ok St. 19
2023 Oklahoma State 48 WVU 34
Over the last decade Oklahoma State has had the upper hand in most games. Since joining the Big 12 WVU has only 3 wins. This will be a big win for Neal Brown if he can beat the 20th ranked Cowboys in Stillwater this coming Saturday at 4 p.m.Â
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