Two contenders to the Big 12 throne (perhaps the top two contenders) meet Saturday in Norman, when the No. 15 Oklahoma Sooners host the No. 23 West Virginia Mountaineers. Kickoff is set for noon ET, with television coverage on Fox Sports 1.
How to watch West Virginia vs. Oklahoma on TV or online, plus 3 things to know
The Big 12 eliminator pool begins in Norman Saturday afternoon.
The Sooners sandwiched a come-from-behind win over Tennessee between solid victories over Akron and Tulsa. Former Texas Tech quarterback Baker Mayfield has been spectacular in Oklahoma's new Air Raid offense, throwing for 354 yards per game and completing 10 touchdown passes against just two interceptions. The question: Oklahoma's defense, which allowed 38 points and more than 600 yards of offense against Tulsa last week.
West Virginia, somewhat shockingly, has no such problem. In classic Dana Holgorsen fashion, the Mountaineers have scored 130 points on their first three opponents. The surprise has been the West Virginia defense, which has allowed just 23 points and nearly shut out Maryland last week. Saturday marks a step up in competition, but it certainly looks like the Mountaineers might have an honest-to-God defense.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: Noon ET, Fox Sports 1
Radio: Oklahoma and West Virginia affiliates available
Online streaming: FOX Sports GO
Spread: Oklahoma is favored by 7 points
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Three big things to know
Welcome to the Big 12, part 1. Oklahoma might not be in its usual preseason perch atop the predicted Big 12 standings, but the Sooners have a chance to put a lot of pressure on the front-runners with a win Saturday. OU does not have another ranked opponent on its schedule until Nov. 14. Beat West Virginia and hold off Kansas State in two weeks, and the Sooners have a fairly easy route to a 9-0 start.
Welcome to the Big 12, part 2. West Virginia has played Georgia Southern, Liberty and a hapless Maryland squad so far. In the next four weeks, things get slightly more difficult: Saturday’s trip to Oklahoma, followed by a home game against No. 20 Oklahoma State before back-to-back road games against No. 5 Baylor and No. 4 TCU. It’s as brutal a four-week stretch as any team will face all year, and it will make or break the Mountaineers’ title hopes. A loss Saturday could set off a chain of events that leaves Holgorsen’s squad at 3-4 and miles away from its hot start.
The signal-callers. Mayfield may get the headlines, and for good reason: The two-time walk-on has picked apart Oklahoma’s first three opponents and is masterfully running the Sooners’ attack. But if there’s a coach who understands the Air Raid, it’s Holgo, and his quarterback has been nearly as good. Junior Skyler Howard is completing nearly 70 percent of his pass attempts for 305 yards per game, averaging a ridiculous 11 yards per pass attempt.
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