MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Today, West Virginia and Kansas, both with 1-2 records, aim to avoid a 1-3 start to the season in their Big 12 opener at Milan Puskar Stadium. West Virginia Coach Neal Brown reflected on both teams’ disappointing starts, expressing a shared hunger to improve.
Kansas, coming off a strong nine-win season and ranked 22nd in the preseason AP top 25, started the season with a win against Lindenwood but lost consecutive games to Illinois and UNLV. In their last outing, the Jayhawks led Illinois late in the fourth quarter before losing 23-17, and suffered a similar fate against UNLV, surrendering an 11-point lead to lose 23-20.
Junior quarterback Jalon Daniels, who has experienced fluctuations in performance throughout his injury-riddled career, has struggled in 2024, completing 54.9% of his passes with six interceptions against three touchdowns. This contrasts sharply with his performance at the end of 2022 when he threw for 544 yards and five touchdowns in a triple-overtime loss to Arkansas. Notably, Daniels led Kansas to a 55-42 overtime victory in Morgantown two years ago.
Coach Brown emphasized the necessity of containing Daniels, acknowledging that he’s a special talent who can make big plays. Running back Devin Neal, who had a significant role in the Jayhawks’ previous victory in Morgantown, ranks fourth in Kansas history for rushing yards and second for rushing touchdowns. He has exceeded 100 rushing yards in all games this season, including a season-high 120 yards against UNLV.
The Jayhawks also boast a solid receiving corps, featuring Luke Grimm and Lawrence Arnold. Defensively, key players include linebacker Cornell Wheeler, cornerback Mello Dotson, and defensive end Jereme Robinson with multiple tackles and sacks.
West Virginia’s defense faces challenges, ranking 120th in passing defense, allowing an average of 280.7 yards per game. Coach Brown hinted at impending changes in personnel and strategy to shore up the secondary after a few difficult weeks.
Despite their struggles, the Mountaineers showed promise in their last game against Pittsburgh, leading at one point but ultimately losing after failing to contain the Panthers’ late-game surge.
As the teams prepare for kickoff, several statistics reflect their seasons thus far. Kansas is ranked 17th in total defense, while West Virginia will look to improve on various fronts in its upcoming Big 12 matchup.
Following the game, the WVU Sports Hall of Fame will induct eight new members, including notable athletes from various sports, further enhancing the day’s significance. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2, with local radio coverage starting hours before kickoff.
West Virginia holds a strong 6-1 record against Kansas at home and leads the series overall at 10-2. Coach Brown emphasized the importance of shifting focus from nonconference games to adopt a “1-0 mentality” for the rest of the season. Live stats will be available through WVUsports.com.