Welcome, By-Godders, to The Shotgun/Throwdown: WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.
Football:
WVU-BYU matchup offers intrigue | The Exponent Telegram
If ever a football game was filled with a special kind of intrigue, Saturday’s matchup between West Virginia and Brigham Young in Landover, Maryland, is it. It begins, yes, with the fact that BYU wants desperately to be part of the Big 12’s football expansion and believes it can make a statement against the Mountaineers, the latest addition to that conference. But there is more to it than that, a sometimes difficult to follow but very real relationship between WVU coach Dana Holgorsen, his offense and the offense that once made BYU famous.
WVU football at the head of struggling Big 12 | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Big 12 football has been around for 20 seasons and three weeks now, but this is the first time the league hasn’t had a team ranked in the top 15.
Football Notebook: Cougars to be Motivated | WVU Athletics
A West Virginia football team flying along under the radar gets an opportunity to remove some of its stealth this Saturday when the Mountaineers take on Brigham Young in an interesting intersectional football game at Fedex Field in Landover, Maryland.
West Virginia Athletics:
Homestand Concludes vs. American on Tuesday | WVU Athletics
The No. 23 West Virginia University men’s soccer team concludes its five-match homestand on Tuesday, September 20, against American at 7 p.m. ET.
WVU, ROOT Extend Partnership Through 2022 | WVU Athletics
ROOT SPORTS announced Monday a new, extended relationship with West Virginia University that will bring Mountaineer programming to the network’s slate of Wild & Wonderful Sports through the 2021-2022 academic year.
Around The Big 12:
Big 12 expansion candidate tracker: Week 3 | ESPN
Houston continues to be the standout candidate among the front-runners to join the Big 12.
Baylor says Shawn Oakman isn't allowed to make any more visits to the Bears' locker room | SBNation
The indicted former Bears player showed up in their locker room last week. The coach says he didn't recognize him, and the university now says Oakman isn't allowed to return.
Oklahoma State displays resiliency ahead of Big 12 opener at Baylor | ESPN
The Cowboys bounced back from the loss to Central Michigan to outlast Pittsburgh and renew their confidence headed into the Big 12 opener at Baylor.
Ohio State shows Oklahoma's talent level not championship-caliber | ESPN
Oklahoma's ugly home loss against Ohio State was the latest example of the talent gap that exists between the Sooners and the national elite.
Around The NCAA:
Ty Detmer's offense has been getting BY-booed | Charleston Gazette-Mail
When West Virginia faces BYU on Saturday in Landover, Maryland, the teams will be very similar. And yet so very polar opposite.
If the college football season ended today, this would be your Playoff 4 | SBNation
In our opinion, at least. And it’s not far off from what the actual Playoff committee would give us if it had to pick a field right now.
The Miami Hurricanes look really, really good. Can Mark Richt's team keep it up? | SBNation
Also: six teams moving way up in the ratings, six teams moving down, one of Ole Miss' biggest problems, and the guy who's actually spent more time in the end zone than Lamar Jackson has.
The Big Ten West needs some quality drama. Just let NDSU and WMU in this year. | SBNation
When your division favorite loses to an FCS team and a mid-major beats two of your other teams, it’s time to shake things up.
Today's Miss Throwdown is a Musket favorite. She's appeared in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition, but may be most recognized from her work in Hardee's commercials. CLICK HERE for Samantha Hoopes' Instagram.