Arizona State No Stranger To West Virginia's 3-3-5 Defense

One of the things that has made West Virginia’s 3-3-5 defense effective over the last two years since Tony Gibson has taken over as defensive coordinator is that it’s different than the 3-4 or 4-3 attacks being utilized at most colleges across the country.

By Michael Miller@michaelmillerWV Jan 1, 2016, 9:46am EST

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.

Football:

ASU no stranger to WVU's 3-3-5 | Beckley Register-Herald
One of the things that has made West Virginia’s 3-3-5 defense effective over the last two years since Tony Gibson has taken over as defensive coordinator is that it’s different than the 3-4 or 4-3 attacks being utilized at most colleges across the country.

Holgorsen not worried about late kickoff time | Charleston Gazette-Mail
West Virginia’s football team left campus on a bus bound for the Pittsburgh airport at 7 a.m. Tuesday and arrived here as a team on a charter flight, as opposed to having everyone find their way here, some with the team and some on their own, and then meeting at the bowl site following the Christmas break.

WVU, Arizona State excel at sacking the quarterback | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Arizona State and West Virginia are contrarians, and not just because they’ll oppose one another in the Cactus Bowl. They’re the outliers beyond a national trend.

Endless steak makes West Virginia’s plate runneth over | WV MetroNews
Meals don’t come much bigger, or meatier, than the one West Virginia’s football team enjoyed Wednesday night at Fogo de Chão.

ASU not depressed to be staying home for Cactus Bowl | WV MetroNews
Think Arizona State was bummed to play in a bowl game only eight miles from its campus? The Sun Devils disagree.

Dillon predicts INT for Rumph against Sun Devils: ‘I hope they attack him’ | WV MetroNews
While the ineligibility of All-Big 12 cornerback Daryl Worley has dominated pregame coverage of the Cactus Bowl, senior safety K.J. Dillon said West Virginia’s defense had recalibrated before the team plane touched down in Arizona.

Cactus Bowl: Kwiatkoski's Career Just Starting | WVU Athletics
West Virginia University defensive coordinator Tony Gibson is convinced fifth-year senior linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski will not be playing his final football game in this year’s Motel 6 Cactus Bowl on Saturday against Arizona State.

Mountaineer GameDay Cactus Bowl Special | WVU Athletics
As part of West Virginia University Athletics' partnership with IMG College, West Virginia Illustrated will produce two LIVE pregame television specials to kickoff the New Year.

Basketball:

Mountaineers Open Big 12 Play Saturday | WVU Athletics
West Virginia opens Big 12 Conference play on Saturday, January 2, when the Mountaineers face Kansas State at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas.

West Virginia Athletics:

No. 25 WVU Heads to Southern Scuffle | WVU Athletics
The Mountaineers join nine other ranked programs at the prestigious event.

Around The Big XII:

Oklahoma Sooners talked early, Clemson Tigers delivered final word | ESPN
Oklahoma's bravado and brash talk didn't do much good as Clemson pushed around the Sooners in the trenches and everywhere else.

Clemson romps over Oklahoma 37-17, plus 3 things to know from Tigers' win | SBNation
The No. 1 Tigers are headed to the College Football Playoff Championship Game after a methodical win over Oklahoma.

Oklahoma's Sterling Shepard tied his late father's school record in Orange Bowl rout | SBNation
A very cool instance of like father, like son.

TCU QB Trevone Boykin suspended after alleged bar fight arrest | SBNation
The Horned Frogs play Oregon in two days.

Around The NCAA:

Alabama vs. Clemson officially the 2015-2016 College Football Playoff Championship matchup | SBNation
The top two seeds face in Arizona, with Clemson's head coach against his alma mater and tons of talent all over the field.

College Football Playoff highlight videos, for people who actually went outside on New Year's | SBNation
If you were out enjoying your New Year's Eve, fear not. Here's everything you might've missed from the 2015 Orange and Cotton Bowls.

Florida State vs. Houston final score, plus 3 things to know from the Cougars’ 38-24 Peach Bowl win | SBNation
Houston came into the Peach Bowl as a seven-point underdog. They left with a season-validating win over Florida State.

(19) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Kansas State Wildcats
Saturday at Noon on ESPNU from Manhattan, KS. The Mountaineers open Big 12 Conference play against the 10-2 Wildcats.

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
Saturday at 10:15PM ET on ESPN in the Motel 6 Cactus Bowl from Phoenix. The Mountaineers, a 2 point favorite, will see a few familiar faces on the opposing coaching staff as they take on the Sun Devils.

(16) Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. (12) Ole Miss Rebels
Tonight at 8:30PM on ESPN in the Allstate Sugar Bowl from New Orleans. The Pokes are 8 point underdogs.

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
Saturday at 3:20PM ET on ESPN in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl from Memphis. The Snydercats are 13 point underdogs.

(15) Oregon Ducks vs. (11) TCU Horned Frogs
Saturday at 6:45PM ET on ESPN in the Valero Alamo Bowl from San Antonio. The Horned Frogs are without their quarterback and are 8 point underdogs to the Ducks.

New Year's Day bowl schedule: TV times, online streaming info, and more | SBNation
Even without the Playoff, it's a great New Year's Day slate.