West Virginia Adds A Pair Of FCS Schools To Future Schedule

The Mountaineers have added a pair of home games against FCS teams to their future schedule, and now doesn't have any openings until 2021.

By Michael Miller@michaelmillerWV Sep 9, 2016, 11:29am EDT

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

Football:

WVU adds two games to future football schedules | Charleston Gazette-Mail
West Virginia has added a pair of home games against FCS opponents to future schedules and now doesn’t have an opening until 2021.

WVU football coaches happy with newcomers’ energy | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The hard part for West Virginia last week wasn’t using 19 players for the first time in their college careers. That took care of itself, as is often the case at the beginning of a season.

Big hit highlighted Justin Arndt’s career day vs. Missouri | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The lesson for Drew Lock in the first game of his first full season as Missouri’s starting quarterback was to lace his shoes tightly. The lesson for West Virginia linebacker Justin Arndt was to make sure his cell phone is charged.

101 yards, 97 percent grade: Crawford’s opening act a success | WV MetroNews
His West Virginia debut produced 101 yards rushing and a crucial second-half touchdown. Still, it wasn’t enough for Justin Crawford to escape some ribbing from his position coach.

Punt return game still a work in progress | The Exponent Telegram
If there was one aspect West Virginia would have liked to have improved this season over last, it is one that it seems well-equipped to get better at and one that has a history of providing thrills. That would be punt returning.

Wiley 1 of 7 Going Into WVU Hall of Fame | WVU Athletics
It’s been 13 years since Grant Wiley last chased down quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers while wearing a West Virginia University football uniform, and although he won’t have on his familiar No. 6, he will be inside Milan Puskar Stadium once again this Saturday when the Mountaineers take on Youngstown State. This time, however, it’s to be recognized as one of seven athletic immortals being officially inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame.

West Virginia Athletics:

Top-Five Battle Awaits at No. 5 Duke | WVU Athletics
The No. 4 WVU women's soccer team plays at No. 5 Duke Friday night.

Around The Big XII:

Big 12 Week 2 game picks: Can Texas Tech Red Raiders get big road win? | ESPN
Week 2 in the Big 12 features two high-profile nonconference games, with TCU hosting Arkansas and Texas Tech traveling to Arizona State.

Big 12 roundtable: Impressions from Week 1 | ESPN
Our writers agree that Texas' freshman quarterback Shane Buechele stole the show in Week 1 with OT win over Notre Dame.

Texas Tech looking for Pat Mahomes to make smart moves in Tempe | ESPN
Texas Tech quarterback Pat Mahomes freelanced a lot in the opener, but he won't be able to get away with that against stronger defenses.

Around The NCAA:

College football confidence pick 'em, Week 2: Can you beat our picks of 4 'big' games? | SBNation
It's not just who you pick, it's how confident you are.

Why Tennessee and Virginia Tech are playing football at a gigantic NASCAR track | SBNation
The Vols and Hokies are transforming Bristol Motor Speedway into the biggest college football setting ever.

NASCAR track reportedly bringing in half a million beers for its Tennessee-VT game | SBNation
This should be the most-attended football game ever. Also, beer. (Editors note: AMATEURS!)

Why the Penn State-Pitt rivalry still matters, just as it always has | SBNation
One of college football’s oldest rivalries disappeared for 16 years. Now it’s back, and it means different things in different places. A native Pennsylvanian spoke with coaches and historians on both sides.

(4) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (5) Duke Blue Devils (Women's Soccer)
Tonight at 7PM on WatchESPN. The Mountaineers look to continue their winnings ways in a top-5 showdown.

Central Michigan Chippewas vs. (22) Oklahoma State Cowboys
Saturday at Noon ET on FS1 from Stillwater. Mike Gundy's Mullet and the Cowboys are three touchdown favorites.

Youngstown State Penguins vs. West Virginia Mountainers
Saturday at 2:00 PM ET on ROOT Sports from Morgantown. Bo Pelini and the Penguins come into Milan Puskar Stadium looking to wear down the Mountaineer offense.

Ohio Bobcats vs. Kansas Jayhawks
Saturday at 2:30 PM ET on FSN from Lawrence, KS. Could the Jayhawks win an unprecedented two games in a row? Will the students rush the field again?

SMU Mustangs vs. (23) Baylor Bears
Saturday at 3:30PM ET on Fox Sports 1 from Waco. The Bears are 32 point favorites.

UTEP Miners vs. (11) Texas Longhorns
Saturday at 7:00 PM ET on The Longhorn Network and WatchESPN from Austin. Charlie Strong's Longhorns should roll in this one, they're 30 point favorites.

Arkansas Razorbacks vs. (15) TCU Horned Frogs
Saturday at 7:00PM ET on ESPN from Ft. Worth. It'll be a battle of former SWC teams, and Gary Patterson's Horned Frogs are 8 point favorites.

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
Saturday at 10:00PM ET on Fox Sports 1 from Tempe, AZ. PAC 12 AFTER DARK MEETS THE BIG 12! Kliff Kingsbury's Red Raiders are 3 point underdogs in this one.