The West Virginia Mountaineers finally play at home for the first time since Oct, 19 when they welcome the Baylor Bears to Morgantown, W.Va., on Saturday.
Baylor (5-4, 3-3 Big 12) is coming off a bye week after a last-second field goal sent the Bears to a 37-34 victory over TCU, giving Baylor a three-game winning streak.
After the win, quarterback Sawyer Robertson was seen wearing a walking boot on his left foot, but Baylor coach Dave Aranda confirmed this week that Robertson is ready to go against the Mountaineers (5-4, 4-2).
West Virginia coach Neal Brown said of the Bears, “What’s taken them from playing pretty good to now where they’re playing really well is the ability to run the ball.”
In the win against the Horned Frogs, Baylor threw for 242 yards and ran for 257. Bryson Washington led the ground attack with 196 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries, and he added two receptions for 22 yards.
For all the good they did on offense, the Bears struggled on defense, allowing 339 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air.
“We have to play the pass better, we have to play when the ball’s in the air, we have to play that better,” Aranda said. “I think when we’re playing zones, we got to communicate and execute those zone responsibilities better.”
It is unsure who will lead the passing attack for the Mountaineers on Saturday, with Brown shutting down any questions regarding which quarterback he will utilize. In West Virginia’s latest home game, Garrett Greene sustained an upper-body injury that took him out the rest of the contest and the next two.
Greene was practicing in 11-on-11 drills this week for the first time since the injury, but in his place, Nicco Marchiol led the Mountaineers to back-to-back victories. Marchiol threw for two touchdowns and 198 yards in a 31-26 win against Arizona, then produced a touchdown through the air and another on the ground while passing for 156 yards in a 31-24 win over Cincinnati last week.
Brown said Greene is “available” for action on Saturday.
West Virginia’s defense played a key role against the Bearcats, forcing three turnovers and returning two of them for touchdowns.
