After their 30-10 win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, the West Virginia Mountaineers had to pay up to their head coach, Neal Brown.
The coach got a contract extension through 2025, but it came with a curious caveat — a $500,000 pay cut.
So, is that a vote of confidence or a vote of doubt when it comes to Brown as he enters his sixth year in Morgantown? After all, the Mountaineers were expected to finish dead last in the Big 12 last season and instead went 9-4 and won five of their last six games, including four of their final five Big 12 games.
The expectations in Morgantown may hinge on what it does early in the season. WVU hosts Penn State, followed by Albany, and then a trip to Pittsburgh for the Backyard Brawl. Win all three, and the Mountaineers could be dark horses to get to the Big 12 title game.
Here’s what you should expect going into the 2024 season.
WEST VIRGINIA OFFENSE: POUND THE ROCK
Part of what made West Virginia so good last year was running the football. The Mountaineers were No. 3 in FBS in rushing yards per game (228.9). Well, the great news for WVU is that just about every significant piece of that rush offense is back entering fall camp.
That starts with running backs Jaheim White and CJ Donaldson, who combined for 1,570 yards and 24 touchdowns. Defenses shouldn’t forget that quarterback Garrett Greene can run the ball, but he’s better known for the 2,406 yards and 16 touchdowns he threw for a season ago. He also threw just four picks.
The offensive line is back, too, with a ton of experience on the left side with tackle Wyatt Milum, guard Tomas Rimac, and center Brandon Yates, all of whom started a season ago.
Add to that the immense number of pass catchers who return, along with transfer Jaden Bray (Oklahoma State), and WVU has an offense that can beat teams in several ways. But the Mountaineers will work to establish the run every game.
Related: West Virginia Being Nationally Relevant Would be ‘Enormous’ for Big 12
WEST VIRGINIA DEFENSE: THE RETURN OF THE ’BACKERS
If anything could make the West Virginia defense better in 2024, it’s the return of linebackers Trey Lathan and Josiah Trotter. Both missed the majority of last season due to injury, and their return could put the overall unit in the position to improve after giving up 26.2 points per game a season ago, which was average in FBS.
The Mountaineers’ biggest problem last season was stopping the pass, where it ranked No. 85 in passing yards allowed per game. There is continuity on the back end with safeties Aubrey Burks and Anthony Wilson. But, WVU invested in the transfer portal and it hopes those additions can make an immediate impact.
Up front, two starters return with defensive end Sean Martin and tackle Edward Vesterian. If the pair can get more pressure on the quarterback, that should help the transition on the back line.
WEST VIRGINIA SPECIAL TEAMS: VETS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The Mountaineers have experience at the three key specialist positions — punter Oliver Straw, place-kicker Michael Hayes and long snapper Austin Brinkman. Straw is a weapon. Only 12 of his 42 punts were returned, and those returns amounted to five years. If WVU has the coverage units in place, he could be a field position star in 2024.
PREDICTION: WVU GOES 7-5, BROWN WORRIES ABOUT JOB AGAIN
The offensive weapons are going to allow the Mountaineers to compete with any team on their schedule. The key to beating this prediction is their ability to control the game with the run. Do that, and WVU could unearth another win or two along the way. West Virginia should go 2-1 in non-conference. A really tough four-game stretch should determine whether WVU can truly contend — at Oklahoma State, home against Iowa State and Kansas State, followed by a road trip to Arizona.
Related: Predicting Every Game of the 2024 Big 12 Football Season
