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    Oklahoma 2023 Schedule Preview: West Virginia

    After falling to the Mountaineers in 2022, Brent Venables and the Sooners are hoping to get revenge in their final Big 12 matchup against Neal Brown's squad.

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    Oklahoma Sooners
    Oklahoma Sooners

    As August closes in, AllSooners previews every game on the 2023 schedule.

    Oklahoma’s 12-game regular season schedule features six home games, five road games and the annual neutral-site Red River Showdown.

    In OU's 10th game of the season, the Sooners will take on the West Virginia Mountaineers at home after falling to Neal Brown's team in a heartbreaking loss last year.

    The 2023 season will mark the final Big 12 contest between OU and West Virginia. Since joining the conference in 2012, the Mountaineers have beaten the Sooners only one time.

    Last season was WVU's first victory over Oklahoma in almost 15 years. 

    Tied at 20 with over six minutes left in a driving Morgantown rainstorm, Mountaineers backup quarterback Garrett Greene led West Virginia down the field before Casey Legg kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired. 

    Greene used his mobility to gash OU's defense on the ground, racking up 119 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Despite 211 yards and two touchdowns on the ground for former Sooners' running back Eric Gray, West Virginia held Oklahoma to only one score in the second half. 

    While WVU did secure a historic win against OU in 2022, the rest of their season was lackluster. The Mountaineers finished 5-7 while struggling to find consistent offensive production, especially at the quarterback position. 

    West Virginia also had struggles on defense, allowing over 32 points per game last year. 

    Following the 2022-23 season, head coach Neal Brown has finished with a losing record in three of his first four years in Morgantown. The media seems to think that this trend will continue in 2023, as the Mountaineers were picked to finish last in the Big 12 in the conference's preseason poll.

    "We've been focused on ourselves, getting ourselves better," Brown said at Big 12 Media Days when asked asked about the poll. "This is something that's going to increase the size of the chip. The chip was already there on the shoulder; it just increases the size."

    Oklahoma's 2023 Schedule:

    While West Virginia's offense ranked 51st in the nation last season, the Mountaineers lost three of their most productive offensive weapons from 2022. The team's leading passer, rusher and receiver all transferred or left for the NFL, leaving Brown and company to build a new offense with a few faces who made an impact last season.

    After throwing for 2,107 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, former 5-star QB J.T. Daniels transferred to Rice over the offseason after losing out on the starting spot in favor of Greene. 

    Additionally, Tony Mathis Jr., who ran for 562 yards and five touchdowns last season, transferred to Houston while 6-foot-4 Bryce Ford-Wheaton, who recorded 675 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2022, is now in the NFL with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent. The Mountaineers also lost their second-leading receiver from last season, with Kaden Prather transferring to Maryland. 

    In the midst of all the turnover on offense, Brown stressed that his team needs to improve in through the air. 

    "I think running the football is going to be the strength of our offensive team," Brown said. "But one emphasis on that is we've got to be more explosive in our pass game, and I think that's where we got to show some growth offensively, is we ran the football at times very successfully last year."

    If the Mountaineers are able to attack teams downfield this year like their head coach is hoping, the group could have a chance to be stable on offense. With Greene, C.J. Donaldson Jr. and Justin Johnson Jr. in the backfield, West Virginia should have a solid rushing attack once again. 

    Get to Know West Virginia

    Nov. 11, Norman

    • Series: OU leads 11-3
    • Head coach: Neal Brown, 5th year (22-25), 9th overall (57-41)
    • 2022 record:  5-7 (3-6 Big 12)
    • 2022 offense: 57th overall (52nd rushing, 71st passing, 50th scoring)
    • 2022 defense: 98th overall (67th rushing, 111th passing, 116th scoring)

    After a disappointing season defensively in 2022, the Mountaineers brought in eight defensive transfers over the offseason in hopes of reshaping last year's unit.

    WVU allowed more than 40 points in five different contests last season, going 1-4 in those games. While there are many holes to fill in West Virginia's defense, Brown's  large transfer portal haul should help the team reload for 2023. 

    The Mountaineers added Anthony Wilson, Beanie Bishop, Tyrin Bradley, Tomiwa Durojaiye, Montre Miller, Fatorma Mulbah, Davoan Hawkins and Keyshawn Cobb through the transfer portal over the offseason. 

    With the aforementioned players in the fold, as well as Lee Kpogba, Malachi Ruffin and Sean Martin returning for WVU, Brown's defense has the potential to be much improved this season.

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