West Virginia is inching closer to bowl eligibility, needing just one more win to secure their spot, and current projections suggest an intriguing matchup for head coach Neal Brown. Brett McMurphy of the Action Network projects WVU to face Minnesota in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, with the Golden Gophers expected to have a slight edge. If this matchup materializes, it would offer Brown a chance to avenge a previous bowl game loss; in 2021, Minnesota defeated West Virginia 18-6 in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
Currently, the Mountaineers are 5-4 (4-2 in the Big 12) and are coming off back-to-back road victories. Their latest win over Cincinnati propelled them up a few spots in ESPN’s Football Power Index, moving from No. 54 to No. 51. However, head coach Neal Brown was less than satisfied with his team’s offensive performance, as much of the scoring came from defensive touchdowns in their 31-24 win against the Bearcats.
Before any bowl game, though, West Virginia faces a crucial Big 12 showdown this Saturday against Baylor. Both teams hold identical 5-4 records, with Baylor sitting at 3-3 in the conference. The game will kick off at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 16 at WVU’s Milan Puskar Stadium.
