A big second half allowed Kansas State to leave Morgantown with a dominating 45-18 win on Saturday.
The Mountaineers have now dropped back-to-back games and need to regroup after the tough loss. The following are four takeaways from their defeat.
Still Unable to Stop the Pass
Coming in Kansas State was the top Big 12 team in rushing offense. However, it was the pass that beat WVU on Saturday. K-State quarterback Avery Johnson threw for just under 300 yards and three touchdowns, while West Virginia limited the run while the game was close. The Wildcats had just eight rushing yards in the first half. Some of the success of Kansas State’s passing attack can be attributed to Mountaineer defensive backs Ayden Garnes and Aubrey Burks being out for the game. Nonetheless, WVU has struggled in pass coverage all year and will need to improve in that area if they want any chance of ending the season on a high note.
Need a Better Passing Attack
On the flip side, the Mountaineers need a better passing attack offensively. They ran for more yards than they threw and ultimately struggled to move the ball down the field in the air, but both of their touchdowns were short passes. Garrett Greene and Nicco Marchiol combined to complete 47% of their passing attempts. West Virginia had just two passing plays of over 15+ yards compared to six plays of 10+ rushing yards.
Defense Needs Big Plays
West Virginia’s defense was unable to create any Kansas State turnovers and didn’t get a single sack. Turnovers can be a big shift of momentum and set the offense up with opportunities to capitalize. West Virginia hasn’t had turnovers this season, and that can be attributed to some of their struggles. Kansas State had two turnovers against the Mountaineers, one of which was a pick six and the other led to a field goal.
Marchiol’s Pocket Presence
While backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol had over 40+ rushing yards against Oklahoma State in his limited time, he struggled in the second half against the Wildcats. He was sacked multiple times and had 0 rushing yards, including the yards he was sacked. He was unable to break the pocket and make explosive plays like Greene did in the first half. However, it was said that Marchiol was dealing with an injury during the week which may have impacted his play. If Greene is unavailable this week, Marchiol needs to improve and feel more comfortable passing.
The Decline of Mountaineer Pride: Neal Brown’s Tenure at West Virginia University
West Virginia football, once a powerhouse program that struck fear into the hearts of opponents, has seen its glory days fade under the leadership of Neal Brown. A program once synonymous with intensity, passion, and a relentless will to win has now lost its edge. Morgantown, a place where teams feared to play, is no longer the intimidating battleground it once was. Instead, under Neal Brown’s tenure, Mountaineer Nation has watched helplessly as the program has deteriorated—both on the field and in the locker room.
Since taking over in 2019, Neal Brown has posted a lackluster record. Even more concerning is Brown’s abysmal record against teams with winning records—just 4 wins in six seasons. These numbers tell the story of a coach who has failed to elevate the program and restore the pride that once defined West Virginia football.
On the field, it’s clear that Neal Brown has lost control of the team. The players’ body language and lack of effort are glaring. Take, for instance, Preston Fox in the second half of the Kansas State game—he failed to give the extra effort on an incomplete pass, a telling sign of a team that’s checked out. Before halftime on a crucial 4th-and-1, CJ Donaldson was visibly frustrated, shaking his head in disgust. Even though the Mountaineers were only down by a touchdown at halftime, the team looked deflated, uninterested, and done. This is not the attitude of a team fighting for its season; it’s the demeanor of a team that’s given up.
Looking ahead, the path forward seems bleak. This team is on track for a 3-9 season, with the best-case scenario being 4-8 or 5-7. That kind of finish would mark yet another disappointing chapter in a tenure full of underachievement. From the beginning, I’ve said I wasn’t buying into the hype that Neal Brown was selling, and those doubts have been confirmed. Couz can back me up on this—this team doesn’t have the talent everyone thinks they do. A quick glance at the past season stats of the players Brown brought in through the transfer portal shows a harsh reality: these are players that no one else wanted.
When the transfer portal opens this year, don’t be surprised to see a mass exodus of WVU players racing to leave. And why? Because of Neal Brown—his poor play calling, lack of game awareness, and his constant blame-shifting for why the team is underachieving. He’s lost the locker room, and once that happens, it’s nearly impossible to turn things around. Brown is not cut out for Power 5 football—he needs to go back to the Group of 5 level, where he might find some success, but it’s clear that WVU is too big a stage for him.
But perhaps the most painful reality of Neal Brown’s tenure is the cultural shift that’s taken place under his leadership. Mountaineer Nation, once a proud and fierce football community, has been reduced to something unrecognizable. Opposing teams used to dread coming to Morgantown, where the fans were as tough as the team on the field. Now, we have a coach whose focus seems to be on whether the fans had a good time tailgating, getting drunk, eating food, and enjoying the autumn weather. Winning football games has become secondary. As long as the fans are enjoying the “experience,” it seems Brown feels no pressure to field a competitive team. The worst part is that many fans have bought into this mentality, willing to overlook the team’s lackluster performances because “Neal Brown is a great guy.”
Let’s be clear: being a “great guy” doesn’t win football games. This is year six of the Neal Brown experiment, and it’s clear that nothing is changing. If anything, things are getting worse. Brown has had more than enough time to prove himself, and the results speak for themselves—mediocrity. Mountaineer Nation deserves better. This is a fanbase that’s stood by its team through thick and thin, but there comes a point when loyalty is taken for granted, and that’s where we are now.
WVU football used to be about winning, about being feared, and about representing the toughness of West Virginia. Under Neal Brown, all of that has been lost. This program is a shell of its former self, and the fans who truly understand what Mountaineer football is supposed to be are tired of watching it spiral downward. The time for excuses is over. Mountaineer Nation needs a coach who can restore the pride, the passion, and the winning tradition that once made this program one of the toughest in college football.
Neal Brown has failed to live up to the expectations, and it’s time for a change before this program’s proud history is permanently tarnished. Mountaineer Nation, it’s time to demand better. We owe it to the players, the fans, and the state of West Virginia to once again become the football powerhouse we know we can be.
I agree 100% but until you get hired as AD this is just going to get worse. I was furious when they hired brown. I never trusted any climb nonsense and I knew this was where we would find ourselves if they allowed Brown the time. It will literally take years to come back
From this debacle, even with the hiring of a Jimbo Fischer.
it is not just brown it starts at the top . brown has one average year and we give him another two yrs. every game we lose the other team is always a very good team he says. it all is so bad it is not fun to watch it hurts i am sorry.