West Virginia @ Brigham Young preview

West Virginia is climbing up the Top 25 "also receiving votes" list with its 2-0 start, and the Mountaineers hope to continue their ascent when they meet desperate BYU on Saturday in a neutral-site matchup at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. The Cougars (1-2) need a victory for two reasons - to salvage their season and to continue their "audition'' for inclusion in Big 12 expansion talks.

West Virginia opened with a solid 26-11 victory over Missouri, but was anything but impressive during a Week 2 victory over Youngstown State on Sept. 10. The Mountaineers continue their strong non-conference schedule that includes Michigan State, Mississippi State and Boise State while presenting a challenge to coach Dana Holgorsen, who told reporters: “We’ve been instructed to up our non-conference schedules, and that’s what everyone’s doing. We’ve got another tough non-conference game here this week against BYU, which is a national team.'' BYU may only be four points away from being undefeated, but offensive woes - 17 points per game for a team that ranks 105th of 128 FBS teams in total offense - have given the Cougars very little margin for error. But Holgorsen won't pay any attention to those numbers, telling reporters: "I know BYU is pretty adamant about playing anybody, anywhere and they don’t care where it’s at. The competition they have played has been unbelievable. They have had three tight games and it will more than likely be another tight game so we need to be able to handle that.”

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: West Virginia -7

ABOUT BYU (1-2): The talk since halftime of last week's 17-14 home loss to UCLA and all week has centered on whether fifth-year quarterback Taysom Hill should sit in favor of sophomore backup Tanner Mangum to boost an offense that has scored six touchdowns in three games. The Cougars' offensive line has played without three projected preseason starters and its run game has sputtered (3.8 yards per carry) despite being led by senior Jamaal Williams, who is 681 yards shy of passing Harvey Unga as the program's all-time leading rusher. Defensively, linebacker Butch Pau'u (19 tackles last week) leads a unit that has held teams to 17.7 points, the first time BYU has limited its first three foes to less than 20 since its national championship team of 1984.


ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (2-0): The Mountaineers, who rank seventh among FBS teams in total offense with 559 yards per game, ride a running game with a 1-2 punch of Rushel Shell (174 through two games) and junior college transfer Justin Crawford (141 yards). Receivers Daikiel Shorts Jr. (team-leading 14 receptions, 224 yards) teams with Shelton Gibson (210 yards, two touchdowns) and Ka'Raun White (120, 1) give quarterback Skyler Howard (43-of-68, 642 yards, five TDs) the ability to stretch the field and take pressure off the ground game. Howard threw for 389 yards and five touchdowns, including three for 50-plus yards, during the 38-21 victory over Youngstown State.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Mountaineers' kicking game has been solid as Mike Molina is 5-of-6 on field goals and 7-for-7 on extra points, and Billy Kinney averages 47.1 yards on his nine punts - good for seventh in the nation.

2. West Virginia, in its 125th season, ranks 14th in all-time winning percentage.

3. BYU makes the 2,000-plus mile journey to the Eastern Time zone, where it is 8-20 since 1972, for its first game against West Virginia.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 26, BYU 14