MORGANTOWN — West Virginia senior quarterback Garrett Greene has a single goal for this season, “to be Big 12 champions.”
Speaking to the media following the Mountaineers’ second fall practice on Thursday, Greene, who was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list later in the day, said winning a conference championship is the only goal he has for his final college season, both personally and for the team.
“If I do my job at a high-enough level, we’ll get there,” he assured.
West Virginia has never won a Big 12 title, nor have the Mountaineers made a Big 12 championship game appearance since its reinstatement in 2017. WVU’s most-recent conference championship came in 2011, the final of seven Big East titles.
And yet, the Mountaineers are saying this season is Big 12 championship or bust.
“That’s our main focus, we want to win the Big 12 championship this year,” left tackle Wyatt Milum said. “That’s our only mindset, we want to make that game and we want to win it. I think if you don’t have that mindset, there’s something wrong there.”
WVU took a big step as a program last season, winning nine games and going 6-3 in conference play. The majority of that roster is back for 2024 and it’s easy to see why players could view 2024 as their best shot at a title.
The Mountaineer roster, as currently constructed, is as good as it will ever be. Greene is a senior, as are four of the five projected starters across the offensive line, including Milum. Leading pass-catcher Kole Taylor will also graduate after this season.
On defense, seven projected starters are seniors. All three defensive linemen are in their final year as are the team’s top-two pass rushers at spur.
Three of the top four safeties are seniors, including both projected starters.
Even kicker Michael Hayes and long snapper Austin Brinkman are in their final seasons.
After the season, many players, including Greene and Milum, will have to think about what their plans after football are, whether it’s the NFL or something else. But before then, Greene’s only concern is the 2024 season.
“I’m really just focused on this year and winning a Big 12 title for this state,” Greene said. “And then come January, I’ll start getting ready for the (NFL) draft.”
WVU isn’t favored to win the conference by those outside of Morgantown. In fact, the Mountaineers were picked seventh in the Big 12 preseason media poll. But without traditional powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma, the conference feels as wide-open as it ever has.
Newcomer Utah was picked to win the league in the Big 12 preseason media poll last month. The Mountaineers were picked seventh in that same poll, behind the Utes and fellow newcomer Arizona. Five teams received at least one first-place vote, but WVU was not one of them.
“I don’t care,” Greene said. “I don’t really care about opinions other than the people in this building.
“I’m trying just to come to work every day to help this team win a Big 12 championship. That’s been my mindset, I’m sure it’ll hit me at some point but right now, I’m just trying to get to Dallas.”
TWEET @DomPostSports
