MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Sitting at five wins with one game remaining would typically mean do or die time for a college football team, but like most things in 2020, that’s not the case.
West Virginia is sitting at that five-win mark (5-4, 4-4 Big 12) heading into the regular season finale Saturday against Oklahoma at Milan Puskar Stadium. Fortunately, win or lose, there is a strong possibility the Mountaineers will play in a bowl game later this month or in early January.
Six wins used to be required for bowl eligibility, but in mid-October, the NCAA waived a win-requirement due to the disparity in games played between lack of nonconference games, late starts from the SEC, Big Ten and Pac-12, and cancellations due to COVID-19.
All 127 teams were eligible for 78 bowl slots (39 bowl games), but going with the times, 11 bowls have already been canceled, likely due to lack of ticket sales with no fans in attendance.
Even if the Mountaineers lose to the Sooners to finish with a 5-5 mark, coach Neal Brown said Tuesday if the opportunity presents itself, he and the coaching staff would be happy to accept an invite.
“We’ll always discuss those things with the players, but as a staff and a head coach, we’d be excited about playing, and I feel confident that our guys would, too,” Brown said. “An opportunity to play in the postseason is something you come to college to do.”
A problem Brown could envision is fatigue mentally and physically from players, needing to social distance and be away from family since camp began in August. Getting back into bowl prep, especially around the holidays, could be a challenge.
“I think the big thing for them is being able to go home and see their families, decompress a little bit, and then come back and get back into testing protocols,” Brown said. “I don’t think it’s just our guys — I think it’s across college football. Our guys are living the dream playing Division-I football, but it’s hard, between playing and academics. They’re finishing up finals this week.
“It’s a long time, and it gets to a point where they’re mentally drained and they just need a pause.”
Bowl projections
College Football News: Liberty Bowl vs. Arkansas (Memphis, Tenn.)
Stadium: Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs. Maryland (Phoenix)
CBS Sports: Liberty Bowl vs. Kentucky
USA TODAY: First Responder Bowl vs. SMU (Dallas)
Athlon: Liberty Bowl vs. Kentucky
247Sports: Liberty Bowl vs. South Carolina
ESPN: Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs. Minnesota
The Athletic: First Responders Bowl vs. Tulsa
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