Storylines to Keep an Eye On for WVU-UNC in Duke’s Mayo Bowl

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl may not be a major bowl game, but it is still an important postseason game to WVU nonetheless. A win and the Mountaineers reach nine wins in a seat for the first time since winning 10 in 2016.

Here are some storylines to follow and be aware of about the matchup.

Perception of Season on the Line

While it’s often tough to truly evaluate a team based on how it performs in a bowl game due to interest level and player availability often being a factor, West Virginia will have far more of its usual roster than the Tar Heels will. In addition to being at mostly full strength with the exceptions of Zach Frazier and CJ Donaldson, WVU will face a North Carolina team without its starting quarterback and top playmakers on both sides of the ball. That fact puts pressure on Neal Brown and his team to show up and get the job done. Fair or unfair, the perception of the 2023 season is riding on this game in a way.

But no matter what happens, WVU director of athletics has expressed he feels there’s reason for optimism about the future of the program. “Excited about the future. Think we’re doing a better job at retention and recruitment,” said Baker.

Beanie Bishop Playing in Bowl

There’s always speculation about if an NFL Draft hopeful type player will play in a bowl game. Even long before the advent of the Transfer Portal, players have been sipping bowl games in an effort to preserve themselves. But Beanie Bishop never even considered not participating in the upcoming Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Bishop, fresh off being named a consensus All-American, didn’t hesitate when asked directly if he will play in WVU’s bowl game or decide to skip it in an effort to avoid injury and hurting his NFL stock.

Beanie Bishop Credits WVU Staff for Making Him Better, Never Considered Skipping Bowl

“Yeah, for sure. Everybody asking me that. I’m not one of those guys that’s ‘oh what if this happens?’ We play football, so at any given time you can get hurt or whatever the case may be. But I’m a competitor and I want to be able to come back and look at the Duke’s mayonnaise bowl trophy,” answered Bishop.

He then doubled down on his desire to win the game and also enjoy the experience. “You want to have fun, but the ultimate goal is to win the game. You want to bring the trophy back, and we want to see Coach Brown doused in mayonnaise,” he said with a big smile.

A big factor in Bishop’s reasoning for playing in the bowl game also stems from feeling like he owes it to the WVU coaching staff. Bishop credits the West Virginia coaches for making him a better player and putting him in a position to become an All-American.

Neal Brown All for Mayo Bath

WVU head coach Neal Brown answered the one question that’s been on everyone’s mind since learning the Mountaineers will be playing in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Yes, he will take the mayonnaise bath if West Virginia wins the game.

The tradition of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl has been that the winning coach would experience something that no man would otherwise experience – having mayonnaise dumped all over him – as a way to celebrate victory

“Yes, I will gladly take the (mayo) bath for a ninth win,” Brown said after first pleading the fifth on if he likes mayonnaise in general.

There’s Bowl History Between Programs

The 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl marks the 40th bowl appearance for West Virginia, with North Carolina now the opponent in three of those 40 contests. The only matchups between WVU and UNC throughout history have been bowl games.

WVU to Reignite Bowl Past in Duke’s Mayo Matchup with North Carolina

The first meeting between the two schools took place at the conclusion of the 1996 season in the Gator Bowl. Ironically enough, the most recent was also in Charlotte in 2008 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

In this year’s bowl matchup, the 8-4 (6-3) Mountaineers will represent the Big 12 and meet a 8-4 (4-4) North Carolina Tar Heels team out of the ACC.

West Virginia will meet North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte on Dec. 27. The game will kickoff at 5:30 pm ET and be broadcast on ESPN. WVU has stayed a favorite over UNC.

For a related story, Neal Brown opened up about what he was thing during the bowl selection process and explained why he feels North Carolina is the perfect fit as an opponent.