WVU Football Endures Big Drop in ESPN FPI After OSU Loss

A week after earning enough votes to rank just outside the top of 25 in the major polls, WVU football fell way down in the ESPN FPI.

While not a major poll and often controversial, the ESPN FPI ranks all 138 FBS teams every year. And based on their formula, the Mountaineers are at No. 59, enduring a 10 spot drop from 49 the week prior.

The fall follows West Virginia’s 41-24 loss at the hands of Oklahoma State, a loss that included a defensive collapse in the second half.

WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez took the blame for a defensive performance that gave up 609 yards of offense to Oklahoma State on Saturday night.

He said he “failed” to have an adequate plan to stop OSU after their 41-24 loss.

“I failed to have us like, okay, what’s plan A, what’s plan B, and plan C? Normally we have that pretty solidly locked down, but evidently today that wasn’t the case,” Rodriguez said in his postgame press conference.

That was not just his message to the media, as he claimed to tell the team that as well.

Rich Rodriguez Admits Flaws in Plan Against OSU: ‘I Got to Have a Better Plan’

“I said I got to have a better plan as a head coach. I got to make sure we have a better plan. And I don’t want this game— one game’s not going to define us. We got a lot to learn and we got a lot of guys playing for the first time. Typically we take 24 hours to move on to the next one. I don’t want to take that long. Go about 12 hours and then start getting ready for the next one,” Rodriguez said.

WVU allowed 389 passing yards and 220 rushing yards and did not tally a single sack. Sophomore running back Caleb Hawkins had 180 yards and a touchdown on the ground and junior wide receiver Wyatt Young had 192 yards receiving with a touchdown as well.

But with that game now in the past, the 3-1 (0-1, Big 12) Mountaineers travel to Ames, Iowa to take on the Iowa State Cyclones in a pivotal conference matchup.

West Virginia and Iowa State will kickoff from Ames, Iowa at noon ET on Saturday, Oct. 3. The game is scheduled to broadcast nationally on TNT.

Find more coverage of the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.