⚡ CFB Dashboard

Each week this season, I'm going to take a moment to break down three key matchups for that week's contest. Most times it will come Thursday morning. With Thursday night games, it'll come on Wednesday. The analysis will oftentimes involve analytics through the use of ProFootballFocus data that highlight important matchups for the Mountaineers for the upcoming game. We continue the 2026 campaign with Oklahoma State. Let's dive right in. OSU receiver Justin Bowick vs WVU CB Chams Diagne Bowick leads the Pokes with 27 targets on the year, hauling in 16 of those for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns... all without a drop. He was targeted seven times in week one, but 20 times over the last two games... so he's trending in the right direction when it comes to his synergy with Drew Mestemaker. The 6-foot-5, 209 pounder X receiver is long, physical and experienced. There's not a ton of guys like him in this league. He'll most likely line up against WVU cornerback Chams Diagne, who has plus size himself (6-foot-3), so this could be a game where that comes in handy. He leads the Mountaineer defense with 181 snaps on the year, earning a 59.8 PFF grade in that time. He's been far better as a tackler than a pure cover guy, though, so Bowick will be a tough ask for him. WVU receiver DJ Epps vs OSU nickel Christian Bodnar Bodnar, a fourth-year transfer from Liberty who stands at 6-foot, has been Oklahoma State's starting nickel this year, seeing a team-high 92 snaps of action in the slot. He's notched a solid 72.8 PFF grade so far with 8 total tackles. Bodnar has been heavily tested in coverage though, targeted 14 times, but has only allowed 8 catches for 59 yards and no touchdowns. He'll be tasked with defending DJ Epps, who has been undeniably awesome for the Mountaineers this year. He bolsters an 87.2 PFF grade and leads the team in targets (10), catches (8), receiving yards (240) and touchdowns (3), and will line up almost exclusively in the slot. He's gotten some easy looks thanks to this scheme, but he's still displayed some fantastic route running and after-the-catch prowess. Edge: WVU. WVU tackles Kevin Brown and Carsten Casady vs OSU EDGE James Williams Kevin Brown and Carsten Casady will be tested once again this Saturday. The Cowboys have a solid platoon of defensive ends, but I wanted to highlight Williams specifically because he is a 9-wide / 5-tech specialist, who has lined up outside the tackles on all 67 of his snaps this season. Expect to see him on every passing down with one goal in mind: Get to the quarterback. He's notched an impressive 79.4 PFF grade so far this year, with 5 quarterback pressures and 4 total tackles. The 6-foot-5, 256 pound transfer from Florida State has 10 career sacks at the power conference level. Brown and Casady are the two lowest-graded starting linemen for West Virginia, but they have combined to allow just two pressures so far this season. Good on good, but Kevin Brown doesn't have the experience that others along the front do. That could matter in this one.