⚡ 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 Iowa State. Let's dive right in. ISU WR Omari Hayes vs WVU DB Geimere Latimer II Latimer has been West Virginia's most consistent defensive back this season, and he'll mostly line up the slot against Iowa State's top option through the air: 5-foot-9 slot receiver Omari Hayes. He's been targeted 18 times this year, hauling in 11 those for 156 yards. He's shifty and will be Raynor's safest option on third downs. Latimer leads the WVU defense with 248 snaps and has been hit-or-miss in coverage, but generally speaking this is good-on-good for these two teams. WVU WR Jaden Bray vs ISU CB David Coffey If West Virginia wants to put vertical pressure on the perimeter, they'll have to go through breakout Cyclone David Coffey. The 6-foot-1 corner has been fantastic through four games this year, notching a 78.1 PFF grade in 172 snaps while being targeted seven times for just 12 yards with two passes broken up. He'll often line up against Jaden Bray, the physical Mountaineer receiver who has grabbed seven of his nine targets for 120 yards on the campaign. This is a matchup that favors Iowa State. WVU OT Kevin Brown vs ISU EDGE Isaac Terrell Terell has been one of the better edge rushers in the league so far. The 6-foot-2, 255-pounder followed his coach from Washington State, where he was a beast last season... logging 39 quarterback pressures and nine sacks. He's been great in 2026, too, already tallying seven pressures and three sacks for the Cyclones. He lines up exclusively as a 4, 5 or 9-tech EDGE and will be a tough matchup for Mountaineer freshman Kevin Brown, who has struggled in pass protection at times this season.