Appalachian State Mountaineers

West Virginia is the playoff sleeper the entire country is overlooking

Published Nov. 15, 2016 3:25 p.m. ET

Dieter Kurtenbach

At this point in the college football season, we have a read on pretty much every team in the nation.

We know who’s good, who’s bad, and where most other teams fall between those two camps. There are upsets yet to happen, of course — but we only know those are upsets because the baseline has been set.

Those teams in the “good” camp — also known as the nation’s elite teams — are pretty obvious: Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson, Louisville, Washington, West Virginia.

Wait, West Virginia?

Yes, the Mountaineers, who have flown under the radar all year, are worthy of a place — even if it’s a short-lived status — among college football’s elite.

West Virginia, who entered Saturday’s game against Texas Tech ranked No. 20 in the AP poll — below 10 teams in the rankings that already have a loss (one team is in their conference and already has two losses) — is now 5-0 on the season.

More importantly, West Virginia has shown elite ability on both sides of the ball so far this campaign.

Saturday’s win over Texas Tech was the Mountaineers’ best performance of the year — Dana Holgorsen's team went to Lubbock and laid a beat-down on the Raiders, 48-17.

The box score backed up what we saw on the field — West Virginia outgained Texas Tech by nearly 300 yards Saturday.

The Mountaineers' offensive output wasn’t all that shocking — Texas Tech’s defense has a well-earned reputation as a sieve — but holding quarterback Pat Mahones and the Raiders’ offense to 10 points (Mahones was lifted early in the fourth quarter) was incredibly impressive.

While those in the region of Morgantown have been aware of the Mountaineers’ ability all year, that’s not a large radius — how did the rest of us miss it?

So far this season, the Mountaineers’ defense has won games at the line of scrimmage (Missouri, Kansas State) and deep in secondary (Saturday). This is a championship-level unit that’s bolstered by a title-worthy offense.

At the moment, that championship or title the Mountaineers are worthy of is the Big 12’s, but why isn’t undefeated West Virginia being discussed as a national championship contender?

There’s no doubt that the Big 12 has a lot to do with it.

The conference is a mess — it’s a league that seems totally unworthy of a spot in the College Football Playoff, as to most, it’s counting on Baylor to win out — but there’s hope for the Big 12 in the Mountaineers.

The toughest part of the Mountaineers' schedule is looming. Games against TCU and Oklahoma State will further test if the Mountaineers are Big-12 title worthy, and two late-season games against Oklahoma (Nov. 19) and Baylor (Dec. 3) will actually determine that title.

The margin for error is next to nil — the Mountaineers weren't recognized as one of the best teams in the nation when they started the season 4-0 — that status, now earned, will evaporate with a loss.

But that loss is yet to come. While you can look at the schedule and say that it’s looming, until it actually arrives, the Mountaineers will remain on a path that might allow them to sneak into the College Football Playoff.

We can’t ignore West Virginia anymore.