FBS-CFB Game Preview: West Virginia Mountaineers (2-3) vs. BYU Cougars (4-0)

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Time: 10:30 PM ET (8:30 PM MT local)
Venue: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah
Broadcast: ESPN

Weather Forecast (Provo, UT)

Conditions: Clear skies, crisp mountain evening

Temperature: ~66°F at kickoff, dropping into the high 50s by the 4th quarter

Wind: 4–6 mph, minimal impact

Impact: Ideal football weather, no major weather-related factors

Injury Report

West Virginia:

QB Nicco Marchiol – Out (shoulder, second straight missed game)

QB Jaylen Henderson – Probable (ankle, limited practice)

RB CJ Donaldson – Questionable (concussion protocol)

BYU:

WR Kody Epps – Probable (hamstring)

OL Connor Pay – Questionable (knee)

LB Isaiah Glasker – Probable (ankle)

Key Player Matchups

Bear Bachmeier (QB, BYU) vs. WVU Secondary
Freshman phenom: 697 yards, 6 TD, 0 INT, plus 163 rushing yards and 4 rushing TDs. His dual-threat ability stresses WVU’s depleted defense.

LJ Martin (RB, BYU) vs. WVU Front Seven
Martin averaging 7.3 YPC and 400 yards through 4 games. WVU allowed 172 rushing yards to Colorado last week.

Khalil Wilkins (QB, WVU) vs. BYU Linebackers
Wilkins is a run-first QB who led two scoring drives vs. Utah. BYU’s Jack Kelly (4 sacks, 6.5 TFL) will be spying him.

Recent Team Form

West Virginia (2-3, 0-2 Big 12)

Last game: Lost 48-14 to Utah

Offense: 21.0 PPG (95th nationally)

Defense: 34.6 PPG allowed (118th nationally)

QB instability has crippled passing game (just 85 yards vs. Utah)

BYU (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)

Last game: Beat Colorado 24-21

Offense: 29.5 PPG (54th nationally)

Defense: 9.3 PPG allowed (3rd nationally)

Elite run game + top Big 12 defense in scoring, yards, and 3rd down stops

Series History

All-time series: BYU leads 1–0

Last meeting: BYU won 35-17 in Morgantown (2023)

Betting Trends

West Virginia:

0-2 ATS in Big 12 play this season

4 of last 5 road games have gone Under

BYU:

3-1 ATS in 2025

5-1 ATS in last 6 home games vs. unranked opponents

Defense has held 3 of 4 opponents under 14 points

Historical Betting Results

West Virginia:

7-15 ATS in last 22 Big 12 games

2-8 ATS in last 10 road games

BYU:

12-6 ATS since joining Big 12 (2023)

8-2 ATS as a home favorite of 10+ points

Game Odds

West Virginia Mountaineers       47.5

BYU Cougars                                      – 19.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Thursday, October 2, 2025