The September 20, 2025, Big 12 matchup between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Kansas Jayhawks sets up as one of the more intriguing conference openers of the season, as both programs enter with plenty to prove and momentum to build on. West Virginia comes in riding high after a dramatic overtime victory in the Backyard Brawl against Pittsburgh, a rivalry game that showed their resilience, toughness, and ability to execute under pressure when the stakes were highest, but it also highlighted areas of inconsistency on offense that need to be ironed out quickly against a Kansas team capable of capitalizing on mistakes. The Mountaineers’ ground game has been their most reliable weapon, but for them to have success in Lawrence, they will need balance through the air to prevent the Jayhawks from stacking the box and forcing them into difficult third-down situations. Kansas, meanwhile, has started the season 2-1, showcasing flashes of offensive explosiveness but struggling against the spread as they have not always matched performance with expectations, raising questions about whether they can handle the pressure of being favorites at home in conference play. The Jayhawks have weapons in the passing game and enough talent in the backfield to stress West Virginia’s defense, which will need to maintain discipline and avoid the kinds of big plays that have plagued them in earlier contests.

Defensively, Kansas has shown they can be opportunistic but have also allowed opponents to hang around longer than expected, and against a WVU team that thrives on keeping games close, that could spell trouble if they don’t impose themselves early. The betting market paints this as a close contest with Kansas favored by a modest margin, reflecting home-field advantage but also acknowledging West Virginia’s historical dominance in the all-time series, where they hold an 11-2 edge. The Over/Under could see action on the higher side given both teams’ ability to score points and the defensive vulnerabilities they have displayed at times, though tempo will be a deciding factor in how the total plays out. Special teams and turnovers could prove decisive, as both programs have a history of tight games where momentum swings make all the difference. For Kansas, the challenge is playing with consistency and executing a complete game at home to start conference play with authority, while for West Virginia, it is about harnessing the confidence from last week’s emotional win and translating it into steady execution on the road. Ultimately, this matchup feels like a test of which team can avoid mistakes and capitalize on key moments, and while Kansas may be favored to win outright, West Virginia’s track record of rising in rivalry-like atmospheres and their success against the Jayhawks in recent years suggests they are well positioned to cover the spread and keep the game competitive well into the fourth quarter.

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