Colorado football opponent breakdown: West Virginia and freshman QB Scotty Fox Jr.

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The Colorado Buffaloes hit the road in Week 11 for a matchup in Morgantown, West Virginia, against the 3-6 Mountaineers.

Both teams share the same record, but they’re clearly heading in different directions. Colorado seemed to be on the verge of a turnaround after a huge win three weeks ago over then-No. 21 Iowa State, a victory that had many believing Deion Sanders and the Buffs were finding their stride. Since then, though, Colorado has suffered back-to-back blowout losses, with both Utah and Arizona dropping 50-plus points on them.

West Virginia tells a different story. The Mountaineers have put together an intriguing resume with wins over Robert Morris, a surprisingly stout Pittsburgh team, and, most recently, a 10-point upset on the road against No. 22 Houston.

What was once viewed as a game Colorado should win handily now looks far more challenging. The Buffs enter Morgantown as 5.5-point underdogs, facing a West Virginia team gaining momentum at the right time.

Here’s a closer look at the Mountaineers and what Colorado can expect when they take the field on Saturday afternoon in Morgantown.

What Does the Fox Say?

Admittedly, it’s a playful headline, but it captures the situation perfectly, as Scotty Fox Jr. has quickly become the driving force behind West Virginia’s offense. Fox Jr. made his first start against UCF and had a rough debut, completing just six of 17 passes for 47 yards before being pulled. Since then, though, he’s turned a corner and looked sharp leading the West Virginia offense.

Against TCU, Fox Jr. went 28-for-42 with 301 yards and two touchdowns in a close loss. Then, last week against Houston, he threw for 157 yards and a touchdown while adding 65 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.

The freshman from Mentor, Ohio, has firmly claimed the starting job and isn’t giving it up anytime soon. He’s clearly the future of the Mountaineers’ offense and will look to keep building momentum from last week’s big win in Houston as he faces a struggling Colorado defense in Week 11.

Who are these Mountaineers?

West Virginia’s season has been anything but straightforward, making them one of the more intriguing teams to watch. They opened with a dominant 45-3 win over Robert Morris, only to follow it with a puzzling loss to Ohio, despite the Bobcats committing three turnovers. In Week 3, they pulled off an overtime upset against Pittsburgh, navigating the game with three different quarterbacks before starter Nicco Marchiol returned from injury.

After that high, the Mountaineers hit a rough patch, dropping five straight games to Big 12 opponents. Marchiol’s injury ultimately led him to medically redshirt and enter the transfer portal. Just when it seemed the season might be over, West Virginia stunned Houston on the road with freshman Scotty Fox Jr. at quarterback, showing they’re still capable of shaking things up and playing spoiler down the stretch.

It’s been a confusing, uneven season, but head coach Rich Rodriguez has kept the team steady despite the roster upheaval, with 51 players transferring out last season and 53 newcomers arriving for 2025. West Virginia’s year has been challenging and unconventional, but it will serve as a building block for the program in the years to come.

Key stats for West Virginia

Defensively, the Mountaineers have struggled, ranking 106th in total defense and allowing opposing offenses to average 406.4 yards per game. They have had some success creating turnovers, recording 10 interceptions and recovering six fumbles, but they’ve still given up 33 touchdowns this season.

Offensively, things look a little better. West Virginia ranks 91st in total offense, averaging 358.2 yards per game and 26 total touchdowns. With Fox Jr. now firmly installed as QB1, the offense has settled in and appears more comfortable, though the five-game losing streak earlier in the season certainly left a mark.

This 3-6 matchup between the Buffaloes and Mountaineers kicks off at 10 a.m. MT on Saturday, featuring two freshman quarterbacks. Colorado has named Julian Lewis as their starter, setting up a head-to-head clash with Fox Jr. It should be fascinating to see if these young signal-callers can exploit two defenses that have struggled to stop opponents and have given up points at an alarming rate this season.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football vs. West Virginia: Preview, key players for Week 11

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