College football: 10 teams that will take the next step after big bowl win

College football team ready to make a leap No. 6: West Virginia Mountaineers

Bowl Result: Def. Army 24-21 in AutoZone Liberty Bowl

The West Virginia Mountaineers were coming off of an 8-4 season when Dana Holgorsen made way for Neal Brown. But in Brown’s first year as the head coach for the program, the results were predictably lackluster. They went just 5-7 overall and finished only 3-6 in Big 12 play. The hope was that they could take a noticeable step forward in the 2020 season.

That indeed was the case for the Mountaineers. Despite the tribulations of the pandemic season, West Virginia proved to be one of the most competitive teams in the Big 12. They have rarely been outmatched thanks to a respectable and solid young offense and, more importantly, a fearsome defense. And with a win over a challenging Army team in the Liberty Bowl, they finished the year at 6-4 overall.

Heading into the 2021 season, West Virginia will lose some defensive talent, which Brown will have to replace if they’re going to play the same style they did this past season. But that’s how Brown and the Mountaineers have long recruited. The positives come from the offense that should be able to make some progress.

Quarterback Jarret Doege flashed nicely in big games this season and the rushing attack was quite good. If the Mountaineers can find more consistent offensive success with a veteran quarterback and maintain their status as a strong defensive team, West Virginia could be one of the better Big 12 teams in 2021.