The Mountaineers had fought back from a 24-7 halftime deficit to reduce Oklahoma’s lead to three, 27-24, when quarterback Skyler Howard beautifully executed a zone-read fake and ran 50 yards for a touchdown.
Then, on the ensuing kickoff, the Sooners were called for using an illegal wedge on Alex Ross’s 10-yard return – something the game hasn’t seen since the days of Pudge Heffelfinger more than 100 years ago – and West Virginia appeared to be in great shape.
That infraction, one of 23 issued to both teams on Saturday, put Oklahoma in a deep hole at their own five.