For the second straight year, West Virginia heads into a bowl game without the benefit of its starting quarterback. But this time around, there’s a decidedly more optimistic feeling about the situation.
Last year’s backup, Chris Chugunov, was a stop-gap replacement for a team that couldn’t afford to have Will Grier hurt for an extended period of time. It showed in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, where Chugunov went 9 of 28 for 128 yards with a pair of interceptions against Utah. He transferred to Ohio State last summer and has yet to play another down.
Grier’s backup for this season, Jack Allison, has been groomed all year to take Grier’s place next season.