Both the Texas A&M Aggies and the West Virginia Mountaineers have displayed dynamic offenses throughout the seasons, but their defenses have been their downfall on the year. Both teams rank in the top 12 in the league in passing yards, averaging over 300 per game. However, they had issues stopping opponents which came back to bite them. The Aggies are hoping to capitalize off a new quarterback for Virginia as Clint Trickett announces his retirement before the Liberty Bowl.
If West Virginia is going to end their season with a win in the bowl game, it will come at the arm of Skyler Howard and not Trickett. The senior quarterback announced his retirement from football earlier in the week after sustaining five concussions in the past 14 months. The quarterback was cleared after suffering a head injury against Kansas State in November, but was advised by doctors that calling it quiets was the better option for him. Trickett ends his career after having a 67.1 completion percentage through his first seven games which included three touchdowns in the big win over Baylor.
Howard steps in with 483 yards and five touchdowns on the season. In his first start, he tossed three touchdowns in a loss to Iowa State. He does have more of a dynamic ability than Trickett did, putting up 107 yards on 12 carries on the ground. He will have several good pieces to work with including top wide receiver Kevin White who has a Big 12-best 102 catches for 1,318 yards.
While West Virginia will get a look at the future with Howard under center, the Aggies will be doing the same with Kyle Allen who looked strong in four starts in place of the benched Kenny Hill. Allen had 764 yards and nine touchdowns after four games, his best coming in the win over Auburn where he had 277 yards and four touchdowns on the day. He will have a shot at starting his Aggies career off with a strong start if he can get a win over the Mountaineers in the Liberty Bowl.
