Steven Godfrey looks at the absurd stat lines in WVU's ridiculous 70-63 victory over Baylor in the Mountaineers' Big 12 debut Saturday afternoon.
The game tied the FBS record for combined total passing touchdowns (13), tying Hawaii against BYU in 2001.
Baylor and WVU were 15 yards shy of the combined passing yards record, set by TCU and Houston in 1990. That game put up 1253, this game had a mere 1238.
Baylor tied the record most points scored by a FBS losing team, with Rice against SJS in 2004.
Yee-ow. Simpler ones work too: Baylor scored 63 points and lost. Geno Smith threw for 656 yards and eight touchdowns. He had two more touchdowns than incomplete passes. Tavon Austin had 215 yards receiving ... and didn't come within 85 yards of leading his own team in receiving yards. That honor went to Stedman Bailey, who had 303 yards and five touchdowns. Of course, neither of them led the game in receiving yards. That was Baylor's Terrance Williams, who had 314. Meanwhile, Nick Florence threw for 581 yards and five touchdowns in a losing effort.
Make fun of West Virginia and Baylor's defenses all you want. Actually, you probably should. But keep in mind that these offenses weren't playing against FCS defenses. This was a matchup of two nationally-ranked teams. If Saturday's game was any indication, both these teams are going to have wacky shootouts all year long. Life in the Big 12 looks like it's going to be tons of fun.