Garrett Greene’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Rodney Gallagher with 26 seconds remaining secured a 32-28 victory for West Virginia over Kansas in their Big 12 opener on Saturday. The Mountaineers rallied from an 11-point deficit and dealt with a lengthy lightning delay to pull off the win, overcoming recent late-game disappointments.

Head coach Neal Brown praised the team’s resilience, acknowledging that they did not play their best game but managed to finish strong. The decisive moment came when West Virginia’s Tyrin Bradley forced a crucial turnover by stripping the ball from Jalon Daniels in the final seconds.

Kansas seemed to have control of the game until West Virginia’s late surge. Despite a touchdown by Luke Grimm putting them ahead 28-17, the Jayhawks faltered in the closing moments. Greene orchestrated a remarkable comeback, throwing two touchdown passes in the final minutes.

Greene’s performance was pivotal as he totaled 295 passing yards, including the game-winning touchdown pass to Gallagher. Hudson Clement stood out with seven receptions for 150 yards, while Greene also contributed with 87 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

Kansas running back Devin Neal rushed for 110 yards, marking his fourth consecutive 100-yard game of the season. West Virginia’s defense also managed to contain the Jayhawks, with Bradley securing the team’s first interception of the season.

The victory was marred by a concerning moment when West Virginia’s Aubrey Burks left the game with an upper body injury, although subsequent medical tests indicated he was in good condition. Burks had previously suffered a significant injury last season.

Looking ahead, Kansas aims to halt their three-game losing streak as they prepare to host TCU next Saturday. West Virginia, on the other hand, will enjoy a bye week before facing No. 14 Oklahoma State on October 5. The Mountaineers will need to maintain their fighting spirit as they navigate a challenging schedule ahead.

Both teams have areas to address following the game, with Kansas acknowledging the need for improvement amid their recent struggles, while West Virginia anticipates tough matchups against ranked opponents in the coming weeks.