5 things to know about W. Virginia vs. Army in Liberty Bowl
The 62nd Autozone Liberty Bowl has been almost 60 years in the making.
Army and West Virginia have not played a football game since 1961, predating both programs' coaches and athletic directors.
The Black Knights and Mountaineers will meet for the fourth time in history . Thursday (3 p.m., ESPN) at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Here are five things to know about the game and its participants.
Comparing the numbers
Army (9-2) was named as a replacement for Tennessee when the Vols had to withdraw due to positive COVID-19 tests within their program. The only losses on the Black Knights' ledger have come at the hands of Cincinnati and Tulane.
West Virginia (5-4) has alternated wins and losses since a victory over Kansas on Oct. 17.
The Mountaineers feature a relatively balanced offense, averaging 145.4 yards a game on the ground and 277.2 through the air. Army exhibits a runheavy game plan, as it has averaged 281.3 yards rushing (fourth-most in the nation) and only 46.3 yards passing.
Defensively, the Black Knights are holding opponents to 271.1 yards a game, while WVU is allowing 297.2 yards a game.
Getting defensive
While the offensive numbers might not bowl you over, Army and WVU feature two of the best defenses in the country.
Led by Tony Fields II (88 tackles), Tykee Smith (eight tackles for loss) and Alonzo Addae (five pass breakups), the Mountaineers are fifth in the nation in total defense (297.2 yards per game). They've been particularly good against the pass, allowing just 171.0 yards through the air per game (eighth in the country). Their 10 interceptions as a team are tied for 24th.
Army has been even better. The Black Knights are second in total defense (171.0) and are No. 1 against the pass (149.9). Army's 13 interceptions are tied for ninth in the nation. Jabari Moore's three picks are a team-high.
Unblemished bowl record under Monken
The Liberty Bowl will only be the ninth bowl game Army has ever played in. The Black Knights are 6-2 all-time but are riding a four-bowl game winning streak. Army is 3-0 in bowl games under seventh-year coach Jeff Monken, whose cousin, Todd, is the offensive coordinator at Georgia. Army defeated Houston 70-14 in the 2018 Armed Forces Bowl. The only losses Army has in bowl games came versus teams from the state of Alabama. The Crimson Tide won the 1988 Sun Bowl (29-28) over the Black Knights, while Auburn won the 1996 Independence Bowl (32-29).
Rhattigan's journey
The unquestioned leader of Army's defense is senior linebacker Jon Rhattigan. A second-team All-american (USA TODAY), as well as a third-team AllAmerican (Pro Football Focus), the 6foot-1, 245-pound Rhattigan collected 78 tackles (nine for loss) and two interceptions in the regular season.
Rhattigan is Army's first semifinalist for the Bednarik Trophy, which goes to the nation's most outstanding linebacker.
Coming into this season, Rhattigan had just six career tackles in 14 games, as he spent the last couple of years behind Cole Christiansen, who now plays in the NFL for the Los Angeles Chargers, on the depth chart.
No more Fields
WVU will be without its most productive defensive player.
Fields, a graduate transfer from Arizona, opted out to begin preparing for the NFL Draft. Senior Dylan Tonkery is expected to start in his place.
But WVU will welcome the addition of safety Scottie Young. A three-year starter at defensive back for Arizona, Yo was sitting out this season due to NCAA transfer rules. But when the NCAA passed a rule earlier this month to allow all transfers immediate eligibility, Young became available.
“We lose a very productive player in Tony Fields, but we add a really productive player in Scottie Young,” WVU coach Neal Brown said.