WVU at Texas Tech Gets a Late-Night Kickoff on ESPN

Better brew a fresh pot of coffee, Mountaineer Nation. Next Saturday's trip to Texas is going to be a late one.

The Big 12 Conference has announced that West Virginia's game at Texas Tech on Saturday, Nov. 7, will kick off at 9:30 p.m. Eastern and air nationally on ESPN. The game will be played at Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.

A national stage after a week of rest

The Mountaineers head west at 5-3 overall and 2-3 in Big 12 play. They spent this past Saturday on a bye week, a well-earned breather after a 24-20 win at TCU on Oct. 24.

That win at TCU was the second straight for WVU, coming right after a dramatic walk-off field goal win over Cincinnati. Against the Horned Frogs, the defense put together one of its best showings of the season, and a strip-sack late in the game helped seal it. After a three-game skid earlier in the fall, the Mountaineers have found a little swagger again, and they will need every bit of it.

A tall task in Lubbock

Texas Tech comes in at 7-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play after beating Arizona 34-26 on Saturday. The Red Raiders are among the top teams in the league, and beating them on their home field late at night would be one of the biggest wins of the season for West Virginia.

A night game on ESPN also means a big audience, and a chance for the Old Gold and Blue to show the whole country what this team has been building.

How to follow along

If you are watching from home, tune to ESPN at 9:30 p.m. Saturday night. If you would rather listen, the game will be carried on the Mountaineer Sports Network on radio stations across the state.

So set the alarm for Sunday a little later than usual, get the snacks ready and plan for a long night on the couch. Whether you are in Morgantown, Martinsburg or McDowell County, it is going to be a late night of Mountaineer football, and we will be right there with you. Let's go, Mountaineers!