If you were watching the first half of the WVU vs Baylor 2024 game, you probably felt like you were witnessing a glitch in a video game. Points were piling up so fast the scoreboard operators at Milan Puskar Stadium could barely keep up. By the time the halftime whistle blew, these two teams had combined for a staggering 63 points. It was high-octane, defense-optional Big 12 football at its most chaotic.
But then, the script flipped entirely.
Baylor walked away with a 49-35 victory on November 16, 2024, marking a historic moment for the program. It was their first win ever in Morgantown. For a team that struggled early in the season, this wasn't just another notch in the win column; it was the moment they officially became bowl-eligible and signaled that Dave Aranda’s squad had finally found its identity.
The Offensive Fireworks of the First Half
Honestly, calling the first two quarters a "shootout" is an understatement. It was a scoring smorgasbord. West Virginia welcomed back quarterback Garrett Greene, who had been sidelined with an upper-body injury for a few weeks. He didn't look rusty. On the opening drive, Greene marched the Mountaineers 79 yards, capping it off himself with a 3-yard touchdown run.
Baylor didn't blink. Sawyer Robertson, who has become the undisputed leader of the Bears' offense, answered almost immediately. He found Bryson Washington for a 22-yard touchdown pass just minutes later.
What followed was a dizzying exchange of big plays:
- Josh Cameron caught a 43-yard bomb from Robertson to put Baylor up 14-7.
- Greene found Traylon Ray for a 9-yard score to tie it back up.
- Monaray Baldwin hauled in a 40-yarder.
- Bryson Washington gashed the WVU defense for a 51-yard touchdown run.
The end of the second quarter was pure insanity. Five touchdowns were scored in the final 4 minutes and 22 seconds of the half. Greene squeezed in a 1-yard touchdown run as time expired—a play that stood after a long review because there simply wasn't a clear enough angle to overturn it.
At the break, Baylor led 35-28. Fans were expecting a 70-60 final score, reminiscent of that legendary 2012 meeting between these two schools.
Why WVU vs Baylor 2024 Changed in the Third Quarter
Then, the game just... stopped.
After a first half that saw 673 combined yards of offense, the third quarter was a total slog. Zero points. Defensive adjustments actually started to work, or maybe both offenses just ran out of gas. Baylor missed a 55-yard field goal. West Virginia failed to convert on a crucial fourth down at the Baylor 9-yard line.
This was the turning point. West Virginia had the momentum and the ball, but they couldn't punch it in. When you're playing a team as hot as Baylor was in late 2024, you can't afford to leave points on the table.
The Bryson Washington Show
If there’s one name West Virginia fans will see in their nightmares from this game, it’s Bryson Washington. The redshirt freshman was unstoppable. He didn't just run the ball; he punished the Mountaineer defense.
Washington finished the day with four total touchdowns—three on the ground and one through the air. He racked up 123 rushing yards on just 18 carries. Every time Baylor needed a "get right" play in the fourth quarter, they handed it to number 7. His 9-yard touchdown run with 8:07 left in the game basically iced it, pushing the lead to 42-28.
Sawyer Robertson deserves his flowers, too. He was incredibly efficient, going 26-of-36 for 329 yards and three touchdowns without a single interception. Since Robertson took over the starting role, the Bears' offense has looked completely different—more vertical, more confident, and significantly more dangerous.
The Fallout for West Virginia
For Neal Brown and the Mountaineers, this loss was a bitter pill. They actually dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 32 minutes. They outrushed Baylor 262 to 183. Garrett Greene played his heart out, accounting for over 360 yards of total offense and four touchdowns.
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But the defense was a sieve.
After firing defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley earlier in the season, there were hopes that the WVU defense would find a spark. Instead, they gave up over 500 total yards and allowed Baylor to score on five of their six first-half possessions. The lack of a pass rush was glaring, and Robertson had all day to pick apart the secondary.
To make matters worse, WVU lost wide receiver Traylon Ray to a nasty leg injury during the game. It was a somber moment that seemed to take the air out of the stadium.
What the Stats Don't Tell You
While the box score shows a 14-point win, the WVU vs Baylor 2024 matchup felt closer and yet more lopsided at the same time. West Virginia had 29 first downs compared to Baylor's 26. They ran 88 plays to Baylor's 70.
The difference? Efficiency and "explosives."
Baylor averaged 7.3 yards per play. West Virginia averaged 5.7. Baylor didn't turn the ball over once. West Virginia had one critical interception thrown by Greene in the fourth quarter that led directly to a Baylor touchdown by Dawson Pendergrass. In a game where every possession felt like it needed to end in points, that one mistake was a death sentence.
Looking Ahead: Actionable Takeaways for Big 12 Fans
If you're tracking the trajectory of these two programs after this game, the paths are pretty clear.
For Baylor Supporters:
- The Robertson-Washington Duo is Elite: This backfield pairing is arguably one of the best in the conference heading into the next season.
- Aranda’s Seat is Cool: By clinching bowl eligibility with this win, Dave Aranda has likely secured his spot for 2025. The mid-season turnaround was nothing short of remarkable.
For West Virginia Supporters:
- The Secondary Needs an Overhaul: You can't win in the Big 12 if you can't stop the deep ball. Expect a heavy focus on the transfer portal for defensive backs.
- The Garrett Greene Era is Ending: With Greene being a senior, the Mountaineers have to find a way to replace his 100-yard rushing capability from the QB position, which is central to Neal Brown's offensive scheme.
The 2024 meeting proved that in the new-look Big 12, anyone can beat anyone, but the teams that can marry a high-flying offense with just enough defensive stops in the second half are the ones that will thrive. Baylor did exactly that in Morgantown.
To see how this affected the final Big 12 standings, you should check the official conference tiebreaker rules, as this win significantly shifted the bowl seeding for the middle of the pack. You can also watch the full game highlights on the Big 12’s official YouTube channel to see those five crazy touchdowns at the end of the second quarter.