Mountaineers drop series vs. Michigan State

West Virginia’s move to the Big 12 Conference has resulted in another change to its nonconference schedule in the future.

Michigan State will not play the Mountaineers in the two games the schools were scheduled to play during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

"We decided that we would contact Michigan State and ask them what their position was on this game," said West Virginia Athletic Director Oliver Luck. "We knew from various announcements that all the Big Ten schools were going to have to look at all the schools on their nonconference schedules.

"We were very up front and said that we may not be interested in playing this series and Michigan State basically said they weren’t interested in playing it either, so let’s just drop it."

Instead of playing two games against WVU, the Spartans will take on Oregon in a home-and-home series.

"We look forward to adding Oregon to our future football schedule," said Michigan State Athletic Director Mark Hollis in a statement Tuesday. "The series provides MSU alums on the West Coast with an opportunity to see the Spartans compete against one of the nation’s outstanding programs.

"The relationship between the Big Ten and Pac-12 is built on common values and the Rose Bowl. We also look forward to bringing the Ducks back to Spartan Stadium as we continue to compete for championships and national exposure."

To free up room in its schedule for next season, West Virginia also opted out of its 2012 game against Florida State due to the move to the Big 12.

In the Big 12, the Mountaineers will play nine conference games and will have room for just three nonconference games on the schedule, as opposed to the five they would have when they played in the Big East.

"As we go into the Big 12, we have to revisit our nonconference football schedules and quite honestly, in this case, the Big Ten is changing how they’re doing things as well," Luck said. "They have their own arrangements. This was something that was mutually beneficial to us and Michigan State because, in a way, we’re in similar situations."

West Virginia is still slated to take on Florida State in Morgantown in the 2013 season, and Luck did not comment on the future of the matchup.