Entertaining season awaits in Big 12

When the West Virginia football team officially joined the Big 12 Conference in July, we all knew the future would be much different than the past.

The modern, offense-oriented conference powerhouse awaiting the Mountaineers presented a new look for West Virginia.

No more conservative play-calling from opponents in the Big East Conference.

And for the most part, no more low-scoring affairs.

After just two weeks of college football, the Big 12 has done more than live up to offensive expectations.

West Virginia did its part, racking up more than 600 total yards of offense and 69 points against
Marshall to open the season.

But hopefully during the Mountaineers’ bye week Saturday, fans took it upon themselves to evaluate some of the other teams in the conference.

Eight Big 12 teams were in action this weekend. The conference went 6-2,
outscoring its opponents by an average score of 44-16.

In fact, five of the eight teams tallied at least 45 points Saturday.

Seven of the national top-12 teams in scoring offense after two weeks are members of the Big 12.

What’s my point?

My point is simple – get ready.

The 2012 football season is going to be one of the most action-packed, high-scoring, up-and-down, first-down
chanting seasons you have ever experienced.

West Virginia has one of the most explosive
offenses in the country, but even after registering 69 points in their opener, the Mountaineers are third in their own conference in average yards per play.

Senior quarterback Geno Smith had one of the most impressive performances in program history against Marshall, completing 32-36 passes for more than 300 yards and four touchdowns.

Still, Smith isn’t even first in his own conference in passing efficiency. Baylor’s first-year starter Nick Florence holds the top spot.

We’re less than three weeks away from the mayhem and the beginning of conference play against these overpowering offenses.

And it’s going to be quite the sight.

Games will consistently be nearly four hours in length, because of the number of plays run by each offense, as well as constant scoring.

The West Virginia defense will be scrutinized throughout the season for the number of yards and points it will allow against Big 12 foes (this doesn’t necessarily mean the Mountaineers won’t be scoring more than their opponents).

And, I’m going to go out on a limb now and say the West Virginia offense will score more points this season than any other year in team history.

I look forward to the mind-boggling offensive statistics that West Virginia will record in 2012, both from and individual and team perspective.

The move to the Big 12 appears to have been the right move in every facet, especially in regard to entertainment.