West Virginia’s season-long struggles resurfaced in a 49-35 loss to Baylor on Saturday, a defeat that guarantees the Mountaineers will finish with a losing record at home in 2024.
The WVU defense, which has been a weak spot for much of the season, was once again exposed. The Mountaineers allowed five first-half touchdowns, with Baylor accumulating 335 yards and averaging an alarming 11.2 yards per play. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson was in rhythm throughout, while running back Bryson Washington and a talented group of wide receivers were highly productive.
Though the West Virginia defense showed signs of improvement in the third quarter, holding Baylor scoreless on three consecutive possessions, the Mountaineers’ offense failed to capitalize on the opportunities, preventing a comeback from a seven-point halftime deficit. The loss dropped WVU to 5-5 on the season.
In addition to defensive struggles, special teams were also below their usual standard, and the Mountaineers were dealt another blow when wide receiver Traylon Ray suffered a significant season-ending injury with 5:41 remaining in the third quarter.
WVU head coach Neal Brown acknowledged the emotional toll of Ray’s injury. “Traylon’s injury wasn’t good. You all can see it. We don’t need to talk about it, but it wasn’t good. It not only hurt us because he was producing, but it hurt us emotionally. We had some guys who really struggled with that. It was visible on the field,” Brown said.
Brown confirmed that Ray would miss the remainder of the season, including upcoming games against Central Florida and Texas Tech, as well as any potential bowl appearance.
Ray’s injury occurred during a pass play when he drew a pass interference penalty on Baylor’s Caden Jenkins. Ray was attended to by medical staff and carted off the field with an air cast on his lower right leg.
“It’s tough when you see one of your teammates go down, especially someone like Traylon who’s worked so hard,” Brown added. “His mom was here, so I’m glad she was with him. It’s never easy, and the players can see the severity of it.”
Ray, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound sophomore from Tallahassee, Florida, had been one of WVU’s most productive pass catchers. He caught a 9-yard touchdown pass in the first half against Baylor, marking his third touchdown in the last four games. Ray had posted 28 receptions for 426 yards and four touchdowns through the season. His absence will leave a significant void in the Mountaineers’ receiving corps.
Quarterback Garrett Greene expressed the impact of Ray’s injury, saying, “It’s tough because he’s someone we love and care about.”
Ray’s injury is expected to require surgery, and depending on its severity, he could miss spring practices as well.
“It really sucks, but it’s part of the game,” said linebacker Reid Carrico. “You don’t want to see any of your teammates get hurt, especially someone like T-Ray who works so hard. We’re hoping for the best for him.”
Looking ahead, West Virginia will play its final home game of the season on Saturday against Central Florida. The 3:30 p.m. kickoff will be broadcast on ESPNU. The Mountaineers (5-5, 4-3) need a win to secure bowl eligibility, while the Knights (4-6, 2-5) also need a victory to keep their own bowl hopes alive heading into their regular-season finale against Utah.