As a pretense, let’s wonder for a moment what might have been for WVU this season if TCU’s two-point conversion pass in overtime hits the turf? Or what if a cornerback forces an Oklahoma receiver outside instead of giving up the slant and the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of another loss?

Maybe the Mountaineers aren’t in the Pinstripe Bowl to play a team that was far more excited to play WVU than WVU was to play Syracuse. Maybe WVU gets an opponent that doesn’t have WVU’s number on offense and defense and probably even on special teams and in coaching, too.

I know it’s a reach, but it’s the premise because it might be difficult or dumb to accept, let alone explain, WVU’s Pinstripe Bowl loss was similarly structured. Two plays, two opportunities, two breaks that broke the Mountaineers.