Say, here’s something weird. West Virginia was a 13-point favorite Saturday. For a road game. In conference play. In November.

Remember November?

But the Mountaineers won that November game on the road by 13 points. With a — as opposed to the — backup quarterback.

Pretty quietly, WVU finished 4-1 in road games (and 4-2 away from home [which means 3-3 at home]). Beating Iowa State guaranteed a winning record and secured an above-.500 mark in the Big 12. WVU has won 11 games the past two seasons and done so with four quarterbacks.

Things Saturday probably weren’t supposed to go quite like they did, and for a while it looked like they wouldn’t, but at the end of the game, the Mountaineers had the sort of outcome they probably should have had. It wasn’t easy, and easy shouldn’t be expected by now, but it was one good team handling one bad team for a majority of the game.

These Mountaineers outscored Iowa State 30-3 in the final 42 minutes, guaranteed themselves a winning record regardless of what happens in the bowl game and ended the season above .500 in the Big 12 for the first time since joining the conference three years ago.

“This was all about proving to ourselves that we were able to finish the right way,” said coach Dana Holgorsen. “All we talked about is finishing for the last 11 months based on how we finished last year. We wanted to prove to ourselves the last 11 months were not a waste of time. That was the motivation and the only motivation for us.”

Now WVU waits on the conference championships and the games in the Big 12 to decide its bowl destination, which remains exceedingly likely to be the Liberty Bowl in Memphis on Dec. 29.

Paper chasing, tell that paper, “Look, I’m right behind ‘ya.” Real Gs text in silence like lasagna. My edits are in [brackets]. And lets slide G&B over to Wednesday this week, if that’s OK with you.

11:42 am:
Michigan/Ohio St.! Alabama/Auburn!! Oregon/Oregon St.!!! WVU/Pi…er…Iowa St. *sigh* I kinda sort miss Eat[Shell] Pitt.

12:01 pm:
Should someone tell Hertzel we can see what he’s favoriting on Twitter?

12:02:
Skyler in the house…get your Breaking Bad quotes & memes ready…

12:04:
Ronald McDonald did a great job designing ISU’s uniforms

12:05:
Noshave Dana is even creepier than usual.

12:06:
Dana s hair is in midgame form and it s only 12:05…

12:07:
Plenty of good seats still available in Ames it seems…

12:09:
Cotton Moya? I hardly even knew her!

12:10:
This start by Skyler sponsored by Los Pollos Hermanos

12:11:
With that hole YOU could have made that 54 yard run. Helmet Sticker to the O-Line.

12:11:
SHELL SHOCKED #trytheveal

12:17:
EJ Bibbs: Iowa State tight end or Downton Abbey character?

12:19:
Is the defense also sitting out like Trickett today?

12:19:
Tony Gibson needs to start feeding the defense raw meat and amphetamines or something….get their edge back….

12:27:
Howard stinks.

12:28:
The read option requires more than speed, specifically the ability to read.

12:32:
The first 9 minutes rife with Mountaineer mediocrity. Our Novembe.Trademark.

12:34:
Mangino calling plays 2 days after Thanksgiving means watch out for Gravy Y 2X Pie

12:34:
Hang on while we make ISU look like FSU.

12:36:
Defense looks like Kansas last year

12:36:
Defense hasn’t recovered from TCU. One blown coverage tanked this whole season.

12:37:
Nick K just whiffed on a chance to drill Richardson

12:38:
6-6 and Dana’s seat should be heating up

12:38:
Horned Frogs working on fourth straight defeat of WVU.

12:39:
Tremain Mack & Trevone Boykin going down in history together. Mass murderers of WVU football seasons.

12:40:
Just think; this is the first quarter, our best quarter! God help us in the others.

12:41:
Howard keeps making wrong reads on option. Gonna be a long day.

12:42:
Dr. FERCH??? Iowa State LB or Bond villain?

12:42:
This one might actually be almost over

12:43:
3 series with diminishing returns.

12:44:
No kind of offense! I’m so stressed! We are a better team than this!

12:44:
It seems we have solved the punt return problem, don’t make them punt and there’s no problem!

12:45:
Glen Johnson late game winner, Liverpool clean sheet. Weird things happening today.

12:48:
Meanwhile the ONLY remaining undefeated college team in the state has taken a 24-14 lead in the 2nd quarter. Go Concord!

12:49:
If he comes out and runs three straight read options again on this drive, I’m turning off the game

12:50:
#TEAMDONTFUMBLE

12:50:
#freemiuNOPE

12:50:
Man I hate it when Dr. Ferch is happy

12:51:
Berznope noticeably absent there.

12:51:
…AND another turnover! Does that ball have hot butter on it???? I mean…wtf???????????

12:51:
That was an embarrassing attempt at a tackle by Nwachukwu. No way I spelled that right.

12:53:
I think the side judge just tweaked an ACL on the sidelines there…

12:53:
Game over

12:53:
This is baaaaaad.

12:53:
Iowa State can’t keep this up. Can’t. Won’t. I bet my wishbone on it.

12:53:
We need to see if Dr. Ferch does mercy killings

12:53:
#whirligig

12:54:
Hey there! We’re screwed!

12:54:
It’s alright, we’ll get them in the 2nd half.

12:54:

12:55:
If I’m luck I’m seriously putting out some feelers for a potential opening. I’m sick of this.

12:55:
I’ve seen enough of the season ending hairballs to Big 12 doormats. Embarrassing.

12:56:
ECBY has terrible froyo, yo

12:57:
Skyler Howard playing uglier than Clint Howard so far

12:58:
Cyclones doing air guitar to AC DC. We cannot lose to a team playing air guitar.

12:58:
Iowa State’s sideline air guitar is worth the price of admission.

12:58:
I’m sure you’re getting angry texts but I’m not worried and it’s very weird. Dreamius is done. We’re moving it. ISU isn’t this good.

12:58:
In short, we’re better in the long run today and can outscore them. Gibby ‘s D is resilient, if nothing else.

12:58:
Okay, let’s get serious now.

12:58:
Are there slip and slides on the sidelines?

1:00:
TOUCHDOWN! MARIOOOOOOOO!

1:00:

1:00:
Mariooooooo Alford!

1:00:
The Princess is in another castle

1:01:
And THERE’S the throw that makes me feel better about this QB Thing.

1:03:
‘pears Iowa State got ahead of themselves.

1:07:
Punt! Hold your collective breath!!!

1:08:
An interesting stat would be the percentage of special teams plays WITHOUT a flag

1:09:
JORDAN THOMPSON DID A THING!

1:10:
Nigel Tribune got screwed out of a Pulitzer this year

1:11:
I love Clint…but a QB with wheels REALLY adds to the offense.

1:12:
How many jersey grabs are they doing to let go before calling DPI?

1:12:
3rd best play (behind Deep to GAM & Deep to Mario) in the playbook; The Chuck it To GAM & get a P.I. play

1:13:
Is there a limit on flags they can throw today?

1:13:
Giants think Dana is stupid for running so many fades in a row

1:14:
What’s wrong with White? Zero lift on those plays. Feel like he makes those in September. Then again, maybe Dana wore him out there?

1:14:
Bolerjagoff mentions the time so much that it is clear he is checking his watch to make the flight out

1:15:
Ok, ok. Maybe it isn’t over

1:15:
Tied up! Nice! Now keep it together!

1:16:
Let’s go ahead and say it: Alford is a better receiver than White. White hasn’t gotten open in half a season. That can’t be all double teams every snap.

1:16:
Once our D tied up their passing game, we tied up the game. Weird how that works!

1:20:
Wes, by God, Tonkery says hello.

1:20:
Apparently delay of game out of a timeout is not just a WVU Thing.

1:25:
3rd & 10, KJ Myers time !!! What?

1:25:
I just realized this is the second quarter, not third. Sigh.

1:26:
Announcers love them some FG kicking/golf shot comparisons

1:30:
Did Mangino eat one of his players?

1:32
Rhoads is white flag punting. Time to humor him by scoring here.

1:33:
Ehrmergherd! An intelligent TO!

1:35:
Headset is not doing good things for Trickett’s concussed hair. Disappointing.

1:37:
Concussion? Oh is that code for “Clint got benched on senior night and the sophomore played better?”

1:38:
Or…has Clint had a concussion since the TCU game and no one wants to say that?

1:38:
Lambert ties school record for FG attempts in a season

1:57:
As Biggie once said, Sky is the limit in the second half.

2:00:
I find it hard to believe Richardson is as elusive as we’ve made him look

2:03:
Richardson will be in the Heisman race after this game

2:07:
How has this D completely lost its pass rush?

2:14:
Another White drop. #TeamAlford

2:15:
Can’t catch it with your face.

2:17:
Sam B. Richardson, you are no John L. Williams

2:18:
Meanwhile; after 3 quarters the ONLY Undefeated College Football Team in WV leads 41-28

2:21:
WTF???????? Are you serious? THAT’S targeting???????? Damn.

2:25:
Ref- oh, he’s short, well here’s a flag

2:26:
It’s so unusual to see a Big 12 game full of flags and indecision

2:26:
Positive yards on a return so we had to commit a penalty

2:26:
5 straight plays with flags.

2:31:
Offensive genius working his magic.

2:31:
Defense is going to be exhausted in 4th

2:35:
“Houdini is living in Ames.” What the [foyer]?

2:38:
WVU getting the full Clown Show tonight. Just missing punt Cover Zero fumble.

2:42:
Cheeesnuts picking off floating passes, Jack Trice frowning at that throw….

2:43:
Hertz crafting the [Cutty] out of a Christmas Song lede…

2:45:
JORDAN THOMPSON DID ANOTHER THING!

2:46:
Bolerjack has said scatback d so much I keep looking for Eric Metcalf or Lionel Little Train James

2:48:
#TeamAlford

2:48:
Mario is on it today!

2:49:
Ryan Nece just said WVU isn’t bowl eligible. That’s good game prep.

2:50:
Horrible decision. Bad call. Bad drop. This is 2013 Kevin White

2:51:
Kevin White can’t come up with a catch when needed. Stop me if you’ve heard that one before in the last month.

2:51:
In other news, 90 seconds left & Concord has a 51-36 lead. The winning streak rolls on…

2:53:
White can’t even beat back up corners

2:53:
Take him off the punt team and suddenly Jordan is a PLAYER!!!

2:54:
Funny how we thought Thompson stunk when he was PR. Turns out the stink was on him and now he’s clear of it.

2:53:
Why not punt? We’re winning.

2:53:
Nice tackle, 20. Richardson sent him to the friend zone.

2:54:
Nice mango farming tackle Muldrow. That’s why he was benched.

2:55:
Is Howard a smaller Richardson?

2:55:
A new series and at least 3 more chances for White to complete his transformation into Wes Lyons

2:55:
All Americans don’t get shut out by Iowa State JV corners

2:56:
That ball did everything but hit Mario in the face…..

2:56:
That slant tho! Get it, Mario!!!!!!

2:59:
Nece also just said WVU landed Shell out of HS.

2:59:
Howard and Shorts seem to have a lot of chemistry which is nice for next year

2:59:
Dakiel’s loose on the weak side!!!!!

2:59:
Skyler’s MTEP is fun.

3:00:
“Thank you, MTEP.”

3:01:
I didn’t know Dakiel Shorts even existed until today.

3:07:
Great fake! Loving how Skyler is managing this game! #LikeABoss!

3:09:
Pretty clear ISU can’t stop run but here comes a collection of [dump truck] pass plays

3:14:
Muldrow just gave that receiver the full Bronson

3:15:
Wait…does Riddick have a tattoo of Dwight Schrute on his arm?

3:17:
I haven’t seen Gibson’s torso in months

3:19:
Karl Joseph out here knockin people’s heads off AND pickin off passes. He good.

3:20:
Richardson is going to be sore as hell later! We are effing him up!

3:20:
Julie Stewart-Binks is on the good chill “medicine”

3:20:
Up 13 with 2:17. Get ready for three incompletes and a blocked punt at 2:01.

3:21:
Skyler’s pick six is gonna suuuuuuuck…

3:21:
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

3:22:
Better than a fumble six. Still suuuuuuucks..

3:24:
Seriously, poor Dana. You don’t want your backup throwing there….so the backup fumbles. OH WELL!

3:24:
Skyler fumbles. String of C7’s burned out. #Xmaslights #gameday #multitasking

3:25:
Do not let Kwiatkowski handle your phone or a baby

3:27:
KaJo playing one of his best games

3:28:
Not. A. Catch.

3:28:
Replay needs to overturn this for my sanity

3:28:
NO CATCH!!!!!! No way!

3:32:
That’s a win, baby? Memphis, here we come??????? #LibertyBowl?

3:34:
Good to close out the season with a revenge road win, starting your backup QB.

3:35:
His hair is still amazing

3:36:
Can’t wait to see what soul crushing surprises this team had left in it in the MultinationalGlobalCorp LocalTourismBoard Friends of Koch Bowl

3:42:
If nothing else, Skyler Howard can say that WVU likely would have won one less game if he never transferred here.