WVU’s offensive line chemistry is hitting its stride at the perfect time.

MORGANTOWN – West Virginia University’s offensive linemen and coaches viewed Saturday’s victory over Oklahoma State as their best performance of the season. The stats back up that claim, as WVU posted season highs with 389 rushing yards, 558 total yards, and its highest scoring output against an FBS opponent, winning 38-14 in Stillwater. But the offensive line didn’t need those numbers to recognize their success.

Their chemistry was strong heading into the game, as noted by one of WVU’s standout linemen, and they aim to maintain that momentum as they prepare to face No. 11 Iowa State on Saturday at 8 p.m. in Morgantown (Fox).

“That was the best we’ve run the ball, for sure,” said senior left tackle Wyatt Milum. “It all comes down to the week’s preparation, the practices, film study, and the scout team giving us good looks. All of that comes together for a great game.”

This was the fifth time in two seasons that West Virginia (3-2, 2-0 Big 12) has rushed for over 300 yards and the seventh time they’ve totaled at least 500 yards, thanks largely to an offensive line that had to replace two key players during the offseason.

Both center Zach Frazier, now an All-American starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and longtime starter Doug Nester, currently on the Steelers’ practice squad, have graduated. While their absence is felt, senior left tackle Wyatt Milum said the rest of the offensive line has stepped up to fill the gap.

Milum credits the strong veteran presence on the offensive line for making this transition smoother. Out of the top 10 offensive linemen at the start of the season, seven are redshirt juniors or older. The five starters—Milum, center Brandon Yates, tackle Nick Malone, and guards Tomas Rimac and Ja’Quay Hubbard—have a combined 178 games played and 100 starts between them.

“We’ve got an experienced group,” Milum noted. “It wasn’t like we were bringing in all new guys. These guys have played snaps, and the chemistry has been building up.”

That chemistry has reached a point where communication between the linemen often doesn’t require words, Milum added. He specifically mentioned his connection with left guard Tomas Rimac, saying they’ve become so comfortable with each other that they can anticipate each other’s movements.

Offensive coordinator Chad Scott also noticed the line’s improvement during the Oklahoma State game, calling it their most consistent performance of the season. He emphasized that everyone was in sync and communicating effectively.

Scott pointed out that there were moments when the unit’s chemistry could have faltered, especially after a tough game like Penn State, where the Mountaineers only managed 85 rushing yards and gave up two sacks in a 34-12 loss. However, the veterans held things together.

“Credit to those guys for not getting frustrated,” Scott said. “There were times when it would’ve been easy to feel disappointed, not getting the results they wanted. But they stayed persistent and consistent.”

This chemistry is coming together at a critical moment, as West Virginia prepares to face No. 11 Iowa State, a team that boasts the No. 6 scoring defense in the FBS, allowing just 10 points per game, and the No. 13 total defense, allowing 271.6 yards per game. Milum remains confident, stressing the trust the players have in one another.

“You can always count on the guy beside you to do their job,” Milum said. “Whether things are going well or poorly, you can always rely on the guy to your left or your right.”

West Virginia is also set for another night game on Oct. 19 against No. 18 Kansas State, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. The game will air on Fox or FS1, depending on the outcome of WVU’s game against Iowa State.