2007 record: 11-2, 5-2 (1st-tie in Big East)
2007 bowl: Beat Oklahoma 48-28 in Fiesta Bowl
2007 final AP/coaches' ranking: 6/6
Coach: Bill Stewart (1-0, 1st year)
Offensive coordinator: Jeff Mullen (1st year)
Defensive coordinator: Jeff Casteel (7th year)
Returning offensive starters: 8
Returning defensive starters: 4
Location: Morgantown, W.Va.
Stadium: Mountaineer Field (artificial, 60,000)
2008 schedule: [view]
2007 statistics: [view]

Offensive: The Mountaineers averaged 297.2 yards rushing last season, third in the nation, and that figure could actually increase. Once again, West Virginia offers athletes who could pose as Olympic sprinters. It starts with senior quarterback Pat White, who’s trying to join Donovan McNabb as the only three-time winner of the Big East’s offensive player of the year award. White, despite nagging injuries, slithered for 1,335 rushing yards, but wasn’t a similar threat in the passing game. With Darius Reynaud gone, White must find a new favorite target, and that role could fall to senior Tito Gonzales, who displayed big-play ability in limited opportunities. Long-time workhorse back Steve Slaton also has moved to the NFL, but the Mountaineers feel good about sophomore Noel Devine, a potential superstar who averaged 8.6 yards on 73 carries. The offensive line, led by senior left tackle Ryan Stanchek (34 starts), is typically solid.

Defensive: Seven starters have departed off a unit that ranked seventh nationally in total defense, meaning the Mountaineers will rely heavily on returning linebackers Pat Lazaar, Reed Williams and Mortty Ivy. All eyes will be on the new cornerbacks, senior Ellis Lankster and sophomore Kent Richardson. Sophomore defensive tackle Scooter Berry figures to be the leader up front, but West Virginia has big plans for junior-college transfer Tevita Finau, whose size (6-foot-5, 275 pounds) and speed (4.8 in the 40) combination already has coaches salivating.

Specialists: Strong point for the Mountaineers. Senior Pat McAfee handles the place-kicking and punting, and he’s a clutch performer. Devine has been the primary return man, although his role might be limited because of increased duty in the backfield.

Game of the year Dec. 6 vs. South Florida West Virginia has two straight losses against the Bulls. This season’s finale could be the de facto Big East Championship Game. The weather should be frigid – good news for West Virginia and bad news for the warm-weather Bulls.

Coaching: Bill Stewart’s hiring prompted an oft-repeated statement. “He’s in over his head.’’ We’ve all heard it countless times during the off-season. But he needs time. Stewart was placed in a difficult situation last season, serving as interim coach following the emotional departure of Rich Rodriguez to Michigan. And then the Mountaineers responded with a 48-28 smashing of Oklahoma at the Fiesta Bowl, prompting the immediate hiring of Stewart. He has offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen (formerly of Wake Forest) and holdover defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel to aid the transition. Is Stewart really in over his head? Time will tell. It didn’t look that way at the Fiesta Bowl.

Heisman Hopefuls: White, if he stays healthy and the Mountaineers live up to expectations, should be invited to New York. West Virginia probably must run the table for White to have a great shot at bringing home the trophy.

Overview: West Virginia still looks like the class of the Big East. But it’s also a program in transition, following Rodriguez’s departure. It has been unable to close the deal in the past two seasons, inexplicably missing a shot at the BCS Championship Game with a home defeat against Pittsburgh. With White, Devine and Co., the Mountaineers will again be a team moving in fast forward. Although the non-conference schedule is considerably tougher (Colorado and Auburn were added), West Virginia figures to be a contender for top-five position heading into December. Now it just needs a fast finish. And it needs White to stay healthy. Both of West Virginia’s losses last season (South Florida, Pittsburgh) occurred after White was knocked from the game.

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