West Virginia @ Oklahoma State preview

Through the first five games of the season, West Virginia was looking like an unstoppable offensive juggernaut and quarterback Geno Smith was a clear-cut favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. Things have taken a dramatic turn for both Smith and the Mountaineers, who have plummeted out of the national rankings on the heels of a three-game losing streak as they prepare to visit Oklahoma State on Saturday in a Big 12 Conference matchup. The Cowboys, meanwhile, had won three straight to inch back into the Top 25 before last week's 44-30 loss at third-ranked and undefeated Kansas State stalled their momentum. It will be a homecoming of sorts for Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen, who was the offensive coordinator of a high-powered offense at Oklahoma State in 2010 that led to his hiring by West Virginia.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Oklahoma State -7.5

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (5-3, 2-3 Big 12): The Mountaineers must regroup from a morale-sapping home loss to Texas Christian in double overtime. West Virginia was on the verge of snapped a two-game skid when it surrendered a tying 94-yard touchdown pass with 1:28 to play. Smith threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns but was not especially sharp. He has been picked off three times in the last two games after throwing 25 touchdowns and zero interceptions in the first six. The Mountaineers' ground game once again was a non-factor with 78 yards, with Andrew Buie leading the way with 40 yards on 12 carries. Tavon Austin had his fifth 100-yard game of the season, but fellow wideout Stedman Bailey was limited to 30 yards and a TD on two receptions while battling an ankle injury.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (5-2, 3-2): The Cowboys have had injury issues at quarterback the entire season and this week is no different. Freshman Wes Lunt, who missed six weeks earlier in the season with a knee injury, was knocked out of last week's game in the third quarter and was being monitored for concussion-related symptoms. Coach Mike Gundy said he expected Lunt to practice and split reps this week with Clint Chelf, who played well in relief last week by throwing for 233 yards with one touchdown and an interception in less than a half and could get the start Saturday. Running back Joseph Randle, who leads the Big 12 in rushing and had six 100-yard games in the first seven, was limited to 43 yards on 15 carries. Wide receiver Josh Stewart has 27 catches in his last three games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oklahoma State is ranked second nationally in total offense at 575.9 yards per game.

2. The Mountaineers last lost three straight at the end of the 2004 season, while the Cowboys have not dropped consecutive regular-season games since November 2007.

3. Austin is second in the Big 12 with an average of 32.9 yards per kickoff return and can fatten his stats against a team that ranks last in the country by yielding 33.5 yards per return.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 44, West Virginia 38