West Virginia Football: 4 Games the Mountaineers Must Win in 2012

While college football teams are just beginning spring practices, we're already looking forward to the 2012 regular season. Sure, it is still a good six months away, but it's never too early to think about everything that comes with college football and the games that actually matter.

West Virginia enters the Big 12 with the talent to compete with anybody in the country. The Mountaineers return eight starters on the offensive side of the ball and seven starters on their improved defense. While it may sound like they will instantly be one of the better teams in the conference, they still have to prove themselves before they receive any respect.

Here are four games that the Mountaineers must win if they want to meet expectations this year.

At Texas

West Virginia got a huge break in the scheduling as nearly all of its tough games this season will be played in Morgantown. This one will be played in Texas, against a Longhorn defense that it's just not used to seeing in the Big East.

When you think of this conference, Texas is one of the teams that instantly pops up. What better way to become a member of the Big 12 elite and turn some heads? Beat them early in the season in their house.

Vs. Kansas State

Kansas State was one of the surprise teams last season, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it can't do it again. The Wildcats do return 14 starters, including eight on the offensive side of the ball, and have one of the better coaches in Bill Snyder.

Let's also not forget that this team did win in Texas and Miami last season, so although Morgantown is a hostile environment, it shouldn't bother them much. West Virginia is by far the more talented team in this matchup, but if there's a trap game on the schedule, it's probably this one.

Vs. TCU

These teams have only met once, and that resulted in a 31-14 beatdown by the Mountaineers. But that game took place in 1984, so I'd go out on a limb and say it won't have much of an impact on this big matchup.

TCU has always been a solid team and will finally have a chance to prove itself in a much better conference. The Horned Frogs return 13 starters from a year ago, including seven on the defensive side of the ball. This has to be a game circled on both teams' schedules because it features the two newbies in the conference.

This is the game where both teams will want to make a statement and show why they're the better new team in the Big 12.

Vs. Oklahoma

This is by far the biggest game of the season for the Mountaineers. Considering it is played near the end of the year, it may have huge BCS implications and possibly an impact on the national championship.

The game is being played in Morgantown once again, but this game is going to be a battle all game long. Oklahoma and its balanced team against West Virginia and its high-flying offense. This isn't just one of the biggest games on the Mountaineers schedule; it's arguably one of the most anticipated matchups of the year.

A win here would really show that West Virginia has arrived as one of the elite teams in the conference.