(Editor's Note: This story was originally published at Crystal Ball Run)

It's not like we didn't know who West Virginia would play when it finally joined the Big 12.

It became official Tuesday and the conference released the league schedule. Yet, there was something that left me speechless for awhile when I saw WVU's schedule.

Hey road trips to Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Iowa State. And how about that 2012 schedule of Baylor, Kansas State, TCU, Oklahoma and Kansas? That's four Big 12 home games against teams that finished in the Top 25 last season. Now do you see why AD Oliver Luck was so adamant about joining the Big 12 right away? OK, maybe it had something to do about money also.

Luck told the Charleston Gazette, "I know our fans will be looking forward to having the Big 12 schools visit Milan Puskar Stadium this fall. This is a tremendous opportunity for our department, and the challenges ahead are certainly exciting."

TCU fans have to be equally excited about the Horned Frogs new opponents and a more challenging schedule. no comments

(Editor's note: I recently wrote this for Crystal Ball Run, but felt some of our loyal readers may have missed it. So here it is)

I'm still not accustomed to talking about West Virginia and the Big 12 at the same time.

I still look up news on the Big East and its conference members.

One of these days I'll figure it out that I need to start learning more about the Mountaineers' future opponents in the Big 12.

No one is positive if WVU will be playing Oklahoma and Texas in 2012, but if Oliver Luck says it's going to happen then it is. Seriously, if Luck were running the Big East Conference, the league would not be in the disarray it is today.

You see why West Virginia's AD did everything he could to find a new home for the Mountaineers. He may have been criticized for this, but he was looking out for his own.

The Mountaineers' future is still up in the air, but conventional wisdom suggests WVU and the Big East will reach an agreement and the Mountaineers will play in the Big 12 in 2012. Since WVU announced it was leaving, the Big 12 and West Virginia's president have said WVU will be a member of the Big 12 on July 1.

I believe them. no comments

WVU's overtime victory over Cincinnati on Saturday was exciting, but my favorite moment was at halftime.

Enjoy the video (courtesy of Blue & Gold News) as the 2012 Discover Orange Bowl champs are honored.

Also, is there any coach in America cooler than Dana Holgorsen? I think not.
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West Virginia will face a number of "what ifs" between now and the start of 2012.

The biggest at this point is what conference will the Mountaineers be playing in when the season kicks off in September.

For now, let's assume WVU will be in the Big 12.

So Dana Holgorsen and his score-happy offense should fit right in with teams like Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas and so on.

But if the Mountaineers are going to make an immediate impact in their new conference, some new faces must make a major impact.

Expectations are already high for players like quarterback Geno Smith, receivers Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey, and defensive back Terence Garvin.

Now some of these players have already hit the field and had moments of success for WVU, but they were not in the spotlight in 2011.

So maybe these five guys will become key components to West Virginia's first season in the Big 12.

Josh Jenkins, OL

Josh Jenkins was one of WVU's most heralded recruits out of Parkersburg (W.Va.) High School in 2008.

He became a All-Big East performer as an offensive guard, but missed 2011 because of a knee injury suffered in the spring game.

He's worked hard in rehab and a thin offensive line will welcome him back. no comments

I actually remember watching quarterback Oliver Luck lead West Virginia to a shocking upset of Florida in the 1981 Peach Bowl.

There was the 1989 Fiesta Bowl when WVU faced Notre Dame with a national championship on the line, and the 2000 Music City Bowl where the Mountaineers defeated Mississippi allowing Don Nehlen to leave a winner.

No Mountaineer could ever forget the 2008 Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma, 48-28, after everyone in the nation figured the Sooners would just roll past WVU.

Hey, I even attended the 1989 Gator Bowl when WVU lost to Clemson.

But one West Virginia bowl performance will always stand out as my favorite. no comments

Clearly the national perception is that West Virginia and the Big East don't deserve a spot in the Discover Orange Bowl.

But when it comes to BCS bowl games, West Virginia has a knack for making its critics think twice.

The Mountaineers knocked off Georgia in the 2006 Sugar Bowl, and then turned the trick against Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.

So maybe WVU will find a way to make it three in a row in BCS bowls when it plays Clemson at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 4.

For the Mountaineers to get another upset, it will take some special performances in Miami. Here are five players you need to know before the game kicks off.

Julian Miller, DT

Julian Miller may be 6'4", 268 pounds, but he seems to fly under the radar when the Mountaineers are discussed.

But he's a physical defensive lineman who has a knack for making big plays. He leads the team with three fumble recoveries.

He enters the Orange Bowl with 55 tackles and six sacks. His best game came in a 21-20 victory over rival Pittsburgh, when Miller had nine tackles and four sacks.

Miller is a three-year starter for West Virginia, even though he may be a bit undersized for the Mountaineers' 3-3-5 defense.

Still, he is currently the active career leader in sacks with 27.5. no comments

While the Orange Bowl has a matchup of two three-loss teams, it is also an early look at two teams who could be serious national contenders in 2012.

Clemson (10-3) surprised almost everyone with their quick start and two wins over Virginia Tech, including the thrashing of the Hokies in the ACC Championship Game.

With players like Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins and Andre Ellington, it is easy to see why there is a lot of excitement surrounding Clemson, as well as huge expectations.

West Virginia (9-3) had to fight to get into the BCS picture, but it was clear the Mountaineers struggled at times learning a new system.

First-year coach Dana Holgorsen has WVU in the Orange Bowl, and the Mountaineers hope to be playing in the Big 12 next season. Its new conference is glad to have another strong program like West Virginia coming on board. It wouldn't be a surprise to see WVU compete for the Big 12 title next season, especially with all of the talent that should return. no comments

West Virginia may have backed into the Big East's BCS Bowl berth, but Clemson wasn't supposed to be the opponent.

Instead, the 15th-ranked Tigers (10-3) defeated Virginia Tech for the second time this season. But this time it was in the ACC Championship and Dabo Swinney's team earned the spot in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4.

The No. 23 Mountaineers (9-3) caught every break they needed to reach the Orange Bowl, including a last-second field by Tyler Bitancurt to knock off South Florida on Thursday night.

Now the Big East's reputation rides on WVU's shoulders again, which seems sort of ironic considering the Mountaineers are doing everything they can to get out of the conference by July 1.

To read the rest of this preview, go to Crystal Ball Run.

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It may have been a bit sloppy, but West Virginia is 9-3, will share the Big East Championship and has a good chance of representing the league in a BCS Bowl game.

I'd love a shot at Virginia Tech.

Enjoy the highlights and now it's time to root for Cincinnati.
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With a simple win Thursday night, a Cincinnati victory Saturday and West Virginia can forget two disappointing losses that could have derailed the Mountaineers' season.

But those are still two big "ifs."

The 22nd-ranked Mountaineers (8-3, 4-2) have struggled with South Florida over the years, and the Bearcats (8-3, 4-2) are not the same team without star quarterback Zach Collaros.

Louisville (7-5, 5-2) has already clinched a share of the Big East crown, but the only way the Cardinals can get the BCS berth is if Cincinnati loses.

But WVU gets its shot at staking a claim when it travels to Tampa. Dana Holgorsen's team is coming off a solid 21-20 victory over Pittsburgh in the Backyard Brawl. no comments