Taking a Look at the 2013 WVU Football Schedule

November 17, 2012; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Dana Holgorsen arrives at the stadium prior to playing the Oklahoma Sooners at Milan Puskar Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

On Tuesday, West Virginia University AD Oliver Luck announced the release of the 2013 football schedule. The gridiron slate features 6 home games, 5 road games, and 1 neutral site game. As for the Big XII portion of the schedule, the Mountaineers will play 4 home games and 5 road games. Here is how the schedule lines up for the 2013 season:

• August 31: William & Mary at West Virginia
• September 7: West Virginia at Oklahoma
• September 14: Georgia State at West Virginia
• September 21: West Virginia vs Maryland (M&T Bank Stadium)
• September 28: Oklahoma State at West Virginia
• October 5: West Virginia at Baylor
• October 19: Texas Tech at West Virginia (Homecoming)
• October 26: West Virginia at Kansas State
• November 2: West Virginia at TCU
• November 9: Texas at West Virginia (Mountaineer Day)
• November 16: West Virginia at Kansas
• November 29/30: Iowa State at West Virginia

The first thing that jumps out from this line-up is the second week road test at Oklahoma. It is amazing that Luck and the West Virginia officials allowed the Big XII to stick them with such a challenging, and perhaps season-defining, game that early in the season. WVU will be facing a tough Sooners team with a revamped offense, especially at quarterback and wide receiver. It is going to be quite the challenge for Dana Holgorsen to get the offense worked out in time for Oklahoma.

On a plus side, the schedule makers saw fit to give the Mountaineers a marquee Big XII home game late in the season against Texas. If the Mountaineers prove to be over achievers next season, the game against the Longhorns could be for the Big XII championship.

Gut reaction, the 2013 slate is going to be slightly more challenging than the 2012 slate. The Mountaineers will have to play an additional Big XII road contest. The 2013 non-conference slate is easier than the 2012 slate. Trading out Marshall for Georgia State is a downgrade in strength of schedule but the game against Maryland at M&T Bank Stadium will prove to be a little more challenging, especially in Big Ten country (laughable).

Either way, it is good to know when and where we can see the Mountaineers play next season. It is much easier to plan your Mountaineers trip this year without the mess of conference realignment looming over the program.