18 West Virginia

In Morgantown , W.Va., the most popular summer flicks featured not Jim Carrey or Bruce Willis but Andy Katzenmoyer and David Boston . Since the beginning of June, Mountaineers players have been avidly viewing film of their first 1998 opponent, Ohio State . "I'd be lying if I said I don't think about that game every day," says senior guard Bryan Pukenas.

In that Sept. 5 matchup against the top-ranked Buckeyes, West Virginia coach Don Nehlen will showcase his most talented team since the '93 bunch that finished 11-1 and ranked No. 7. Though Ohio State will be a sizable favorite, Nehlen believes the Mountaineers are catching the Buckeyes at the right time. "We're better off playing them first, because maybe we'll have most of our players then," says Nehlen, who had nine defensive starters miss games last season because of injury. "We'll also find out in a hurry if we're any good at all."

For star junior tailback Amos Zereoue , the Ohio State game is an opportunity to get his Heisman Trophy campaign up and running in front of a prime-time national television audience. Last year "Famous Amos" rushed for 1,589 yards, third best in the nation and a Mountaineers record. This year he needs just 25 yards to break the West Virginia career mark of 2,648 yards, held by Artie Owens. "He's the complete package," Nehlen says. "When you add up that he can run with the ball, catch it and block, too, you've got yourself a pretty good player."

Zereoue joins eight other returning starters on offense, including junior quarterback Marc Bulger , who graduated from the same Pittsburgh high school, Central Catholic, as Dan Marino . Entering his second season as a starter, the 6'3", 205-pound Bulger looms large for the Mountaineers this fall—and not just because he has gained 40 pounds since arriving in Morgantown three years ago. If Bulger continues to make the strides he did last year, when he threw for 2,112 yards, the West Virginia offense will be one of the nation's most dangerous.

Talented, experienced receivers will take some of the heat off Zereoue. Senior Shawn Foreman was an All-Big East selection last season, when he had 65 catches. Senior David Saunders, who led the conference in receiving two years ago, says he has recovered from two damaged ligaments in his left knee that forced him to sit out all of 1997.

On defense, rush linebacker Gary Stills and nosetackle John Thornton (both all-conference picks in '97) form the nucleus of a unit that is speedier than last year's group. However, the switch of three players to new positions creates much uncertainty. Junior Jerry Porter , who had previous tryouts as a receiver and quarterback, has moved to free safety. Former fullback Mark Plants and converted safety Barrett Green, both juniors, have joined the linebacking corps, where they will be teamed with senior Damon Cogdell, who is returning from a fractured left hip that doctors once feared was career-ending. Defensive coordinator Steve Dunlap hopes he won't have to do any more reshuffling. "You can't keep moving players around to different positions," he says. "They don't know what to do."

Even if the defense jells, West Virginia must overcome two other major hurdles to win the Big East championship: Syracuse and Miami . Since '94, the Mountaineers are 2-6 against these conference rivals. For now, though, all eyes are on the Buckeyes. "Starting out with Ohio State is one of the biggest things that could ever happen to this team," Zereoue says. "If we want to be on top, we have to play the best."

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