MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University’s gritty wins over Arizona and Cincinnati have not made them the “Monsters of the Monongahela,” but have been about as entertaining as college football can be. This week against surging Baylor University might bring out some company doling out “Free pacemakers at Puskar,” so uncertain has been the flow of recent games.

The Mountaineers have risen. And they have fallen back. But they are now 5-4 and only one win away from another bowl bid.

This seems to be a hold-your-breathe team.

Injuries have been crucial. Some players have only missed a game or part of a game. Before the season started, there were questions about the team’s quality of depth. But with the quarterback play of Nicco Marchiol in the place of injured Garrett Greene has been influential in wins over Arizona and Cincinnati. Wyatt Milum, WVU’s most acclaimed player, has missed time and yet the offense has scored enough points against both the Wildcats and the Bearcats.

West Virginia’s shuffling of players might just lead one to believe the axiom, “The most persevering becomes the most talented.”

After last year’s 30-10 win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, mayonnaise has become the state’s favorite condiment. Should the Mountaineers ring up a win over Baylor, Central Florida or Texas Tech maybe some other food product or insurance company will become a state favorite if the Mountaineers land in their sponsored bowl.

The Mountaineer Mantrip held before every home game should find people lined up to give the team applause and encouragement this week.

Baylor also has a 5-4 record, and it needs only one win to become bowl eligible. The Bears have now won three straight and unfortunately enough West Virginia has lost two straight home games.

On Saturday, the “Pride of West Virginia Mountaineer Marching Band” will be playing “Fight Mountaineers” and “Hail West Virginia” in pre-game presentations. And then, hopefully, will send a stadium full of smiling people home humming “Country Roads” after a West Virginia-themed win.

Should Baylor be chased back to Waco, speculation will surface in full force wondering whether the Mountaineers will be going to the Armed Forces Bowl, Gasparilla Bowl, Liberty Bowl or Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

The worst-case scenario would find West Virginia going to Texas Tech on Nov. 30 having lost to Baylor and Central Florida and needing a win over the Red Raiders in order to qualify for another Bowl.

Probably, the Baylor game will be close and full of crucial plays for both teams. Puskar Stadium will likely be buzzing with questions and just maybe the Mountaineers will be a step closer to becoming the “Monsters of the Monongahela.”