CINCINNATI — Much of the conversation surrounding Cincinnati's upcoming trip to West Virginia has focused on the Bearcats' offense and its opportunity to bounce back against a struggling Mountaineers defense.

That's understandable, considering Cincinnati managed just seven points in its loss to Arizona and West Virginia has surrendered at least 41 points in each of its three Big 12 games.

However, there's another matchup that deserves just as much attention.

West Virginia possesses one of the most productive rushing attacks in the country, and the Bearcats are coming off their worst defensive performance against the run this season.

If Cincinnati hopes to leave Morgantown with a victory Saturday, stopping the Mountaineers on the ground will need to be a priority.

West Virginia Can Run the Football

The Mountaineers are averaging 295.5 rushing yards per game, the fourth-highest total in the country.

Their success is built around two players who have been exceptionally productive through the first six games.

Running back Cam Cook has rushed for 793 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 132.2 yards per game. Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. has added 672 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, giving West Virginia a dangerous combination in the backfield.

Both rank among the nation's leading rushers.

What makes this combination particularly difficult to defend is the responsibility Hawkins places on opposing defenses.

With a traditional pocket quarterback, defenders can concentrate primarily on containing the running back. Against West Virginia, they also have to account for Hawkins keeping the football and attacking open space himself.

That requires disciplined assignments, particularly from Cincinnati's linebackers and edge defenders.

One missed read or poorly executed tackle can turn a manageable gain into a significant problem.

Arizona Exposed Some Concerns

Cincinnati's performance against Arizona on October 3 offered a troubling preview of what could happen if those responsibilities aren't handled correctly.

The Wildcats rushed for 238 yards on 41 attempts, averaging 5.8 yards per carry in their 34-7 victory.

It was easily the most rushing yardage the Bearcats have allowed this season.

Before that game, Cincinnati had held Boston College to 165 rushing yards, Western Carolina to 74, Miami (Ohio) to 76, and Kansas State to 155.

Arizona's success pushed the Bearcats' season total to 708 rushing yards allowed through five games, an average of 141.6 per contest.

That isn't an alarming season-long figure by itself. In fact, Cincinnati has shown an ability to limit opposing running games in several of its victories.

But Arizona demonstrated how quickly things can unravel when an opponent consistently wins at the line of scrimmage.

Now the Bearcats face an offense averaging nearly 60 more rushing yards per game than Arizona produced against them.

The challenge will be maintaining defensive discipline for four quarters, regardless of the score or how the game develops.

Containing Hawkins Is the Key

Cook has been outstanding, but Hawkins may present Cincinnati's biggest tactical challenge.

The quarterback's ability to run creates an additional threat that defenses cannot ignore. When Hawkins keeps the football, he forces defenders to make decisions that can open opportunities elsewhere.

Cincinnati's defensive front will need to maintain its assignments rather than chasing the first apparent ball carrier.

The linebackers must also avoid overcommitting, particularly when West Virginia uses misdirection to create favorable running lanes.

And perhaps most importantly, the Bearcats need to tackle effectively in open space.

Allowing Hawkins or Cook to turn five-yard gains into 20-yard runs would make an already difficult matchup substantially worse.

Cincinnati doesn't necessarily need to shut down the Mountaineers' rushing attack completely. That would be an ambitious expectation against one of the nation's most productive ground games.

However, forcing West Virginia into more obvious passing situations would change the nature of the game.

The Mountaineers would prefer to establish their running game, control possession, and limit opportunities for the opposing offense.

Cincinnati needs to prevent that approach from dictating the entire afternoon.

The Bearcats Need a Better Response

There is another reason Saturday's defensive performance carries additional importance.

Cincinnati's offense is coming off its least productive outing of the season, and while West Virginia's struggling defense offers an opportunity to recover, the Bearcats shouldn't assume their offense will immediately return to form.

If the Mountaineers establish their rushing attack and control the clock, Cincinnati could find itself facing limited possessions and increased pressure to score.

That would be particularly problematic for a team trying to regain its offensive rhythm.

The Bearcats have demonstrated they can stop the run. They held two earlier opponents under 80 rushing yards and limited Kansas State to 155.

Saturday will require that same discipline against a much more challenging opponent.

Cincinnati enters the game at 4-1 with an opportunity to get back on track after its first loss of the season. West Virginia, meanwhile, has dropped three consecutive games despite possessing one of the nation's best rushing offenses.

The Mountaineers' defensive struggles make this a favorable matchup for Cincinnati's offense.

But if the Bearcats can't contain Cook and Hawkins, what looks like a good opportunity on paper could become another frustrating road trip.