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Skyler Howard threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, and Wendell Smallwood rushed for 165 yards to lead West Virginia to a 38-20 win over Texas on Saturday.
West Virginia (5-4, 2-4 Big 12) scored 24 points off four Texas turnovers. The Mountaineers can qualify for a bowl with a win at Kansas next weekend.
Texas outgained West Virginia 439-379 but had five turnovers overall and fell to 0-4 on the road.
The Longhorns (4-6, 3-4) must win their remaining two games against Texas Tech at home and at Baylor to qualify for a bowl
Texas coach Charlie Strong wanted foremost to slow West Virginia's running game. But Smallwood compiled a career high for the second straight week after rushing for 163 yards a week ago against Texas Tech.
Howard completed 10 of 12 passes for 122 yards. All three were seasons lows as the Mountaineers kept their offense mostly focused on the ground.
Howard threw an 8-yard fade to Daikiel Shorts in the left corner of the end zone to put the Mountaineers ahead 28-17 late in the third quarter.
Kris Boyd fumbled away the ensuing kickoff at the Texas 22 and West Virginia got a short field goal.
Jerrod Heard had plenty of chances to rally the Longhorns in the fourth quarter but was intercepted twice, and Texas also managed only a field goal after driving to the West Virginia 10.
After Heard's second interception, Howard capped the ensuing 52-yard drive with a 2-yard TD run to cap the scoring with 3:30 left.
Texas sophomore D'Onta Foreman rushed for 147 yards. He left the game for one series in the third quarter after injuring a finger.
In the first half, Texas managed to take its first lead on the road this season, opening the scoring with a short field goal.
On Texas' next offensive series, Foreman fumbled and West Virginia linebacker Jared Barber returned it 42 yards for a touchdown.
Foreman made up for the gaffe on the next play from scrimmage, running 65 yards untouched for a score.
Backup Tyrone Swoopes drove Texas to the West Virginia 20 late in the first half before he fumbled on a third-down run and the Mountaineers' Daryl Worley recovered. Howard then threw a 53-yard scoring toss to freshman Jovon Durante to put West Virginia ahead 21-10 at halftime.
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