Ye olde notebook:
n Everyone in the media, it seems, missed it. Yet nothing, it seems, was missed.
The Big 12 athletic directors met this week in New Orleans and, yes, a topic of particular interest was discussed.
"We went down because of the Sugar Bowl," said WVU athletic director Shane Lyons. "We did continue to discuss expansion, but, in general, nothing came out of it."
The Sugar Bowl is the "contract bowl" of the Big 12 and SEC when it's not a College Football Playoff semifinal game.
"No action was taken," Lyons said. "We'll meet again in mid- to late-September in Dallas and then the presidents will meet at the end of September or early October."
That's when fireworks are expected.
n As we draw nearer to college football kickoffs, I've begun examining the Mountain State teams' opening day opponents more closely.
For West Virginia University fans, there are a few things to know about Missouri.
First, yes, former Oklahoma running back Alex Ross has been working with the Tigers' first team. It's a blessing for Mizzou, which finished 2015 ranked No. 119 in rushing offense.
Remember when the Tigers were SEC contenders a few seasons ago? Sure, they had Michael Sam on defense and Dorial Green-Beckham on offense, but rushing was also a key part of the team's success.
Then came last season's pratfall. Coupled with the team's passing anemia, Missouri scored an average of just 13.6 points a game.
A few more things. While the Tigers have added a few nice pieces to the puzzle, they've also had attrition, and the latest was the loss of redshirt sophomore running back Trevon Walters, who was arrested for stealing a debit card and using it to make multiple transactions. He's shown up at Coahoma Community College in Mississippi.
Of bigger impact, however, is the loss of wideout Nate Brown, who had ankle surgery. He had 27 catches for 326 yards last season.
The hope in Columbia, however, is Chris Black, an ex-four-star recruit for Alabama, will help. He only had 25 catches for the Crimson Tide in three seasons, but has to be an upgrade for sophomore QB Drew Lock.
Also, 6-foot freshman receiver Dimetrios Mason from Georgia has been a hit during the current camp. "He's just a playmaker," linebacker Michael Scherer told the Columbia Daily Tribune.
n A deeper look yet into the game?
Well, we'll really get into it in next week's Gazette-Mail coverage, let alone our Mountaineer Gameday special section, but there's something that's simply leaped off the stat sheets:
The teams' strengths match up - as do their weaknesses. That should make the game fun to watch.
You know how WVU coach Dana Holgorsen has all those weapons at receiver? Well, Missouri's pass defense ranked fifth nationally last season and returns standouts like Aarion Penton at cornerback and Anthony Sherrils at safety.
Another example: You've been reading about the Mountaineers' desperate attempt to patch up their secondary, right? Gone to the NFL are Karl Joseph (Oakland), K.J. Dillon (Houston) and Daryl Worley (Carolina). Dravon Askew-Henry, the best of the returning players, was injured.
Well, the secondary couldn't ask for a better setup than hosting Missouri. The Tigers finished last season ranked No. 112 nationally in passing offense. New coach Barry Odom brought in former Oklahoma standout Josh Heupel to take over as offensive coordinator.
I could go on and on. West Virginia's rushing game should be solid, no? The Mountaineers have a good offensive line and three nice backs. And Mizzou counters with a sturdy defensive front, led by end Charles Harris. On the flip side, WVU's defense lost all its linebackers. But refer back to the Tigers' rushing game.
n And finally ...
No, Marshall fans, I did not forget about you. It's just that, well, there's not much to report about the Thundering Herd's opener with Morgan State.
The Bears have been giving left-handed quarterback Chris Andrews, a graduate transfer from Wagner, a look-see, but apparently they're going with 6-1 sophomore Khalil Trotman, who is listed first on the depth chart. Neither has taken a snap in a game at this level. In a recent scrimmage, Trotman completed 9 of 20 passes for 42 yards and Andrews 6 of 15 for 53.
The Bears were picked to finish seventh in the MEAC.
They are Morgan State. They are the Bears.
And ... that's all I have to say about that.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.