West Virginia RB Rushel Shell III gains more than 100 yards and rushes for his second touchdown of the game against Texas Tech in the Mountaineers' 48-17 victory. (0:19)

LUBBOCK, Texas -- So apparently West Virginia is, in fact, for real.

Admit it, you doubted the 20th-ranked Mountaineers -- and perhaps still do after WVU throttled Texas Tech 48-17 Saturday at AT&T Jones Stadium to improve to 5-0 and 2-0 in the Big 12.

After all, Texas Tech is a .500 team and destined to dip lower, but the Red Raiders entered their homecoming matchup on Saturday with the nation’s highest-scoring offense and most prolific passing attack -- led by the league’s most exciting quarterback in Patrick Mahomes II.

And West Virginia shut them down -- as receiver Shelton Gibson predicted -- harassing Mahomes all afternoon as the Red Raiders’ NCAA-record streak of scoring 50 points or more in nine consecutive home games came crashing to an end.

Welcome to the Big 12 race, Mountaineers, and maybe the College Football Playoff conversation.

Think that's taking it a bit far? If West Virginia gets past TCU and Oklahoma State in the next two weeks, it will have inarguably arrived as a contender to be taken seriously.

With the Big 12 in a weakened state and Oklahoma set to visit Morgantown in November, well, go ahead and dream.

West Virginia entered Week 7 as the lowest-ranked undefeated team in the Power 5 -- and behind Boise State, too.

The Mountaineers deserve another look, though, for how they defy the Big 12 tendencies and actually play tenacious defense. They sacked Mahomes four times and intercepted him in the red zone.

With 10 minutes left and down 31 points, Texas Tech had endured enough and pulled its star QB.

Skyler Howard and West Virginia are still undefeated, even as the rest of the country hasn't realized it yet. John Weast/Getty Images

Meanwhile, WVU quarterback Skyler Howard flattened multiple defenders en route to 89 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, throwing for 318 yards. West Virginia manufactured three first-half touchdown drives of more than 70 yards.

It sucked the life from the Red Raiders, even as WVU running back Justin Crawford, perhaps the midseason favorite for Big 12 newcomer of the year, limped off with an injury in the second quarter. He did not return after scoring two first-half touchdowns.

The Mountaineers have overcome plenty this year -- from the loss of safety Dravon Askew-Henry in August to left tackle Yodny Cajuste in the season opener against Missouri.

Last week, coach Dana Holgorsen said place-kicker Josh Lambert would not return this season after serving a suspension.

Part of the skepticism around West Virginia involves its historical underperformance in the Big 12. It has won five conference games only once in four years as a member.

In 2012, after WVU opened 5-0 with wins over nationally ranked Baylor and Texas, it lost five straight.

So, yes, reason exists to question the Mountaineers.

Four years ago, Texas Tech ruined West Virginia’s hot start with a blowout win in Lubbock. On Saturday, the Mountaineers turned the tables, offering evidence that just maybe they are for real.