MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Deep in the West Virginia mountains, a mad scientist with wild hair and refrigerators stocked with Red Bull has developed a new element for the periodic table.

Its abbreviation: XIISyn. Big 12 synergy.

It's a real thing, and No. 10 West Virginia shows it works in a league without much balance.

What is Big 12 synergy, you ask, and how is it made? It starts with an offensive-minded coach, in this case WVU's Dana Holgorsen, structuring the offense with his defense in mind. It's a staff that works with one another rather than in spite of one another. It's a team that, in practices, showcases aggressive schemes on both sides of the ball, as well as unconventional looks, to prepare every player for everything he could see on Saturdays.

"We've got to give [the defense] specific things to make them better," Holgorsen said "I like going against our defense because it’s so dang hard and it’s so multiple with what they can do. So that's good for us."

Here's also what's good: a 6-0 start, West Virginia's first since 2006. Thanks largely to the defense, the Mountaineers look like the Big 12's best playoff hopeful.

They have allowed just 27 total points the last two weeks against offenses averaging 50.3 (Texas Tech) and 35.9 (TCU). WVU is especially stingy in the red zone, ranking ninth nationally in touchdown percentage against (42.9 percent).

"We work together and [Holgorsen] trusts what we do, he believes in what we do," defensive coordinator Tony Gibson told ESPN.com. "Some guys maybe don’t believe in one side, or you’re a playcaller and you’re trying to score every time. It’s not bad to always have a kick at the end of the possession, whether it’s a punt or a PAT or a field goal."

If you're still not exactly sure what Big 12 synergy is, watch the third quarter of the West Virginia-TCU game.

WVU took the kickoff and produced an 11-play drive that swallowed nearly half of the quarter -- 7 minutes, 24 seconds -- and resulted in a short field goal. TCU moved 21 yards before punting. Another methodical WVU drive followed, this one taking 5 minutes, 8 seconds and resulting in a Ka'Raun White touchdown catch. TCU fumbled the ensuing kickoff and West Virginia ended the quarter with the ball.

The Mountaineers defense had spent a grand total of four plays on the field.

"I was getting kind of stiff out there, for real," nose tackle Darrien Howard said. "I had to do some more stretches, had to warm up on the sidelines a couple times."

"Four snaps, it’s unbelievable," Gibson added. "It was probably kind of boring for our fans."

Boring isn't a bad thing when you're 6-0. Oklahoma and Texas Tech played what some would call a fun game Saturday night in Lubbock -- 125 combined points scored and an NCAA-record 1,708 combined yards. But no one considers that championship-level football. The Sooners, who last year won the Big 12 with an approach similar to West Virginia's, considered it "unacceptable," while others used more inflammatory language.

Make no mistake: West Virginia is still fun. Wideouts Jovon Durante, Daikiel Shorts Jr. and White put on a show against TCU. Holgorsen is still an Air Raid guru and a wide receiver whisperer. But Gibson's defense can be just as dynamic, built around blitzes, third-down stops and takeaways -- WVU has at least one in every game this season and in 11 of its last 12 games.

"Our guys, they want to pressure more than I do," Gibson said. "When we’re at our best, we're putting heat on people and we're playing fast and we're getting after them. That comes from having a head coach like Dana who allows us to do all that. He allows us to do it in spring practice, he allows us to do it in fall camp, and it helps out both sides. That’s the style he likes us to play. It’s a style I like to call.

"It’s just been a great fit. We work so well together."

The Holgorsen-Gibson connection only goes so far. Talent also plays a big part. Despite four defenders drafted this spring, including three defensive backs, WVU believes its defense is deeper, faster and more talented. Holgorsen predicted it in July, telling ESPN.com that WVU had more NFL-level talent on this year's defense.

"The bodies are good, athleticism’s good, experience is good," he said then. "The trick, and I’ve got all the confidence in Tony Gibson to get this done, is to get those guys to learn how to play together."

Gibson has delivered. West Virginia is developing new stars in the secondary like cornerback Rasul Douglas, who has three interceptions and four pass breakups. Led by linebacker Justin Arndt, eight players have multiple tackles for loss. Seven others have either an interception or a forced fumble.

"We're a very confident group," Douglas said. "We feel like we can stop anyone, can beat anyone, so that’s how we play, with a chip on our shoulder. No one gives us respect, so we’ve got to earn it every time we step on that field."

Gibson uses the offensive obsession in the Big 12, and the gaudy numbers many league foes produce, to inspire WVU's defenders. Douglas said an ESPN clip mocking West Virginia's early schedule has circulated through the team.

But the no-respect card only goes so far. Experience carries WVU, which currently starts seven seniors, three juniors and a freshman -- linebacker David Long.

"We’ve basically been put in the shadow the last couple years with the guys that have been drafted," Arndt said. "We wanted to make our name."

Arndt and his fellow defenders are building a reputation, but only because Holgorsen created a structure where all units can rise.

West Virginia is showing there's more than one way to win Big 12 games. In fact, XIISyn could help the Mountaineers win all of them.

"One thing about this team is that we are a team," Arndt said. "As a defense, we trust the offense, and the offense trusts the defense. We're hungry, and we want to achieve greatness."