West Virginia enters October 17 with a roster that looks almost nothing like the one that finished 4-8 a year ago.
That’s the backdrop for Cincinnati’s third Big 12 game of the season, a road trip to Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown. The Mountaineers are being projected in the middle of the conference pack after a rough 2-7 Big 12 mark in Rich Rodriguez’s first season back as head coach, but this offseason brought major turnover and a heavy reset.
The biggest number in the whole picture is 46. That’s how many players West Virginia lost to the transfer portal. The rebuild has been aggressive, though, with 37 portal additions and another 36 incoming freshmen.
Among the transfer headliners are quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. from Oklahoma, wide receivers TaRon Francis from LSU and Prince Strachan from USC, tight end Josh Sapp from Clemson, and EDGE Tobi Haastrup from Oregon. It’s a clear sign the Mountaineers went hunting for impact players at several key spots.
West Virginia also landed a strong high school class. On3 and Rivals both have it No. 1 in the Big 12, while 247 Sports places it at No.
- Nationally, all three outlets slot the group in the 20-25 range.
The class is led by four-star offensive tackle Kevin Brown and four-star athlete Matt Seig.
For Rodriguez and West Virginia, the offseason has been productive, and the program has backed his return with financial support. The question now is whether that investment turns into wins. The Mountaineers have the ingredients to make some noise in the Big 12, but how far they go will depend on how much the coaching staff can get out of this reshaped roster.
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The setup is clearly aimed at groups, with a personal suite attendant, complimentary parking and easy restroom access helping make the day feel more like a curated outing than a standard stadium visit. For a program that already leans on the theater of Nippert on game day, the new club adds another layer to the experience, and it will be interesting to see how quickly it becomes part of the stadiums must-see offerings this fall. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Line Is Earning The Kind Of Buzz Fans Should Notice
Evan Tengesdahl keeps showing up on preseason lists, and for good reason. The Cincinnati offensive lineman has already been recognized by several organizations and landed on multiple watchlists, a sign that the Bearcats front is drawing real respect before the season even starts. He is part of a group that has become one of the more interesting strength units on the roster, with Taran Tyo, Joe Cotton, Xavier Lozowicki and Nolan Latulippe all expected to help anchor the line.
Tengesdahls rising profile matters because it reflects how much faith there is in Cincinnati up front, not just from outside observers but inside the program as well. The Bearcats need that group to set a tone early, and the buzz around the line suggests it could be a unit worth watching closely once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]