This weekend gives West Virginia its first real chance to answer some questions, and it comes against a ranked opponent. The Mountaineers are headed to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a neutral-site meeting with No. 25 Virginia, a game that will show a lot more than the 2-0 start has so far.
It also puts Rich Rodriguez back in the conversation. Across his two stints in Morgantown, Rodriguez stacked up the second-most wins against Top 25 teams in school history with 12, and his .444 winning percentage in those games ranks second as well.
Only Don Nehlen has more ranked wins at WVU, with 15. Rodriguez sits just ahead of Dana Holgorsen’s 10, while Art Lewis had 5, Neal Brown had 3, and Bill Stewart had 2. On the percentage side, Stewart leads at .500, followed by Rodriguez at .444, Holgorsen at .323, Art “Pappy” Lewis at .313, and Nehlen at .281.
Rodriguez’s results against ranked teams included both rough nights and signature wins. His run featured losses at No.
17 Wisconsin, at No. 1 Miami, and at No.
8 Virginia Tech, but also victories over No. 13 Virginia Tech, No.
17 Pitt, No. 21 Maryland, No.
19 Louisville in overtime, No. 8 Georgia, No.
13 Rutgers, No. 25 Rutgers, No.
21 Cincinnati, No. 20 UConn, and No.
22 Houston.
The broader point is clear enough: West Virginia has looked sharp, but it has not been tested like this yet. Virginia has drawn plenty of attention since its Week 0 blowout of NC State and is seen as a real ACC contender. A win would not send the Mountaineers into the rankings right away, but it would get them votes and put them maybe one or two more wins away from cracking the Top 25 for the first time in eight years.
In Other News...
WVU Could Finally Add A Needed Weapon Against Virginia
West Virginia came out of the UT Martin game in good shape, and that alone gave Rich Rodriguez a little more room to breathe heading into a bigger test against Virginia. The Mountaineers are still trying to settle in offensively, but the possibility of getting wide receiver Prince Strachan into the mix offers a timely lift for a group that could use another proven target as quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. continues to build rhythm with the passing game.
Strachan has been practicing with limited contact, and his status for the Virginia game may hinge on how he handles the next stretch of practices. If that goes well, West Virginia could finally add another weapon to an offense that already needs every available piece, especially with the Mountaineers looking to sharpen the connection between Hawkins and a deeper receiver rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Jahiem White Is Already Reopening An Old WVU What-If
Two weeks after his return to the field, Jahiem White is already stirring up one of those old West Virginia questions that never really goes away. Now playing for North Texas under Neal Brown, White opened his season with 61 rushing yards and a touchdown against Indiana, then followed it with a 124-yard, one-score outing that pushed him past 2,000 career rushing yards.
For Mountaineers fans, the pull is obvious. White was already the programs 27th all-time leading rusher before a season-ending knee injury interrupted his time in Morgantown, and his latest run of production only adds fuel to the sense that WVU once had a back capable of being much more than a steady contributor. The what-if is back on the table, even if the answer will have to wait. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Just Framed West Virginias Biggest Concerns Before Virginia
Rich Rodriguez spent part of his media session Wednesday laying out the pressure points West Virginia is carrying into its matchup with Virginia, and the focus started up front. He praised the experience and discipline of his defensive line, the kind of steady interior presence the Mountaineers will need if they want to control the game and avoid chasing it from the opening series.
Rodriguez also pointed to the challenge posed by one of Virginias players, a reminder that this one may hinge on a few individual matchups as much as overall structure. On the roster front, he said one player has a hearing scheduled for Thursday in Indiana, while Talleys injury status remains day-to-day with a possible return in one to two weeks, leaving West Virginia with a little more uncertainty as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]