Rich Rodriguez heads to Big 12 Media Days this week with a few Mountaineers in tow, and while these sessions usually don’t produce much beyond the standard offseason chatter, Wednesday could still offer a few useful clues about where West Virginia is headed in 2026.
The biggest item to watch is the quarterback situation. Mike Hawkins Jr. is expected to be the Mountaineers’ starter, and the only real question is when Rodriguez chooses to say it out loud.
There’s no real upside in making that call public, since it only gives opponents more to work with. At the same time, it’s hardly a mystery, and Rodriguez could decide Wednesday is the time to make it official before West Virginia opens against Coastal Carolina on September 5th.
Rodriguez’s tone about the season outlook will also be worth listening to. A year ago, he was already talking like a coach chasing a championship, even while knowing the road ahead would be steep.
That mindset doesn’t change, but the way he talks about it might. He could sound more confident this time around, and the question is how far he goes in describing what he believes this team can be.
West Virginia looks improved, but the range of outcomes still matters. Is this a group that can push into dark-horse territory, or is it more likely to settle in as a bowl team that shows signs of a program moving the right way? Rodriguez may not have a final answer yet with fall camp still a few weeks away, but he should have a strong feel for where things stand.
The roster makeover is another major piece of the conversation. For the second straight offseason, Rodriguez turned over a big part of the team. Last year’s version didn’t produce the results anyone wanted, but there were clear reasons for that, including missing the first major wave of the transfer portal and still finishing the coaching staff while later portal windows were unfolding.
This year feels different because the staff had a full year to evaluate players, including its own, and identify exactly what was needed. Even with all the new faces, the belief inside the program doesn’t sound like one that’s preparing for a long wait. Rodriguez and his staff seem to think this group has enough experience and enough production, even if much of it came elsewhere, to win now.
It will also be interesting to see which players Rodriguez highlights beyond running back Cam Cook, if anyone, and how he explains his confidence that this team can get moving early despite all the turnover.
In Other News...
WVU Just Got Early Hope From Two Potential Breakout Difference Makers
West Virginia got a little preseason encouragement in the form of two names that could matter a lot once the games start counting. DJ Epps, the Troy transfer, and Nate Gabriel were both singled out as breakout candidates heading into the season, giving the Mountaineers at least a couple of players with a chance to turn promise into production as the schedule gets underway.
Epps brings the kind of receiving upside that can change an offense quickly after his jump from one catch across his first two seasons at Troy to a much bigger role last fall. Gabriel is the other intriguing piece, entering his third year after logging meaningful defensive snaps as a sophomore, and West Virginia will get an early look at both when it opens at home on Sept. 5 against Coastal Carolina, the same day Pat Whites No. 21 is set to be retired. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs New Roster Update Leaves One Big Signing-Class Question
West Virginias 2026 roster update brought a fresh batch of names into view, with 14 new players added overall and a dozen of them coming from the signing class. The update gives the program a clearer picture of what next seasons depth chart could eventually look like, and it also shows how quickly a recruiting class can start to take shape once the paperwork is in and the roster page gets refreshed.
One name still missing from that group is running back Cheeks, even though West Virginia signed him as part of the class. His situation has been one to watch ever since the ACL injury he suffered in his senior season, and the school has continued to sound confident about his recovery path. For now, the roster page leaves one small but meaningful question hanging, and it sounds like more clarity should come as the offseason moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Faces His First Real WVU Turning Point
Rich Rodriguez is heading into his second year back at West Virginia with the kind of roster-building job that rarely comes with instant payoff. After a difficult 2025 season, the Mountaineers have tried to reset the trajectory with a top-25 recruiting class and a wave of transfers, giving the staff a younger group that should look better as it grows together. The bigger picture is less about a quick fix than about laying down enough foundation for the program to climb back into a more competitive place.
The encouraging part for WVU is that the pieces are young enough to keep improving, and the schedule offers some room to breathe while that happens. There is still a sense that the roster is not finished, though, and the most obvious pressure point may be a spot that could force the staff back into the portal before the season is over. Rodriguez has a chance to make 2026 a clear step forward, but the real question is how much of the future he can set up now without waiting too long for the breakthrough. [Read more 🡒]