Predictions around West Virginia’s 2026 season are already running in every direction, and one recent take stood out for just how low it went.
Earlier this month, ESPN’s Stanford Steve had the Mountaineers reaching the Big 12 title game. On Wednesday, On3’s Jake Crain went to the other end of the spectrum and slotted West Virginia at 3-9 overall and 1-8 in the Big 12.
“West Virginia, Take Me Home…to 3-9, and 1-8 (in the Big 12),” Crain said. He offered no further explanation, just the record and a quick jab at one of the state’s most recognizable songs while moving through his Big 12 predictions. His co-hosts, Blain Crane and David Cone, were more optimistic, projecting WVU at 4-8 and 6-6.
West Virginia draws attention no matter how the conversation is framed, and predictions like this tend to land loudly. Whether Crain was trying to stir the pot or simply giving his honest read, the number itself is hard to square with what the roster looks like heading into Rich Rodriguez’s second year back in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers are coming off a four-win season, but this group is built differently. The offense has been upgraded at quarterback, the entire offensive line has been overhauled, the backfield features the nation’s leading rusher, and there are multiple receiving options to work with. On offense alone, there’s enough here to beat last year’s total.
The historical context makes the 3-win projection even harder to swallow. The last time West Virginia finished a season below four wins was in Rich Rodriguez’s first year during his first run in 2001.
Before that, you have to go all the way back to 1978. Over the last 60 years, it has happened only three times.
A lot of these forecasts seem to be built around the idea that because West Virginia’s roster turned over so heavily a year ago, another major swing is coming. But the reality is that the Mountaineers have improved their talent and depth across the board, and that applies on both sides of the ball.
Could WVU stumble and miss a bowl game? Sure.
A five-win season is on the table. But three wins?
That’s a tough sell.
In Other News...
Rich Rodriguez Just Pushed WVUs NIL Fight Into State Politics
Rich Rodriguez has already made it clear he wants West Virginia football to compete in a new era, and now he is pushing the conversation beyond the athletic department. The Mountaineers head coach floated the idea of using a tourism tax in West Virginia to help fund NIL opportunities for his players, tying the programs future directly to the states biggest sport and broader economic interests.
It is still only a discussion, not an active legislative push, but the suggestion brings a familiar college-football problem into state politics. Rodriguez is essentially asking political leaders to see the Mountaineers as more than a team and to consider whether public dollars tied to tourism could help keep WVU in the race for talent. Whether that idea gets traction is another matter entirely. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Just Gave Fans A New Reason To Get To Milan Early
West Virginia is already giving fans a little more incentive to make a full morning of the 2026 season opener. Athletics announced that Almost Heaven Village, the pregame gathering tied to the home football slate, is moving to a new spot on the North Lawn next to the Blue Lot at Milan Puskar Stadium, with the gates set to open at 8:30 a.m. ahead of the matchup with Coastal Carolina. The idea is to give Mountaineer supporters a bigger and easier starting point for game day, with activities and entertainment helping set the tone before kickoff.
For a fan base that treats Saturdays like an event long before the first snap, the location change could matter as much as the timing. WVU is also pushing tickets for the home opener and the full season, including a 304 Mobile Pass for all seven home games, as it continues building around a home schedule that should make the atmosphere around Milan Puskar Stadium feel busy from the moment people start arriving. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Faces A Real Recruiting Question After Latest Rankings Shakeup
The latest 2027 basketball recruiting rankings offered a reminder that the board is always moving, and West Virginias pursuit of elite talent is now dealing with a few more question marks. Paul Osaruyi, one of the Mountaineers most closely watched targets, slid from No. 13 to No. 18 nationally after a small rating dip, and he was not alone in seeing his stock shift. Other players from CIA Bella Vista, including Jalen White and Lyris Robinson, also took notable hits in the update.
For WVU, the bigger issue is not just where those prospects sit today, but how much volatility remains before the cycle really takes shape. Rankings changes do not end a recruitment, but they can alter momentum, perception, and the way schools prioritize their next steps. With several familiar names trending down at once, the Mountaineers have a real evaluation test ahead as they sort out which targets still fit the programs long-term plan. [Read more 🡒]