Expectations around West Virginia are building again, and the Big 12 coaches clearly see enough to buy in.
The Mountaineers landed in an 8th-place tie with Cincinnati in the preseason Big 12 Coaches Poll, a nod that suggests year two of the Ross Hodge era comes with more optimism than skepticism. West Virginia and Cincinnati each received 116 points, placing them right in the middle of the pack as the league gets set for another season.
Arizona was picked first with 220 points, followed closely by Houston at 214. Kansas checked in third with 186 points, then Iowa State at 181 and Texas Tech at 180.
BYU landed sixth with 148 points, TCU seventh with 137, and Baylor sat just behind West Virginia and Cincinnati at 10th with 102. Oklahoma State was 11th with 98, Arizona State 12th with 75, UCF 13th with 55, Colorado and Kansas State tied for 14th with 34, and Utah came in 16th with 24.
That West Virginia slot feels fair, especially considering how many new faces are in the program again. The roster has been reshaped enough that it may take time before the group starts looking like its best self, even if the overall talent level has improved.
There’s an argument that Baylor is the only team below West Virginia with a real chance to jump it. The Bears have a pair of intriguing freshmen in Dylan Mingo and Elijah Williams, plus a solid portal group, and Scott Drew has a long track record of exceeding expectations.
Cincinnati also drew a notable amount of respect. Jerrod Calhoun should find success in his first season, though there’s likely to be plenty of variance along the way.
TCU, after going 11-7 in Big 12 play last year, could slide back some. BYU is another team to watch after finishing 9-9 in the league a year ago with AJ Dybansta, then adding Baylor transfer guard Rob Wright III and one of the nation’s top recruits, Bruce Branch.
The Cougars could end up below West Virginia as well.
Even if the Mountaineers wind up somewhere around eighth in the Big 12, that still leaves them in strong shape for an NCAA Tournament push.
West Virginia opens exhibition play Sunday against Maryland.
In Other News...
WVU May Have Finally Found The Right QB For Rich Rod
Mike Hawkins Jr. has quickly become one of the most intriguing pieces of West Virginias offense, and not just because of what he does with his arm. The starting quarterback has given the Mountaineers a dynamic run threat from the position, leading the nation in rushing yards by a quarterback while also tying for the most rushing touchdowns in college football.
The passing numbers have not been as clean, but that has come with the territory in an offense that asks him to push the ball downfield. Hawkins throws a high percentage of deep passes, which naturally drags down the completion rate, yet the fit has drawn praise from Phil Steele and plenty of confidence inside the building, where his coaches view him as one of the Big 12s top quarterbacks. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs Loaded Ground Game Could Get An Intriguing New Option Today
West Virginia has already built a rushing identity behind Cam Cook and quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr., with freshman Amari Latimer giving the Mountaineers another layer in the backfield. Even with that production in place, the staff has kept working through options, and Utah transfer running back NaQuari Rogers has been around the program for a while now, practicing with the team and even dressing for recent games.
Rogers still has not taken the field, but his presence is another reminder of how much depth this ground game could still have if he gets folded into the rotation. For a West Virginia offense that has leaned on the run and found success with multiple pieces, the question now is less about whether Rogers can help at some point and more about when that chance finally comes, and how big a role he might be able to carve out. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Pulled Off The Kind Of Home Thriller Fans Wont Forget
Mountaineer Field got the kind of Saturday night finish that tends to linger in the memory, with West Virginia and Cincinnati trading momentum back and forth in a game that never let either side settle in. The Bearcats and Mountaineers answered each other repeatedly, and the offense on both sides delivered enough big plays to keep the crowd locked in from start to finish.
Mike Hawkins Jr. and JC French each found the end zone, while DJ Epps late touchdown brought the game level at 28 deep in the fourth quarter and turned the final stretch into pure pressure football. For West Virginia, it was the sort of home win that speaks to resilience as much as execution, the kind of result fans will be replaying long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]