West Virginia’s trip to face Virginia in Charlotte has the feel of a measuring-stick game, even if the broader college football world isn’t treating it that way.
For Mountaineer fans, this is the one they’ve had marked down since spring. Not because of any deep-seated edge with the Cavaliers, and not because Virginia is being sold as some unbeatable force. It’s because this is the first time West Virginia gets tested against another Power Four team, and that should start to answer the biggest question hanging over this 2-0 start: just how real are the Mountaineers?
Rich Rodriguez understands the skepticism. West Virginia’s wins over Coastal Carolina and UT Martin have done little to earn national trust, and he knows that’s fair. Still, he believes his team is in the right frame of mind for the challenge.
"I hope there's a little chip on our shoulder that we need to prove ourselves. It's upon us now," WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday night.
"You can prove yourself a little bit in the games you're favored, but normally, if you want to truly prove yourself, you're going to do it in a neutral-site game against somebody that's ranked in the top 25 and favored to beat you by double digits. I think they'll respond well."
That response matters now more than ever. College football has already shown how quickly the script can flip, and Rodriguez pointed to Oklahoma State’s upset of No.
6 Oregon in Stillwater last week as the kind of reminder that nothing is automatic. West Virginia is a 9.5-point underdog at FanDuel Sportsbook, and Rodriguez knows the line reflects the gap in national perception.
A win would change that fast. It would pull West Virginia into the same kind of conversation Virginia enjoyed after its strong start against NC State and force people to look at the Mountaineers differently. But the challenge waiting in Charlotte is a serious one, and Rodriguez didn’t try to soften it.
"They might be the most veteran or one of the most veteran teams in the country. It's crazy to look at their o-line.
They've got two sixth-year guys, a seventh-year guy, and two fifth-year guys. I think it may be the most veteran team by far that we play.
They're well-coached, and they've been in the system for a few years. They're ranked, and they should be ranked.
They played in the ACC Championship, and they're better now than they were a year ago, I think. It's going to be a big challenge, and our guys know that.
One thing that's really impressive, especially defensively, is that you can tell they are veterans because they're never out of place. Those guys know where they're going.
It's going to be a big game for us."
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 🡒]