West Virginia opens Year 2 of Rich Rodriguez’s second run in Morgantown with more questions than answers under center, and Coastal Carolina arrives Saturday afternoon carrying its own quarterback mystery.
The Mountaineers are trying to put last season’s 4-8 finish behind them after managing just two Big 12 wins. Rodriguez still hasn’t made a public call at quarterback, though reports have Michael Hawkins Jr., the Oklahoma transfer, ahead of returning signal-caller Scotty Fox Jr. for the job.
Rodriguez made it clear on his weekly radio show that he already knows the answer - he just isn’t handing it over yet.
"I know who is going to start, but why tell (everyone)? Why let them have any idea who to prepare for?
I don't think that's a big deal anyway," Rodriguez said on his weekly radio show. "In my opinion, we have two guys in Scotty Fox and Mike Hawkins that I consider the guys that could start."
Fox opened five games as a freshman last season and threw seven touchdown passes. Hawkins saw action at Oklahoma after John Mateer was sidelined by surgery, and with Mateer healthy again, Hawkins looked elsewhere for more playing time and is expected to be the starter.
Whoever gets the nod will inherit an offense that was stuck near the bottom of the Big 12 a year ago, finishing 14th out of 16 teams in total offense at 349.5 yards per game.
Coastal Carolina comes in with a new coach of its own in Ryan Beard, who took over after Tim Beck was dismissed last November following three seasons and a 20-18 record. Beard, like Rodriguez, had not named a starting quarterback early in the week.
The Chanticleers have five players in the mix at the position. Beard laid out the situation this way at his Aug. 31 news conference:
"Everybody's ready for that answer," Beard said at his Aug. 31 news conference. "I think we'll get in the huddle, then we'll break out and go, and that will be the guy."
Deuce Bailey is one option after following Beard from Missouri State. Transfers Tre Guerra and Trever Jackson are also competing for the job, while freshmen Osiris Lopez and Luke McBride remain in the race as well.
Coastal Carolina also spent the offseason reshaping its roster, adding 43 players through the transfer portal and putting a major emphasis on defense after last year’s struggles. The Chanticleers finished 132nd out of 136 FBS teams in total defense, allowing 443.8 yards per game.
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West Virginia Fans Are About To Learn What RichRod 2.0 Really Is
West Virginia spent the offseason remaking itself in a hurry, and the result is one of the biggest roster overhauls in the country. The Mountaineers brought in 80 new players, including a recruiting class of 45, while adding proven pieces like tackle Kevin Brown from Penn State, safety Matt Sieg from Pitt, leading rusher Cam Cook and quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., who won the starting job after joining the mix.
There is no shortage of new faces around the program, from offensive line coach Rick Trickett to a fresh wave of receivers and defensive backs, and that much change always comes with a simple question: how quickly can it all fit together? For RichRod 2.0, the intrigue is not just about the names West Virginia added, but whether this retooled roster can turn a massive turnover into something much more settled once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs Nonconference Slate Will Test The Mountaineers Earlier Than Expected
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The list has enough quality to make the first part of the season feel like a proving ground rather than a tune-up, which matters for a team trying to establish itself quickly. North Carolina and Auburn headline the discussion, but the broader takeaway is the same: there will not be much room to ease into things, and the early results should say plenty about how this roster stacks up. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Offense Faces An Early Test It Wont Be Able To Shortcut
The first real measuring stick for West Virginias offense may arrive sooner than expected, and it wont be the sort of matchup that allows for easy answers. Coastal Carolina is bringing back a defense that should be experienced and well-coached entering the 2026 season, with several starters retained and additional help coming in from Missouri State, giving the Chanticleers a blend of familiarity and fresh ideas that could make them difficult to sort out early.
Rich Rodriguez already pointed to Coastal Carolinas disciplined defensive structure and its ability to limit big plays, which is exactly the kind of challenge that can expose timing issues and communication lapses on offense. The new staff influence also suggests a look that leans toward middle-of-the-field coverage and more man looks on third downs, so this is the sort of opener where West Virginia may have to earn everything the hard way before it finds out just how ready it is. [Read more 🡒]