West Virginia fans are split on where the Mountaineers will land in the Big 12 standings this season, and the latest fan poll on X shows a wide range of expectations.
A top-four finish drew plenty of attention in the vote, and that level of confidence stands out because it would represent a huge jump from last season. West Virginia has not finished in the Big 12’s top four since 2018.
The Mountaineers did end up in a four-way tie in 2023, but tiebreakers left them behind Iowa State and Kansas State. Even with plenty to like about this roster, that kind of finish would be a bold prediction for a team bringing in more than 80 newcomers.
There is also a more moderate path in the poll, one that hinges on handling business early. That means wins over Oklahoma State and Iowa State, plus at least a split in the two-game homestand against Arizona and Cincinnati. From there, the standings figure to get crowded, and head-to-head results against Cincinnati, TCU and Houston could end up deciding whether West Virginia lands in that tier or slips a spot lower.
The most realistic range, at least from one perspective, sits in the middle of the league. One view had the Mountaineers finishing 8th or 9th, which would still be a workable outcome in year two.
The point there is simple: there is a difference between being in that spot early in a rebuild and staying there for years. Rich Rod has succeeded almost everywhere he has coached, and the expectation is that this group is still very much a work in progress.
At the other end of the poll, the idea that West Virginia would tumble far lower was dismissed outright. That kind of result was described as something that voters were either using as a reverse jinx or picking because they wanted Rich Rod to fail, even though a failure for him would mean a failure for the program too.
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Pat Whites WVU Honor Only Happened After A Longstanding Barrier Fell
Pat White is finally getting the kind of recognition that has long felt overdue in Morgantown, with his No. 5 jersey set to be ceremonially retired Saturday before West Virginias season opener. The official retirement will come after the current season ends, once Jaden Bray finishes his eligibility, but the announcement alone marks a significant shift for a program that had long held firm on a rule that kept jerseys from being retired.
The key change came when the West Virginia Athletic Council revised that policy, opening the door for Whites place in school history to be honored in the most visible way possible. In a recent interview, White said he reflected on his career and expressed gratitude for the moment, a fitting response for one of the defining figures of the Mountaineers modern era, even as the final step in the process still waits out the season. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Just Made West Virginias QB Situation Even More Intriguing
Rich Rodriguez used the first Coaches Show of the new season to lay out where West Virginia stands after a busy roster reset, and the biggest takeaway was how much the staff is leaning on experience to steady things up front. He touched on the additions the Mountaineers brought in through high school recruiting and the transfer portal, then quickly turned to the offensive line, where continuity figures to matter a great deal as the team tries to settle into a faster rhythm.
The quarterback picture, though, is the part that will keep drawing attention. Rodriguez named Scotty Fox and Michael Hawkins as possible starters, which only adds another layer to a room that still has to define itself while the rest of the offense takes shape around it. He also gave updates on Cam Cook, Amari Latimer, DJ Epps and Jaden Bray, all while making it clear the up-tempo approach remains the plan, so the pressure to identify the right pieces and get them moving together is already building. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Is Bringing Back A WVU Feel Fans Will Debate
Rich Rodriguez is already putting his stamp back on the Mountaineers, and one of the first visible changes will be at the start of the game. On his radio show, Rodriguez said West Virginia will not revive the inflatable helmet entrance that became a calling card in the early 2000s. Instead, the team is headed back to a more familiar setup, entering through the tunnel with smoke and a tunnel camera feeding the big screen for fans.
It is a small detail, but in Morgantown these kinds of details matter because they help shape the feel of game day. Last years entrance from the weight room was a notable departure, and now the program is leaning back toward a look that feels more connected to its past. Whether fans embrace the change or argue for the old spectacle, Rodriguez has made clear the first impression at home will have a different flavor this time around. [Read more 🡒]