West Virginia’s schedule already has a little bit of everything after Week Zero, from a lopsided defensive showing to a gut-punch upset overseas.
The early slate gave WVU a first look at several future opponents, and the results were all over the map. Virginia opened with one of the weekend’s most complete performances, while TCU’s trip to Ireland turned into a frustrating 15-10 loss. Texas Tech and Kansas were idle, but their schedules are now set up for the weeks ahead.
Virginia’s season began with a statement. The Cavaliers blanketed the Wolfpack defensively, limiting them to 168 total yards and holding quarterback CJ Bailey to a career-low in passing. They also came away with two turnovers, controlled the clock for 38 minutes to 22, and rolled to a 34-8 win over a conference rival.
TCU had the opposite kind of opening. In a neutral-site game in Ireland, the Horned Frogs were upset by North Carolina despite winning time of possession, forcing more turnovers, and holding UNC to just 90 rushing yards and a 3-of-11 mark on third down.
But the mistakes piled up. TCU managed only 10 points, had a long snap sail into the end zone for a safety, missed a chance to cash in on a turnover before halftime, then fumbled to start the second half.
The Frogs also went for it on 4th-and-1 in field goal range, a decision that eventually left them chasing a touchdown instead of taking the points.
The rest of the opponents on WVU’s schedule that were in action did not fare as well. The Skyhawks opened at home against Central Arkansas and got an early spark when Trey Cotton intercepted a pass and took it 55 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
But the offense never found much rhythm. Quarterback Julian Calvez completed barely half his throws, threw two interceptions, and did not toss a touchdown.
The Skyhawks cut the deficit to five late, but Central Arkansas answered with a touchdown run to close it out.
Here’s how the early results stack up on WVU’s schedule so far:
vs Central Arkansas - L, 24-36
September 19th vs Virginia Cavaliers (in Charlotte)
October 17TH - vs Cincinnati Bearcats
October 24th - @ TCU HORNED FROGS
November 7th - @ Texas Tech Red Raiders
November 14th - vs Kansas Jayhawks
November 21st - vs Houston Cougars
For the teams that didn’t play, the season is still ahead. Cincinnati, Texas Tech and Kansas all had DNPs in Week Zero, but their full schedules are already laid out with WVU looming later on.
The early read on West Virginia’s future opponents? Virginia looked sharp from the jump, TCU has some cleanup to do after a painful opener, and the rest are still waiting to show their hand.
In Other News...
Virginia Just Turned A West Virginia Rivalry Nerve Into Something Bigger
Virginias season opener against North Carolina State brought more than a win, because the postgame scene quickly drifted into familiar territory for anyone around the Mountaineers. Fans sang along to John Denvers Country Roads, the song forever tied to West Virginia in college sports culture, and with it came a reminder that this rivalry has long carried a strange mix of music, memory and misplaced claims.
The backdrop matters because the song has been at the center of previous flashpoints involving the University of Virginia, including past pep band references that crossed the line into derogatory shots at West Virginia and eventually prompted complaints and apologies. So even in a game that had nothing to do with the Mountaineers on the field, Virginia managed to reopen a nerve that still feels bigger than a one-night crowd singalong. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Frontcourt Uncertainty Is Putting Real Pressure On The 2026 Rotation
West Virginias frontcourt picture for 2026 is already looking shaky because Javan Buchanan and Brenen Lorient are still tied up in NCAA eligibility cases, with a ruling expected in September. Until that clears up, the Mountaineers are left planning for a rotation that may or may not include two players who could loom large in the middle of the roster, which makes the coming months feel especially important for a team trying to map out its next step.
For now, the uncertainty is forcing WVU to think through alternative paths, from potential starters to the depth behind them if those forwards are unavailable. It also leaves the staff with the option of dipping into the junior college market if the numbers in the frontcourt do not come together the way they need to, and that is the sort of roster pressure that can shape a season long before the first game is played. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia's Opener Comes With One Warning Fans Need To Hear
West Virginias season opener against Coastal Carolina brings a little history and a lot of uncertainty into the first weekend of the college football calendar. The programs met once before back in 2010, and the Mountaineers enter this matchup as the clear favorite, a reflection of both the talent gap and the confidence oddsmakers have in a home team still sorting through its identity. Between Mike Hawkins Jr., Cam Cook and a roster that has been reshaped around a new cast of starters, there is enough intrigue here to make the opener feel more revealing than your average nonconference game.
Coastal Carolina adds another layer of unpredictability with a new coaching staff in place, which only makes the first 60 minutes tougher to handicap in any meaningful way. For West Virginia, the bigger takeaway may be less about the final margin and more about how the Mountaineers look doing it, because early results in games like this can be misleading when both sides are leaning on so many fresh faces. The betting market has already pushed expectations in one direction, but the better warning for fans is simple: opening week can tell you a lot, just not always the thing you think it does. [Read more 🡒]