The first game of the 2026 season is finally here for West Virginia, and the opener against Coastal Carolina should tell us a lot about what this team looks like right out of the gate.
The biggest storyline sits under center, and Saturday feels like the kind of night that could settle a debate that has gone on for months. Hawkins is expected to come out and show why so many have been saying he is the guy.
That does not mean West Virginia needs a video-game passing line or a huge rushing total from him. What would matter most is a steady performance: smart decisions, a few high-end throws, and enough big plays with both his arm and his legs to push the optimism around him and the team to a new level.
There is also a chance the quarterback conversation gets even deeper if the game gets out of hand. In that scenario, true freshman Jyron Hughley could be the next quarterback in after Scotty Fox Jr.
Up front, West Virginia should look better than it did a year ago. The offensive line is being described as drastically improved, and the presence of four starters with plenty of career snaps should help.
Rick Trickett has that group in place, but even with all that experience, this is still a unit that needs time to gel. A strong day is a fair expectation.
A completely dominant one from start to finish is probably asking too much in Week 1.
Coastal Carolina’s quarterback situation remains a little murky, with head coach Ryan Beard keeping his depth chart close to the vest. The guess here is that Missouri State transfer Deuce Bailey gets the start.
He played a lot against Middle Tennessee State last year and showed flashes, and he looks like their best long-term option. If that is the direction they go, Alley should be sending numbers often and forcing Bailey into hurried reads and rushed decisions.
That could be a problem for an offensive line that is still sorting itself out, especially with new pieces and a massive crowd in the building.
West Virginia’s defensive line is another group that has plenty of people asking questions because of the lack of experience and playable depth. That said, this matchup may not expose those issues right away. Nate Gabriel and the rest of that unit should get the job done, though the opponent matters here as much as anything else.
Coastal’s offense is built to slow the game down and make things smaller. That is the approach when you are at a talent or depth disadvantage, and it is how this group operates no matter who is on the other side. They are in no rush, and a couple of first downs on a drive can chew up a surprising amount of clock.
This does not feel like a game that goes down to the final possession. Coastal could hang around through much of the first half, but West Virginia should eventually pull away and win comfortably. The Chants are not making the trip just to take a paycheck, but the Mountaineers should still create separation before the night is over.
In Other News...
WVU Basketball Just Gave Fans An Early Schedule Test To Watch
West Virginias mens basketball program is already giving fans something to circle before the season even starts. The Mountaineers released their non-conference schedule for the upcoming year, and it comes with a mix of three exhibition games and a trip to the Players Era Tournament, setting up an early stretch that should tell a lot about where Ross Hodges first team stands.
Hodge said the goal was to build a schedule that tests his group while also giving the fan base matchups it can get behind, and the slate does both. Competitive games and familiar regional opponents are part of the plan, with the meeting against Virginia Tech standing out as one of the dates that should draw extra attention once the calendar gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs Nonconference Slate Will Test The Mountaineers Earlier Than Expected
West Virginias nonconference basketball schedule is out, and it does not leave much room for easing into the season. The slate already includes familiar high-profile measuring sticks such as North Carolina and Auburn, along with a mix of other opponents that will give the Mountaineers a clearer idea of where they stand before Big 12 play arrives.
BartTorviks preseason rankings slot West Virginia at No. 59 nationally, which makes the early stretch worth watching even more closely. The article lays out each nonconference opponents ranking to show just how demanding the path looks, and for the Mountaineers the question is less about whether theyll be challenged than how quickly those challenges start to stack up. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs Early Schedule Sets Up A Huge Test Before Big 12 Play
West Virginias 2026-27 mens basketball nonconference schedule is starting to take shape, and it gives the Mountaineers a busy early stretch before Big 12 play arrives. The slate includes home dates at Hope Coliseum, a stop at the Players Era 8 tournament in Las Vegas and a mix of mid-major tuneups that should help set the tone for the season.
The bigger intrigue is the way the schedule escalates once those early games are out of the way. West Virginia is lining up opponents such as Kansas or UNLV in Las Vegas and North Carolina on the nonconference board, with three exhibition games also part of the preparation, leaving the full conference picture still to come later. [Read more 🡒]