Sunday brings the extra homework for WVU fans: a quick scan of what the Mountaineers’ future opponents did in Week Three.
The list starts with Coastal Carolina, WVU’s September 5 opponent, and the Chanticleers had a rough one against Delaware. They led before a last-minute touchdown before halftime swung momentum, then managed only four second-half drives and came away empty in a 22-14 loss. So far this season, Coastal Carolina is 1-2 with a 45-7 win over Fordham, plus the 31-24 loss at West Virginia and the defeat at Delaware.
UT Martin, set for September 12, ran into a buzzsaw at Memphis. The Tigers jumped ahead 17-0 and never let the Skyhawks settle in, rolling to a 45-21 win. UT Martin is now 1-3 after losses to Central Arkansas, West Virginia, and Memphis, with its lone win coming against Chicago State.
Virginia, which meets WVU on September 19 in Charlotte, started fast against Charlotte but couldn’t keep the pressure on. The Cavaliers scored touchdowns on two of their first three drives, then watched West Virginia find a rhythm on offense and get enough going on defense to hand UVA its first loss, 38-27. Virginia sits at 2-1, with wins over NC State and Norfolk State.
Oklahoma State, WVU’s September 26 opponent, did exactly what it was supposed to do to an FCS team. The Cowboys blasted Murray State 59-0 and emptied the bench along the way. They’re 2-1 on the year after a loss at Tulsa and a win over Oregon.
Iowa State, which visits on October 3, took care of Bowling Green in emphatic fashion, winning 55-7. The Cyclones ran for 365 yards and four touchdowns, and they did it at nearly nine yards per carry. Iowa State is 2-1 with a win over SE Missouri, a narrow loss at Iowa, and the blowout of Bowling Green.
Cincinnati, on the schedule for October 17, nearly made things messy against Miami (OH) before pulling it out. The Bearcats fell behind by three touchdowns at halftime and were still down 10 midway through the fourth, but a late push helped them escape with a 35-31 comeback win.
Cincinnati is 3-0 with wins over Boston College, W. Carolina, and Miami (OH).
TCU, which comes to WVU on October 24, handled Arkansas State without much drama. It wasn’t always pretty, but the Horned Frogs never really lost control and held the Red Wolves to one big play in a 31-7 win. TCU is 2-1 after a loss to North Carolina and wins over Grambling and Arkansas State.
Texas Tech, set for November 7, had a strange day but still stayed unbeaten. The Red Raiders started Thomas Castellanos at quarterback, he threw an interception on the first play, Will Hammond came in, and Texas Tech still rallied from a 10-0 hole to win by two. The Red Raiders are 3-0 after wins over Abilene Christian, Oregon State, and Houston.
Kansas, which visits November 14, was one of those teams that did a lot right and still ended up with a loss. The Jayhawks outgained Arizona State, won the third-down battle, and nearly doubled the Sun Devils in first downs and yards from scrimmage, but three turnovers, a missed field goal, and a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown turned it into a defeat. Kansas is 1-2 with a win over Long Island and losses to Missouri and Arizona State.
Houston, on the schedule for November 21, also let one get away. The Cougars were up 10-0 and got some help from Texas Tech’s mistakes, but they couldn’t hang on.
They nearly tied it late, then failed on a two-point conversion and took the loss. Houston is 2-1 after wins over Oregon State and Southern and the tight loss at Texas Tech.
Utah closes the list, and the Utes looked every bit in control against Utah State. They were up 16-0 after one quarter and 26-0 at halftime before basically putting the game on ice in the second half, finishing off a 33-0 win. Utah is 3-0 with wins over Idaho, Arkansas, and Utah State.
In Other News...
West Virginias 3-0 Start Just Raised The Stakes Against Oklahoma State
West Virginias perfect start kept rolling with a win over Virginia, and the payoff goes beyond another mark in the loss column. At 3-0, the Mountaineers have put themselves in a far better place for bowl eligibility, and the early-season momentum has already started to shift the conversation around where this team might wind up in December.
Various outlets have already started slotting West Virginia into different bowl projections, and the quality of those possible destinations has improved since the Virginia win. The next test against Oklahoma State now feels especially important, because another strong result would only sharpen the Mountaineers standing and make the rest of their season look a lot different than it did a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Snap Counts Reveal Early Trust Battles Fans Should Watch
West Virginias first game against a Power Four opponent offered an early look at how the coaching staff is sorting out its trust tree, and the snap counts made the picture a little clearer. On offense, the wide receiver rotation showed which players were leaned on most, while the interior line work suggested the staff is still testing how it wants to manage the front. On defense, the distribution among defensive backs also pointed to a group that is being handled with some care as the season gets into its tougher stretch.
For fans, the bigger takeaway is less about the numbers themselves and more about what they can signal next. Coaching staffs tend to settle into patterns quickly, especially after a matchup like this, and those early usage splits can tell you who is earning steady work and who may be headed for a bigger role as the lineup evolves. If the rotations shift in the coming weeks, this opener may end up looking like the first real clue to how West Virginia wants to build around its most trusted pieces. [Read more 🡒]
WVU's First Road Test Just Got More Interesting Against Iowa State
West Virginias first road test of the season now has a little more clarity, with the Big 12 setting the Mountaineers game at Iowa State for noon Eastern and placing it on TNT, TruTV and HBO Max. Its the kind of update that turns a circled date on the calendar into a real checkpoint for a team still trying to settle into the rhythm of the year, especially with a league trip that can tell you plenty about where a roster stands.
Iowa State brings its own intrigue into the matchup under new coach Jimmy Rogers, as the Cyclones work through a rebuild while still carrying the usual Big 12 familiarity on the schedule. The series history adds another layer, because these games have tended to offer West Virginia a useful measuring stick, and this one lands in the middle of a stretch that should help define both teams early direction. [Read more 🡒]