West Virginia is going back to a familiar look for its Week 2 matchup with UT Martin.
After opening the home schedule in an all-white uniform - the first time that’s ever happened in program history and only the second time the Mountaineers have worn white jerseys at Milan Puskar Stadium - WVU will switch back to its classic blue-and-gold setup this weekend. The team’s uniform reveal video showed Rasheed Marshall in the glossy blue helmet, blue jersey and gold pants.
It’s a look the Mountaineers know well. This will be the 188th time they’ve worn that combination, the most-used uniform set in program history.
WVU is 130-53-4 in it, and the most recent win in the look came against Colorado, 29-22, on November 8th of, 2025. Earlier this season, the Mountaineers also wore blue-blue-gold in the Backyard Brawl against Pitt and pulled out a 31-24 overtime win.
The game itself brings a first for the two programs: West Virginia and UT Martin have never met before. With no head-to-head history to lean on, the numbers against similar opponents do the talking.
West Virginia has been perfect against FCS teams, going 26-0. The Mountaineers have only had two games that were even remotely tight in that stretch - a 20-13 win over James Madison in 2019, just before the Dukes moved up to FBS, and a 24-17 win over William & Mary in 2013.
UT Martin’s track record against FBS opponents is much more limited, and much tougher. The Skyhawks have won only twice in those games.
Their list includes defeats at Ohio, Southern Miss, Auburn, South Florida, Memphis, Tennessee, Mississippi State, South Alabama, Northern Illinois, Boise State, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Hawaii, Georgia State, Missouri, Middle Tennessee, Florida, Western Kentucky, Georgia, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, UTEP and Missouri State. The two wins on that slate came at Memphis in 2012, 20-17, and at Kennesaw State in 2024, 24-13.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and the Watch ESPN app. After the game, West Virginia On SI will have its Mountaineer Postgame Show on YouTube with former WVU running back Eugene Napoleon and me, where we’ll break down what happened in Morgantown and what the first two games say about what’s ahead next week in Charlotte against the Virginia Cavaliers.
In Other News...
Why Chris Henry's Story Still Hits West Virginia Fans Hard
Chris Henry Jr. has already become one of the most watched names in the 2026 recruiting class after committing to Ohio State, but for West Virginia fans, the interest goes well beyond the usual tug-of-war over a five-star wide receiver. The name carries a heavy history in this state, because his father, former NFL receiver Chris Henry, spent part of his career as one of the most recognizable players connected to West Virginia before his life ended in tragic fashion in 2009.
That connection is what makes every update on Henry Jr. land a little differently around Morgantown and beyond. His father was only 26 when he died after falling out of the back of a moving truck during a domestic dispute, and the story still lingers whenever the next generation steps into the spotlight. For West Virginia fans, Henry Jr.s rise is not just about where he signed, but about the memories and emotions tied to a name that never really left the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Opens With A Pressure Test For Its New Starters
The first real look at West Virginias reshaped lineup comes Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium, where the Mountaineers open against UT Martin in a game that should tell fans plenty about how quickly the new starters settle in. It is also a chance to get the season moving in the right direction against an FCS opponent, with the matchup set for ESPN+ and carrying the usual early-season pressure of proving the upgrades are ready for live action.
UT Martin will not arrive as a simple formality. The Skyhawks have been one of the most consistent programs in their league, and they bring enough recent success to make this more than a routine tune-up for West Virginia. For a team trying to find its footing early, the challenge is less about the opponents label and more about handling a game that can expose mistakes fast if the Mountaineers are not sharp from the start. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Has 3 Big Things To Prove Against UT Martin
West Virginia opened the Rich Rodriguez era with a 31-24 win over Coastal Carolina, and the result at least bought the Mountaineers some time to sort through what went right and what needs tightening before the schedule gets real. The opener offered a look at the offense settling in behind Michael Hawkins and a chance to see how much the staff can lean on young players while the depth chart is still taking shape.
The bigger issue was how the game unfolded after the first half, when the Mountaineers had to answer a few reminders that clean play matters even against an opponent they should handle. Saturdays meeting with UT Martin gives West Virginia another chance to show progress, especially on defense and in the areas that Rodriguez has already identified as fixable, while also letting the staff keep sorting out who can earn more snaps as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]