The preseason polls have added one more layer to the waiting game before the regular season kicks off, and for West Virginia, the early conversation starts with a simple question: which of the Big 12 teams on its schedule are for real?
There are four Big 12 teams in the polls, and plenty of room for that picture to change. West Virginia also has three top-25 opponents on the schedule, which opens the door to a bigger debate: is one of those teams overrated, or is another flying under the radar?
Beyond that, the Mountaineers have eight games against FBS teams that are not ranked, and that group comes with its own set of questions. Which of those games turns into the toughest test?
Which non-conference matchup ends up drawing the most attention?
One Big 12 foe in particular is already getting plenty of notice. In the video above, CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford singles out the conference opponent that has to come to Morgantown, and it could end up shaping how the season unfolds for West Virginia.
The timing matters, too. That game comes in the Big 12 opener on Sept. 26, a spot on the calendar that could make it a swing game for the Mountaineers.
It also might just be another step in a big season for new-look Oklahoma State, which Crawford sees as a team that could stack up wins on its way to the College Football Playoff. The Cowboys have taken the last five games at Milan Puskar Stadium, and that streak gives their visit an even sharper edge.
In Other News...
WVU Faces Another Defensive Line Decision With Depth Suddenly In Focus
The defensive line picture in Morgantown got a little clearer this week, and it came with another reminder of how crowded the room has become. Eddie Kelly Jr. said he will sign with Mississippi State after using up his West Virginia eligibility at the end of the 2025 season, ending a career that took him from South Florida to Georgia Tech and Missouri before landing with the Mountaineers.
Kellys decision fits the reality of WVUs offseason roster churn, where a wave of new defensive linemen arrived and pushed the depth chart toward a tighter squeeze. He leaves having played in 49 career games with 102 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, and his move gives the Mountaineers yet another sign of how much turnover still remains on the defensive front. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Just Sent A Clear Message About West Virginias Roster Battle
Rich Rodriguez spent his latest press conference mapping out where West Virginia stands as camp work keeps piling up, and the message was pretty clear: the roster race is still very much in motion. He talked through the teams practice progress, the offensive rhythm he wants to see sharpen, and the way player evaluations are helping the staff sort out who is making the strongest case for snaps. It was the kind of update that underscored how much of this process is still about daily work rather than settled depth-chart certainty.
Rodriguez also pointed to the number of prospects trying out and the development of specific players as part of the broader picture, while noting that practice intensity has been trending in the right direction. And beyond the current roster, he touched on a recruiting landscape that is changing too, with international players becoming a more visible part of football evaluation. For West Virginia, it all adds up to a camp that is about more than just getting reps in, because the competition for roles and the search for help are happening at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs New Assistant Is Embracing The Programs Biggest Unfinished Goal
Andrew Warwicks first media availability since being hired a year ago offered a good glimpse of why West Virginia brought him in. The new linebackers coach arrived after working as defensive coordinator at Wofford, and he made it clear he sees the Mountaineers as a place with real standards, real tradition and the kind of expectations that fit a coach who has spent time around programs built to compete at a high level.
Warwick also drew a direct line to Clemson, saying there are similarities in the way the place operates and the level of ambition around it. For West Virginia, that matters because the program is still chasing its biggest unfinished goal, and adding an assistant who immediately embraces that mindset is part of the point. The next test is whether that buy-in translates from the meeting room to the field. [Read more 🡒]