West Virginia’s non-conference schedule is now set, and the mix is exactly what you’d expect from a slate built to test the Mountaineers early. There are the heavy hitters - North Carolina, Auburn and a few more - but there’s also a long stretch of games against teams ranked much lower in BartTorvik’s preseason numbers.
Torvik’s latest update has West Virginia at No. 59 nationally, and the non-conference list gives a clear picture of the range of opponents the Mountaineers will face before league play.
The toughest stretch comes in the neutral-site events, starting with Auburn at No. 34 on Nov. 17.
West Virginia then gets either UNLV or Kansas on Nov. 18, with those teams ranked No. 99 and No. 9, respectively. The next day could bring Houston, Rutgers, Florida or Notre Dame, ranked No.
5, No. 73, No. 4 and No.
- Later in the month, the Mountaineers meet North Carolina on Nov. 27, with the Tar Heels sitting at No.
There are some other notable dates on the calendar, too. Virginia Tech comes in at No. 38 on Dec.
5, Pittsburgh checks in at No. 77 for the Dec. 9 trip, and Wake Forest is listed at No. 97 on Dec. 19.
The rest of the schedule is filled out by lower-ranked opponents: Niagara at No. 292 on Nov. 2, Stetson at No. 280 on Nov.
6, Mercer at No. 252 on Nov. 12, Mercyhurst at No. 306 on Dec.
1, Coppin State at No. 358 on Dec. 13, Northern Arizona at No. 309 on Dec. 16, and South Carolina State at No. 354 on Dec.
West Virginia’s full non-conference slate, with neutral-site games marked by an asterisk, looks like this:
Nov 2 vs Niagara (No. 292)
Nov 6 vs Stetson (No. 280)
Nov 12 vs Mercer (No. 252)
Nov 17 vs Auburn (No. 34)*
Nov 18 vs UNLV or Kansas (No. 99 or No. 9)*
Nov 19 vs Houston, Rutgers, Florida or Notre Dame (No .5, No. 73, No. 4 or No. 83)*
Nov 27 vs North Carolina (No. 44)*
Dec 1 vs Mercyhurst (No. 306)
Dec 5 vs Virginia Tech (No. 38)
Dec 9 at Pittsburgh (No. 77)*
Dec 13 vs Coppin State (No. 358)
Dec 16 vs Northern Arizona (No. 309)
Dec 19 vs Wake Forest (No. 97)*
Dec 21 vs South Carolina State (No. 354)
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 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 🡒]
WVU Buzz Is Rising Fast But Two Roster Calls Loom Large
West Virginias basketball buzz has been building quickly around Ross Hodges first team, and there is a reason for the optimism. The roster is young, the transfer haul and high school additions have given the Mountaineers a different look, and even former player Emmitt Matthews Jr. has sounded encouraged about where things could be headed as the season approaches.
The challenge is that the early excitement is still tied to a couple of unfinished roster matters that could shape how high this group can climb. The non-conference slate will not offer much breathing room, either, with North Carolina, Wake Forest in Greensboro, Pitt and Virginia Tech all waiting before league play really settles in. For West Virginia, the questions are no longer about whether there is intrigue, but whether the pieces will all be available when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]