West Virginia’s opener ended with a win, but it didn’t exactly leave the kind of clean, comfortable feeling you’d want after building a 24-0 lead. The Mountaineers got out of there with a 31-24 victory over Coastal Carolina, and the game turned into a lot more work than anyone in Morgantown probably expected after that fast start.
The day began with an emotional pregame tribute to Pat White, whose No. 5 was retired by the university, before Rich Rodriguez and his team opened his second season back in Morgantown. Once the ball was kicked off, West Virginia wasted little time flashing the kind of offensive pop it was hoping to see.
The biggest spark came from Jahiem Cook, who looked every bit like the engine this offense wants him to be. On his very first rushing attempt in the old gold and blue, he ripped off a 72-yard gain. Cook finished with 30 carries for 153 yards and two touchdowns, giving West Virginia the kind of heavy workload and production it expects from him all season.
The Mountaineers also got encouraging signs from a pair of freshmen in the starting lineup. Kevin Brown opened at left tackle after earning the job with a strong summer, and the offensive line as a whole delivered a strong showing.
West Virginia ran for 281 yards and allowed just one sack. Matt Sieg, meanwhile, handled the primary return duties on kickoffs and punts and also made his presence felt on defense with a second-quarter fumble recovery, even though the big return never came.
Defensively, West Virginia had one area that looked solid throughout: stopping the run. Coastal Carolina’s ground game never got going, and the Mountaineers held the Chanticleers to 1.9 yards per carry for the game.
Still, the second half brought a very different feel. After piling up 223 rushing yards before halftime, West Virginia managed only 58 on the ground after the break and had a harder time moving the ball overall.
Michael Hawkins Jr. provided the lone second-half touchdown for the Mountaineers with an 11-yard scamper after the offense was already set up deep in enemy territory. If that version of the offense shows up against Big 12 teams, the margin for error shrinks fast.
Coastal Carolina quarterback Deuce Bailey also made things uncomfortable for West Virginia. The redshirt freshman threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns on the road against a Power 4 opponent, and he kept extending plays when pressure came his way.
West Virginia got to him four times, but too often Bailey slipped away from the rush and found room as coverage broke down downfield. The secondary still has work to do, and by the end of the night it was hard to shake the feeling that Bailey had won more of those battles than the defense did.
In Other News...
WVU Passing Game Takes An Early Hit Before The Opener
West Virginias passing game will open the season without one of its key pieces, as wide receiver Prince Strachan is set to miss the opener against Coastal Carolina because of a shoulder injury. Rich Rodriguez said Strachan is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks, which forces the Mountaineers to make an early adjustment at a position group that was already worth watching heading into Week 1.
Jaden Bray has been moved into the X role, while John Neider will start at Z, giving the staff a different look right out of the gate. For a WVU offense trying to find rhythm early, the setback is a reminder that the first depth-chart decisions of the season can change fast, and the opener may offer a first glimpse at how the receivers respond to the shuffle. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Suddenly Has A Big Darius Wiley Concern
West Virginias season opener against Coastal Carolina brought an early defensive concern when Darius Wiley left the field injured and had to be carted off. The extent of the issue was not immediately clear afterward, and the Mountaineers still had not offered an official diagnosis by the end of the game.
Wiley entered the 2026 season as a notable addition to West Virginias defense, which makes the uncertainty around his status especially important for a unit that was counting on him to help set the tone up front. For now, the Mountaineers are left waiting for more clarity on a player who was supposed to be part of their defensive answer this fall. [Read more 🡒]
Pat White Is About To Get A West Virginia Honor Fans Love
West Virginia is set to add another name to its wall of honors before the 2026 season opener against Coastal Carolina, with Pat Whites jersey number being retired in a ceremony that figures to hit home for a fan base that still remembers his days as the face of the program. White will become the seventh Mountaineer football player to have his number retired, a fitting marker for a quarterback whose college career included plenty of the kind of big-game moments that made him one of the most beloved players in school history.
There is also a modern wrinkle attached to the tribute, with senior wide receiver Jaden Bray wearing No. 5 this season with Whites permission. It gives the number a current presence while the school prepares to formally honor one of its most iconic players, and it adds a little extra intrigue to a fall that already has a ceremonial feel around Morgantown. [Read more 🡒]