By: James Gravley | WV Sports Chat
As some things change, they stay the same. Rich Rodriguez is back at West Virginia’s head football coach, the glossy helmets are back, and a new fan excitement is in the air that hasn’t been there for West Virginia football in some years.
Here are my game-by-gam results:
Week 1: WVU vs. Robert Morris — Saturday, 8/30
West Virginia should handle Robert Morris pretty easily in Week One and it shouldn’t even be a contest in Morgantown.
Result: WVU 34, Robert Morris 10
Record: WVU (1-0, 0-0)
Week 2: WVU at Ohio — Saturday, 9/6
This game for West Virginia should be circled on the calendar as a trap game, but WVU should pull this one out. Even with a big game from Jahiem White, expect this one to be close into the fourth quarter.
Result: WVU 31, Ohio 24
Record: WVU (2-0, 0-0)
Week 3: WVU vs Pitt — Saturday, 9/13
The Backyard Brawl is back with Rich Rodriguez on the sidelines as the Mountaineers head coach for the first time since the heartbreaking loss several years ago. This game, just like the Ohio game, will be close from start to finish. It will take a game winning field goal for WVU to pull it out.
Result: WVU 20, Pitt 17
Record: WVU (3-0, 0-0)
Week 4: WVU at Kansas — Saturday, 9/20
West Virginia starts its Big 12 campaign against Kansas, and after barely squeezing by Ohio and Pitt, WVU finds a way to pull a big win together on the road to open the Big 12.
Result: WVU 38, Kansas 28
Record: WVU (4-0, 1-0)
Week 5: WVU vs Utah — Saturday, 9/27
West Virginia and Utah do not have a lot of history on the football field, but after this game the two teams will suffer bruises and soreness that will linger on for the entire season. WVU *barely* escapes this game with neither team scoring 20 points.
Result: WVU 17, Utah 14
Record: WVU (5-0, 2-0)
Week 6: WVU at BYU — Friday, 10/3
Prior to the news of BYU’s starting quarterback entering the portal, this game was originally going to be a loss. That has now changed. However, with the team being battle tested the week before against Utah, expect the running game to be anchored by Jahiem White and Jaylan Knighton as they carry the Mountaineers to its sixth straight win.
Result: WVU 31, BYU 17
Record: WVU (6-0, 3-0)
Week 7: OPEN WEEK — Saturday, 10/11
This will be the time to heal for WVU as they prepare to face a reloaded UCF football squad the following week.
Week 8: WVU at UCF — Saturday, 10/18
It’s a new era for UCF football. And they’re better than advertised in 2025. Scott Frost enters his Knights squad into war with the Mountaineers and gives WVU its first loss of the season.
Result: WVU 21, UCF 28
Record: WVU (6-1, 3-1)
Week 9: WVU vs TCU — Saturday, 10/25
TCU is one of the media favorites to win the Big 12 along with Arizona State, Kansas State and Texas Tech, and this game won’t be an easy task for WVU. It may be at home but there won’t be any home cooking for the Mountaineers this day.
Result: WVU 17, TCU 30
Record: WVU (6-2, 3-2)
Week 10: WVU at Houston — Saturday, 11/1
West Virginia ends its two-game losing streak to find a way to win this game on the road. It won’t result in a last play defending a Hail Mary on defense either. WVU wins this game in a blowout.
Result: WVU 48, Houston 17
Record: WVU (7-2, 4-2)
Week 11: WVU vs Colorado — Saturday, 11/8
Even Deion Sanders and his Buffalo squad can’t stampede into Morgantown and escape Country Roads with a victory. WVU wins this game in a high scoring offensive explosion.
Result: WVU 49, Colorado 42
Record: WVU (8-2, 5-2)
Week 12: WVU at Arizona State — Saturday, 11/15
Arizona State picks up in 2025 where it left off in 2024 with a winning record, a chance at the college football playoff again, and a win against WVU.
Result: WVU 21, Arizona State 41
Record: WVU (8-3, 5-3)
Week 13: OPEN WEEK — Saturday, 11/22
West Virginia takes a week off to prepare for the Texas Tech Red Raiders who enter the last game of the season with a lot to play for in the Big 12.
Week 14: WVU vs Texas Tech — Saturday, 11/29
West Virginia will do everything in its power to keep this game close for all four quarters, but in the end the Red Raiders pull away in the fourth quarter surpassing 40 points.
Result: WVU 31, Texas Tech 42
Record: WVU (8-4, 5-4)
Final thoughts: West Virginia, under Rodriguez finish the season with a winning record, but don’t impress in the Big 12. This ultimately leads them to a bowl projection seeding in the Military Bowl against Navy.
Photo: Joe Sargent/GettyImages
