By: Jonathan K. Martin | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It’s football season once again as West Virginia begins their 133rd season in program history. Returning to lead the Mountaineers is Rich Rodriguez, who returns to Morgantown after a 17-year hiatus.
This season our WVSportsChat staff will give our game previews and predictions right here, all in one place.
Jonathan K. Martin | Spot. The. Ball.
It’s hard to believe it’s football season and even harder to believe Rich Rodriguez is back roaming the sidelines at West Virginia.
The Mountaineers open the season against Robert Morris and this should be a game where everyone can sit back, relax, and let nostalgia hit them in the face. The Colonials are the FCS version of West Virginia, replacing the vast majority of their roster. So I’ll get the easy part out of the way … I expect the Mountaineers to win convincingly.
I’m watching different position battles for West Virginia. Who starts at quarterback? Who plays the majority of the snaps? How does the offensive line look? Will the defensive be much improved?
This game should be out of hand early giving West Virginia the opportunity to evaluate different players and position groups.
West Virginia 42 Robert Morris 14
Justin “Couz” Walker | The Rich Rod 2.0 era officially begins for WVU football this week as the Mountaineers welcome the Robert Morris Colonials to Morgantown. RMU is the lone FCS opponent on the schedule for WVU.
Not only is West Virginia bringing in a new coaching staff this year, but they also have a rebuilt roster. Rodriguez and his staff have approximately 80 new players, which includes true freshmen and transfer portal additions. They have only two players returning who were full-time starters last season. Mountaineer fans have not been given any indication who will be the starting quarterback when they take the field on Saturday.
Most expect that either returning redshirt junior, Nicco Marchiol, or redshirt senior transfer, Jaylen Henderson, will win the job. However, don’t count out Charlotte transfer, Max Brown. Rodriguez has stated he doesn’t plan to reveal any starters prior to game day. He’s even said it’s possible many position battles, including quarterback, could last into the season. Speaking of unknowns, that’s exactly what the Mountaineers are getting in their opponent, Robert Morris.
The Colonials may be the FCS version of WVU, because they too are replacing most of their production from last season. Per Phil Steele, they return only two full-time starters from last season on offense and defense combined. While RMU is not replacing their head coach, they do have new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Offensively, RMU replaces their starting quarterback, top three running backs, top five wide receivers, starting tight end, and four of their five starting offensive linemen. According to Phil Steele, the starting quarterback for the Colonials will likely be Zach Turner. The 6-foot-2 redshirt junior started the season finale last year for RMU. For his career, he has completed 31 of 50 pass attempts (62%), for 453 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Defensively, it’s more of the same for Robert Morris. They return only one full-time starter, which is defensive lineman, Trey Woods. The 6-foot 250-pound senior was selected as a second team All-NEC performer by Phil Steele. In 2024 he recorded 28 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1.5 TFLs and 2 PBUs. He is expected to be the leader of this Colonials defense. Otherwise, they too will rely on transfers, many of which have minimal experience.
With Robert Morris facing many of the same challenges as WVU, the Mountaineers should be able to walk out of Morgantown with not only a win, but a chance to get snaps for much of their roster.
The game between Robert Morris and West Virginia will take place Saturday, August 30 inside Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, WV. Kickoff is set for 2:00pm Eastern/1:00pm Central and it will air on ESPN+.
West Virginia 49 Robert Morris 14
James Gravely | I believe we will see both teams come out flat early due to the first game jitters, but I believe we see a big day from Jahiem White on the ground. The defense will come away with 3 takeaways as well in route to a WVU victory.
West Virginia 42 Robert Morris 10
Cole Livengood | One of the major worries for the Mountaineers this season will be staying healthy. Running back Jahiem White had successful knee surgery this offseason, which will be put to the test early and often as he’s expected to command a strong majority of touches in Rich Rodriguez’s high-tempo offense.
Another factor is how Nicco Marchiol or Jaylen Henderson react under the immense pressure on their backs, knowing the other can easily take their job at a moment’s notice. Luckily for them, this is just a tune-up game, both players have their time to shine in the spotlight and prove why they deserve the job.
The Mountaineers have scored 50+ points against FCS opponents in six of the last seven matchups, and I see no reason why they can’t do it yet again this season. Robert Morris gave up 646 yards last season against Utah State, 303 of which were on the ground. I predict the Mountaineers will easily handle this one.
West Virginia 56 Robert Morris 14
Shanna Rose | The football season is finally here, and West Virginia is set to make its “hard edge” debut Saturday against Robert Morris. Rich Rodriguez’s return to Morgantown brings mixed emotions for some, but as the saying goes, winning has a way of healing old wounds.
With Rodriguez back on the sideline comes plenty of new faces — along with some familiar ones in very different roles. The Mountaineers’ depth chart is filled with competition. The biggest surprise may be at quarterback, where five names are listed with the dreaded “or” between them. Typically, teams have their starter locked in before kickoff, but WVU has Nicco Marchiol, Texas A&M transfer Jaylen Henderson, Charlotte transfer Max Brown, redshirt freshman Khalil Wilkins, and true freshman Scotty Fox Jr. all in the running for QB1. Other battles are also still unsettled.
At the Y receiver spot, Rodney Gallagher III, Eastern Michigan transfer Oran Singleton, and Jacksonville State transfer Jarod Bowie are vying for the starting nod. Tight end remains undecided, and the backup role behind Jaheim White is still open. Even with so many questions, there’s plenty of promise on offense. White is coming off a breakout sophomore season where he rushed for 844 yards on 148 carries and scored seven touchdowns. He should be a nightmare matchup for the Colonials.
Robert Morris also brings plenty of new names to the field, including a new quarterback after two-year starter Anthony Chiccitt transferred to Temple. Former backup Zach Tanner, who threw for 453 yards and four touchdowns last season, has been battling Harvard transfer Ameer Dudley for the starting job. The Colonials have transfer talent sprinkled across the roster, but they remain a rebuilding program.
While FCS teams have pulled off the occasional upset against FBS schools, this isn’t likely to be one of those cases. Robert Morris isn’t a powerhouse, and WVU has never lost to an FCS opponent. The Mountaineers should take care of business with ease.
West Virginia 49 Robert Morris 7
