By: James Gravley | WV Sports Chat
This story is only a hypothetical situation for who could potentially fill the void in 2026 and 2027 is Alabama were to drop its game against the Mountaineers. This is in no way a true scenario, however, a couple of these opponents could fill the gap in 2026 and 2027.
Next season West Virginia is scheduled to play Alabama and again in 2027. However, with the SEC’s newly announced scheduling model that is taking place in 2026 and beyond, it leaves the door cracked for a conversation. And that conversation is who, if Bama does indeed drop WVU from its 2026 and 2027 schedule, WVU will face over the next two years.
The (SEC) adopted a new nine-game conference football schedule for 2026, moving away from the previous eight-game model. The new “3-6” format involves playing three annual, permanent rivals and six rotating non-annual opponents each season. This change, approved by conference presidents, is intended to keep historic rivalries intact, increase competitive balance, and align with other major conferences while preparing teams for the College Football Playoff.
Furthermore, the change, approved by school presidents and chancellors, aligns the league with the Big Ten and Big 12, which already play nine conference games. Programs will still be required to keep one marquee non-league opponent from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, or Notre Dame.
Does this mean that Bama will even drop its series of game against WVU? Absolutely not. Is it a possibility that could happen? Absolutely.
Here’s why: Bama, in 2026, has three non-conference games against WVU, Florida State and South Florida. With that, Bama likely keeps FSU over WVU in 2026 due to the marquee television markets plus the national broadcasting markets, and depending on how FSU/Bama perform this season, that game in 2026 (FSU/Bama) could see College GameDay show up to town. That’s more relevancy than WVU at this point in time. And in 2027 the Crimson Tide have WVU on the schedule along with Ohio State. Again, more reason for Bama to not want to play WVU.
Florida State and Ohio State attract more nationally right now than what West Virginia can. However, that’s not saying that in the new(ish)-era of Rich Rodriguez that WVU won’t get back to where it was when he was in Morgantown the first time. But, it will take time. And WVU fans have to be patient with that.
The ACC is likely going to jump onboard with the new scheduling metric, which then would make Pitt an ideal option for WVU in 2026 and 2027.
The first and clear option here is Pitt.
Even the majority of Pitt fans would rather play WVU and keep the Backyard Brawl going. Unfortunately, as of now, after this season, the next time the two schools will play each other is in 2029.
Neither fanbase wants to wait that long. And nor should they.
However, Pitt’s schedule in 2026 is filled up with games against UCF and Wisconsin and then play Wisconsin again in 2027, but that game is in Ireland. Pitt, regardless of the fans outcry, won’t drop Wisconsin in Ireland due to it being a Week 0 contest. Could they drop UCF? Sure. Will they? Who really knows. As for 2027, other than Wisconsin, Pitt is playing Western Michigan and UConn. Both of which are less superior than WVU and would not draw nearly the same amount of revenue as the Brawl.
The second option is Virginia Tech.
Fans of both schools have had glamorous things to say about this rivalry and want it to be played more often. And it could be a much easier option for VT to drop out of one of its non-conference games to add in WVU.
In 2026 the Hokies are scheduled to play VMI, ODU, JMU and Maryland. The likelihood of dropping Maryland will be slim. However, dropping FSC VMI seems logical, but again there will be some buyout issues to kink out as well.
Virginia Tech plays Maryland again in 2027 along with Notre Dame and Liberty. The Hokies could drop their game against Liberty, but that depends on buyouts as well.
The third and final hypothetical scenario here is playing Syracuse.
The Orange find themselves playing New Hampshire, Toledo, UConn, and Notre Dame next season. They could drop the UConn series as the Orange face the Huskies in 2027 as well. However, that will run the Orange into a problem of playing four-straight seasons with two Power 4 teams on its schedule from 2025-2027. The other issue is it looks like UConn-Cuse are tied up with each other from 2025-2028. Thus, pointing out if Cuse were to be a liable option, who would the Orange want to part ways with, if at all, to add in WVU?
There’s been things floated around on social media with WVU linking up with Kentucky, Maryland or even Rutgers, to bring back some of the old traditional rivalry feels from the Big East days, but I just think WVU will try to incorporate its best-known rivalries in the mix with either Pitt or VT being the No. 1 and No. 2 options and Cuse, among others being a backup plan to the backup plans.
Here’s the thing though; and for all of this to even work, there will be need a buyout. WVU is not going to pay $2M-plus to drop out of the Bama series. The question though is Bama willing to pay that price tag and move on from WVU? Only time will tell.
Photo: WVU athletics
