The 2025 campaign concluded with the Mountaineers placed 14th out of 16 teams in the Big 12, a finish that highlighted both the promise and the gaps that remained on the roster.
A new direction
Head coach Rich Rodriguez returned to Morgantown on December 12, 2024, and immediately set about reshaping the program. After a late start to the offseason and a wave of departures following Neal Brown’s dismissal, Rodriguez turned to junior‑college transfers and internal development to fill the void.
The team showed flashes of brilliance, highlighted by a decisive victory over Pitt in the Backyard Brawl and a debut from true freshman quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. Yet the season was marred by setbacks, most notably an ACL tear that sidelined star tailback Jahiem White early in the schedule. The secondary also struggled, ranking near the bottom of Division I in pass‑rush metrics for the second consecutive year.
With a full offseason to embed his scheme, Rodriguez now faces heightened expectations for 2026. The upcoming roster spans a wide range of positions, classes, heights and hometowns, and is designed to be deeper and more versatile. Players such as Alex Adebayo, Malik Agbo and Cameron Dwyer are expected to contribute across the field, while the coaching staff hopes the new additions will tighten the defense and add playmaking ability.