West Virginia University is putting the final touches on its 2026‑27 men’s basketball schedule, a slate that promises a rigorous test from the outset.
A challenging non‑conference lineup
The plan features high‑profile contests against Pitt, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, while a potential Black Friday showdown may pit the Mountaineers against either Kentucky or North Carolina, a decision still being ironed out.
Head coach Ross Hodge has framed the schedule as a deliberate effort to sharpen the team’s résumé and demonstrate depth to the NCAA selection committee.
A mix of power programs and hidden gems
Beyond the marquee rivals, the Mountaineers will travel to face Niagara, Auburn, Kansas or UNLV, Houston, Rutgers, Florida, Notre Dame, Mercyhurst, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Coppin State and Wake Forest, creating a varied testing ground.
The Big 12 portion of the schedule adds further firepower, with matchups against UCF, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Arizona, Arizona State, Houston, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Baylor, BYU, Colorado, Kansas, Texas Tech and Utah.
By confronting such a diverse array of opponents, West Virginia hopes to translate early‑season battles into stronger seeding and a deeper run in March.