The holiday season is in full swing and WVU Athletics could benefit from finding new gifts under the tree. Here are four presents the Mountaineers can ask for as Christmas Day draws near. Read more: Johnathan’s Christmas list for WVU Athletics
WVU is in a relatively favorable spot when it comes to the sports realm.
The football team has picked up on the recruiting trail after a disappointing 2025 campaign. WVU finished 4-8 but built the foundation for a potentially fruitful future.
Both basketball teams, soccer teams and WVU Rifle, among other programs, are in solid positions.
Treysen Eaglestaff taking the next step
WVU Men’s Basketball currently holds a winning record but fell short in easily winnable non-conference games. Eaglestaff has shown flashes of his potential but several fans want more out of the North Dakota transfer. The Mountaineers would greatly benefit from the sharpshooter taking the next step.
Related: Would Eaglestaff benefit from being the sixth man?
Fans and coaches alike would warmly welcome a return to form from the player who casually dropped 40 points against Alabama. He is one of the top talents on Head Coach Ross Hodge’s squad, and the talent just needs applied.
Baseball season to come sooner
WVU Baseball begins its season on February 13 against Georgia Southern. It feels like that date is a lifetime away.
The Mountaineers produced a historic season under first-year HC Steve Sabins, a run that included an appearance in the NCAA Super Regionals. WVU ran into the buzzsaw known as LSU but that is nothing to hang heads over.
Related: WVU Baseball signs 10 players for 2027
Fans showed up to Kendrick Family Ballpark in droves this past season, shattering program attendance records. The single-game attendance record was broken with a crowd of 4,629 looking on as WVU faced off against Pitt. To add, the season attendance record was reset after a total of 77,359 spectators flocked into the facility across 24 home games.
With returning players and new acquisitions, the baseball program has a rocket strapped to it. The sky is the limit for Sabins and company.
The true return of “Hard Edge”
It is a slogan written inside the tunnel where players run out onto Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Outside of the time capsule of a game that was the 108th Backyard Brawl, “Hard Edge” has not fully returned.
Related: One year of Rich Rodriguez back at WVU
There were glimpses of it, of course. The aforementioned Pitt game, the Houston upset and several press conference quotes in between made it known what the future can look like for WVU Football.
The pressure will be turned up on the football program entering year two of HC Rich Rodriguez’s second stint in Morgantown. It has to come to fruition before fans fall off the bandwagon.
Until it becomes the undoubted mantra that carries over to on-field production, it is still just a slogan. Let’s hope it becomes a lifestyle.
Another rifle championship?
WVU Rifle is THE program among the ranks of the sport. The Mountaineers have collected 21 national championships and are the current defending champs.
Related: Checking in on WVU Rifle and other programs
Those who follow WVU Rifle know it is a dynasty. Maybe Santa will deliver another one to the old gold and blue in the spring. The season resumes on January 17, 2026, when the Mountaineers welcome Akron to the WVU Rifle Range.
Final (gift) wrap
There are plenty of gifts that WVU Athletics can wish for as Christmas bells ring through town but these four are my list-toppers. Merry Christmas (eve) and happy holidays from all of us at WV Sports Nation.
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