The 2025 football season is right around the corner, and WVU is mostly projected to win five or six games. Here’s my take on why the Mountaineers might surprise some folks. Read More: EDITORIAL: Projecting the Win Total for WVU Football
Robert Morris
The second stint under the Rich Rodriguez regime begins on August 30th in the season opener. The Robert Morris Colonials represent the Northeast Conference at the FCS level and hail from Moon Township, Pennsylvania.
While WVU might start slow due to it being the first game, the Mountaineers should cruise to victory. A team should never underestimate the opponent, but this is the safest bet on the schedule.
Ohio
This has “trap game” written all over it. For some reason, I don’t feel the most confident in this game. The Bobcats are the reigning MAC Champions and, shockingly, are the home team. WVU will travel to play in front of a small, yet mighty, fan base in Athens.
This is also the first road test for the Mountaineers in 2025, which could cause some issues. Despite my doubts, I still have the old gold and blue prevailing on September 6th.
Pitt
For all I care, the Mountaineers could go 1-11 with this schedule. The one game that WVU must put in the win column is the Backyard Brawl. The storylines practically write themselves.
The Pitt Panthers will make their way down I-79 to face West Virginia in the final contest between the two programs until 2028. Statistics and logic are often cast to the wayside when it comes to rivalry games, and rightfully so.
Taking place on a quite symbolic date, September 13th, this showdown promises to be glorious. In front of a national audience, the Mountaineers will try to avenge last year’s meltdown by earning a marquee victory.
Once again, Rich Rodriguez will be top billing on the headlines, win or lose. It’s been nearly 18 years since Rodriguez’s final game at the helm for WVU, when the Mountaineers fell to Pitt at home, 13-9. This is the one game he has to win, bar none.
For the sake of all things holy in Morgantown, give me WVU in a tight one.
Related: WVU Football Hosting Fan Day on August 17th
Kansas
“The scariest 5-7 team you’ll ever see” was the recurring thought surrounding the Jayhawks in 2024. WVU was able to squeak out a last-second win over Kansas the last time around, but the Mountaineers will be on the road this time.
The Jayhawks were a scrappy bunch all year this past season, and they’re on an upward trajectory. This is also the first Big 12 road game of the year for WVU, and this is where I could see the Mountaineers running into trouble.
Kansas could take this one in the fourth quarter.
Utah
The Utes come to Morgantown on Hall of Fame Weekend, September 27th. WVU has fared well the past two times the program has welcomed in Mountaineer legends for such an occasion. The pressure of having all-time greats in the house could be a grand motivator for the team.
Utah is usually a preseason favorite, thanks in part to an illustrious recent history. However, I don’t expect the Utes to walk out of Milan Puskar Stadium with a win.
BYU
I’ll keep this one short. The game is scheduled for a Friday night at Lavell Edwards Stadium… on national television, no less. Between the short week, extensive travel, the venue, and the Cougars’ strong performance in 2024, I think BYU takes this one.
UCF
After a much-needed bye week, the Mountaineers will head south to Orlando, Florida. WVU has fared extremely well against UCF over the years, winning all four games in the all-time series.
As mentioned in my Tale of the Tape entry regarding this matchup, Scott Frost and Rich Rodriguez make for a stellar coaching discourse. Despite being on the road, WVU can dominate this matchup on a good day.
TCU
The Horned Frogs come to town on Homecoming weekend, which usually draws a sizable crowd. This is by far the most intriguing conference game on the Mountaineers’ calendar, as the two teams share a storied past.
With it being a momentous weekend on the school’s calendar, as well as a series that WVU leads, 8-5, the Mountaineers should prevail.
Houston
I hate to bring up old news, but the only time these two teams have shared a gridiron, it didn’t end well for West Virginia. The Mountaineers will return to the cursed venue to try and reverse their luck this time.
It’s hard to tell where both programs will be come November 1st, but this is a complete toss-up for me. Houston upset WVU in 2023, but it was one of only five conference wins the Cougars have earned since joining the Big 12.
Expect another wonky game, but WVU should be able to close this one out.
Colorado
2025 will be Deion Sanders’ third year at the helm for Colorado, and his first without his son at quarterback. “Primetime” always finds a way to keep the Buffaloes relevant, even when their record doesn’t warrant it.
Despite having the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner (Travis Hunter) and a well-respected quarterback (Shedeur Sanders) this past season, the Buffaloes lost four games, including a smackdown in the Alamo Bowl.
I’ll never underestimate a team coached by Sanders, but I think the Mountaineers sneak away with a win.
Arizona State
This is where the trouble might set in for WVU. The Sun Devils are the reigning champions of the Big 12 Conference and are coming off an appearance in the CFP Semifinal. Between the on-field superiority of Arizona State at the time of publication, as well as the raucous environment out in Tempe, ASU will probably take this one.
Texas Tech
Can money buy happiness? Not really, but the Red Raiders cashed in this offseason. With a football budget of over 25 million dollars, there’s no reason Texas Tech can’t win 11 or 12 games this year. Despite being played in Morgantown, I think TTU buys its way to a win.
Closing Thoughts
While most projections slate the West Virginia Mountaineers between five and six wins, I’m projecting a record of 8-4. I’m well aware that the sportsbooks probably know more than the average journalist or fan, but eight wins feels fair.
Only time will tell what the 2025 football season has for West Virginia, and it all starts at 2 p.m. on August 30th. You can listen to every Mountaineer football game on 100.9 FM The Torch and its nine affiliate stations.
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