The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced some future non-conference home matchups for WVU football. Read more: Non-conference Showdowns Set for WVU’s Football Future
Extending through 2031, five opponents have been set—a mix of familiar and first-time foes for the Mountaineers.
The First Timers
One matchup that has been set will have WVU pitted against UT-Martin on Sept. 12, 2026. The Skyhawks, who compete in the Ohio Valley Conference, have experienced recent success by claiming a conference championship in 2024. This will be the first matchup against these two schools.
The Mountaineers have also confirmed two different matchups against the University of Akron, with the first to be played on Sept. 16, 2028, and the second on Sept. 14, 2030. The Zips are a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), where they have seen little success recently. Their most successful season in recent memory came in 2024, where they won games—following three-straight two-win seasons.
Related: West Virginia Men’s Basketball Learns Big 12 Opponents
Sept. 16 will mark the first meeting between WVU and Akron.
Rhode Island University will also visit WVU for the first time in 2030, with their date slated for Aug. 31. The Rams contend in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Conference and are coming off an 11-win season in 2024. If this success continues, the Rams could pose a challenge for the Mountaineers in non-conference action.
The Arrival of Old Foes
The first confirmed game will feature WVU facing the Virginia Military Institute, an opponent it hasn’t played since 1972. The Keydets have taken on the Mountaineers 11 times, and have yet to come away with a victory.
VMI will have two opportunities to change that—the first being on Sept. 11, 2027, and the second on Aug. 30, 2031.
WVU will also plan to face Youngstown State University on Sept. 9, 2028. The Penguins have clashed with the Mountaineers twice before—with the latter taking both victories. They will enter Milan Puskar Stadium once again in hopes of avenging their 52-17 thrashing in 2018.
The Mountaineers can look forward to these future matchups, but first, they will turn their attention to the 2025 season, which kicks off with a non-conference bout against Robert Morris University on Aug. 30.
Non-conference Showdowns Set for WVU’s Football Future
