Well, it didn’t take long for some of the Mountaineer fanbase to start questioning the return of Rich Rodriguez to Morgantown. Despite our best efforts here at this site to temper expectations – to basically tell everyone to bask in the glow of the Backyard Brawl win – Saturday’s 41-10 loss to Kansas in the Big 12 opener poured cold water on the good vibes. READ MORE: Snap Back to Reality: Jayhawks Drop the Mic on WVU
West Virginia entered the game as a double-digit underdog, but after last week’s come-from-behind victory, there was hope that maybe, just maybe, they could shock the world again. Instead, reality came crashing in. And you can already feel it on social media: the faction of fans who weren’t excited about Rodriguez’s return are out in full force, calling for drastic change. Many of the complaints focus on his “old-school” coaching style, with critics arguing it makes it harder to recruit (or buy) elite talent in today’s college football world.
That frustration is understandable – but it’s also misplaced.
Yes, Saturday was ugly. Nobody enjoys getting blown out by Kansas, a program West Virginians still instinctively think of as a basketball school. But blaming Rodriguez at this point is delusional. Let’s keep some perspective.
Till I Collapse
This team has been gutted by injuries. WVU lost one of the best running backs in the country when Jaheim White went down with a horse-collar tackle against Ohio. Jaden Bray, one of the top wideouts, was also lost for the season in that game. Tye Edwards (RB) traveled to Lawrence but didn’t suit up.
“When we’re able to run the ball, everything’s a lot easier. But it is what it is,” Rodriguez talking about the mounting injuries. “We’ve got to manufacture it some way. We did a little bit at the end of the game with the quarterback run stuff, but we got to see who’s healthy. Gee whiz, it’s crazy. It’s just one of those years.”
Rodriguez will never make excuses – he put the blame squarely on the coaching staff after the game. But the truth is this roster is patched together with transfers, many of whom aren’t ready for Power Four football. Building depth takes time, and the offensive line will be a major point of emphasis going forward.
Then there’s the quarterback situation. Nicco Marchiol simply hasn’t shown the accuracy or speed to make this system hum. And the reality of Rodriguez’s offense is that it puts enormous pressure on the defense because it doesn’t control the clock. That’s fine if you’re scoring points in bunches. But right now, this unit just isn’t built to do that.
“We’ve got to try and manufacture some run stuff, and if you throw it, you have to be really on the mark throwing it,” lamented Rodriguez in the post-game presser. “Precise with your passing game, your protection, your routes, your decisions, and we weren’t precise in any of the categories there.”
The Mountaineers likely won’t be favored in another game this year. That’s the harsh truth. But this season isn’t about chasing wins as much as it is about showing progress week-to-week. Saturday, we didn’t see that improvement. The turnovers, missed tackles, and mental errors were all back on display. The silver lining? Rodriguez won’t tolerate that for long. Expect a much sharper effort next week against Utah.
Going Through Changes
Here’s the bigger picture: Rich Rodriguez’s first stint in Morgantown started 3–9. It takes time to build a foundation, especially in today’s chaotic landscape of NIL and the transfer portal. What matters most this year is that WVU looks like an attractive landing spot for recruits and portal players heading into 2026. Rodriguez doesn’t need to be a contender right away, but he needs to show this program is just a few pieces away from being one.
So yes, Saturday was tough. But perspective is everything. This rebuild was never going to be instant, and writing Rodriguez off the first week of conference play is short-sighted.
Keep the faith. Stay off the message boards. And remember: in today’s college football, the only certainty is uncertainty.
