Just like last year when I launched Tale of the Tape, the finale is more personalized and fit to match the style of The Edwards Editorial. After all, it’s a celebration of the 12-entry journey across WVU Football’s gauntlet of opponents for the upcoming season.
As I mentioned in this past week’s entry, which you can read below, it gets tougher by the week to try to predict what the matchup on the gridiron will look like down the final stretch of the season. For that reason, let’s just enjoy the fact predictions are coming to an end and football is soon to return to reality. Read more: Tale of the Tape 2.0 finale – Utah.
The final game of the season for the Mountaineers, barring a schedule change for broadcasting purposes, falls on Black Friday. And much like a Black Friday hangover after a beverage-friendly evening with the family, WVU probably wants to forget about every prior meeting with Utah.
Previous entry: Tale of the Tape 2.0 – Houston
New: Nickel, Koss lead WVU Women’s Soccer past Duquesne, 2-0
The November 27 matchup will also mark the Mountaineers’ first-ever trip to Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. It comes at a time when, at least from preseason projections, WVU will have to face three top 25 teams in a four-week span. It’s hard to tell where those opponents will stack up by then. But on paper, the game comes at the end of a long order.
Matchup history
It all started with the 1964 Liberty Bowl. The Mountaineers walked into Atlantic City, New Jersey, and fell completely flat against the Utes. Utah went on to win, 32-6, thanks heavily in part to a 16-point swing in the second quarter. Despite the pomp and circumstance, given the meeting took place at the first major bowl game to be played indoors, the Mountaineers left the city with their coonskin caps tucked between the ears.
WVU met a similar fate in the 2017 Cotton Bowl, falling 30-14. Without its legendary QB, Will Grier, the Mountaineers really stood no chance. The Utah duo of would-be-pros, Tyler Huntley and Zack Moss, led the Utes to a rather routine win.
The pair of programs finally met again in 2025, this time as Big 12 brethren. Utah, in front of a shockingly large contingency of its traveling fan base, put a hurting on the old gold and blue. A rain-soaked Milan Puskar Stadium proved to be a stomping ground at the Mountaineers’ expense in the 48-14 drubbing.
The only positive to come of that game (and even that depends on who you ask) was WVU’s retro uniforms.
Those rocked.
In short, all WVU has to show for the trifecta of past meetings include three double-digit losses, two bowl losses, and a Hall of Fame Weekend blowout.
What can be different this time
It’s no longer 1964, for starters.
Second, this isn’t a bowl game where one of the greatest gunslingers to walk through the doors in Morgantown is out with an injury.
Most importantly, at least WVU fans can hope, this year is better than the last. If not, it won’t be accepted.
As for on the sidelines, WVU Football Head Coach Rich Rodriguez gets a first-time head coaching matchup against Morgan Scalley. They’re no strangers, given Rodriguez’s stint at Arizona while Scalley worked the ranks as a varying assistant with the Utes over the years. However, Scalley is in the driver’s seat this time. He now holds the power longtime Utes legend Kyle Wittingham did for so long.
Expect this to be a fun chess match, if on-field talent allows.
Putting a wrap on Tale 2.0
It may not be the most in-depth series, but it sure helps us trudge through the offseason. It’s also just a lot of fun to pull historical points and not have to worry about the entire depth chart weeks to months in advance.
Should it return for the 2027 offseason? Feel free to leave a comment with any suggestions.
Regardless, I’d say there’s a good chance Tale of the Tape makes a return. Until then, no more offseason daydreaming about the pigskin. It’s football time in the Mountain State and beyond.
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