West Virginia University Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker announced last week that they will add 140 athletic scholarships for the 2026-27 season. It is a significant change from the current 260 athletic scholarships across its 18 varsity sports. They are increasing the number of football scholarships, but also investing in the future of Olympic sports at WVU. Read more: WVU Athletics Adds 140 Scholarships for 2026-27.
WVU Athletics Adds 140 Scholarships for 2026-27
WVU currently has 260 athletic scholarships among its 18 varsity sports, and, with the addition, they will have 400 for the 2026-27 season. It positions the WVU athletics among the top in the Big 12.
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“When our athletic teams win, WVU wins and West Virginians swell with pride,” Baker said in his announcement. “We have an obligation to help strengthen the University while advancing its mission and integrity.”
WVU Athletics will provide an additional 140 athletic scholarships for the 2026-27 season, a significant advancement toward future opportunity and success.
West Virginia will go from 260 scholarships to 400 among its 18 varsity sports.
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— WVU Sports (@WVUSports) October 9, 2025
The West Virginia University Board of Governors voted unanimously in support of WVU Athletics, approving a resolution to develop a financial plan that positions the department in the top funding tier among Big 12 institutions. Baker hinted during an interview on “3 Guys Before the Game” that the scholarship increase places WVU in the top two in the Big 12, and the baseball program will lead the league in scholarships.
“The addition of 140 scholarships is a crucial step to making WVU Athletics stronger,” Baker continued. “We are thankful for the confidence shown by President Benson and the BOG.”
What Sports Will See Increases?
There are 140 new scholarships available for 18 varsity sports. They are adding 16 new football scholarships, with the remaining 124 going to Olympic sports. The baseball team should receive its fair share of the scholarships. Teams around the country have operated on 11.7 scholarships, with 40 roster spots. The NCAA reduced the number to 34, as a result of changes made by the House v. NCAA settlement, but all players are still eligible to receive a scholarship. Women’s and men’s soccer, rifle, track and field, gymnastics, wrestling, and other sports are expected to see an increase, as WVU signals a commitment to competitiveness across its 18 varsity programs.
Statement from @stevesabins regarding this week’s announcement of additional athletic scholarships at WVU ⤵️ https://t.co/Pe8DGItx2s pic.twitter.com/bLnk1a1TXl
— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) October 11, 2025
“For us to remain highly competitive in those sports, we were going to have to add some additional scholarships,” Baker said. “Thanks to the support of our board and President (Michael) Benson, we’ve been able to make that happen. I’m excited for our coaches, excited for our student-athletes, and excited for our fans.”
New revenue streams, such as the naming rights deal with Hope Gas for Hope Coliseum, allow for the continued funding of athletics. These revenue streams alleviate some of the stress for donors and fans.
“We were able to get an injection of capital, and that’s really important,” Baker said. “I know for the traditionalists out there, it’s a little difficult to digest, but what I’ve tried to tell people is we’re trying to capture revenue in a variety of ways, and it’s going to take revenue to compete in this new world. Every time we can identify a new revenue stream like that, it puts a little less pressure on concession prices, ticket prices, and parking prices.”
