I’ve complained off the site about the noon starts WVU Football (5-3, 2-3) has been subjected to for several weeks. Breakfast tailgates are cool and all, but it felt like punishment for being a non-contender in the Big 12. Read more: WVU promoted out of noon kickoff purgatory, but comes with a tough test.
The Mountaineers finally have a game past that window again, but it comes with a price — primetime on ESPN against No. 13 Texas Tech. The bright lights of a 9:30 p.m. ET kickoff with a national audience set the stage for WVU to sink or swim.
It’s been awhile
Following a 41-24 home loss to Oklahoma State that got a 7 p.m. slot, WVU played four straight noon kicks. Not to mention the first two games of the season, which started at noon and 1 p.m. respectively.
To be fair, the team got so bad between weeks 4 and 6 that they’re luckily they didn’t get sent to The Weather Channel at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday.
Related: November 2026 WVU Athletics Preview
Now, WVU is back to being nationally relevant to some degree after winning back-to-back games. But when those tortillas fly at Galaxy Stadium, a venue the Mountaineers have struggled mightily in, will WVU be ready?
Odds against the ‘Eers
WVU hasn’t fared well in Lubbock over the years.
The Mountaineers are 3-4 all-time down there, and haven’t won a game there since 2018.
TTU has knocked off WVU in the last two meetings in the series, including a historic Mountaineer loss in Morgantown to end the 2025 season. The Red Raiders lead the all-time series, 8-7.
WVU is 1-1 past 1 p.m. this year, and have yet to play a road game at night. Both evening affairs have been in front of WVU-dominant crowds.
The Mountaineers haven’t been good when the bright lights are on in general for several years. Here’s how they’ve stacked up in games at 6 p.m. or later since 2021 (including bowls);
- 2021: 2-2
- 2022: 2-3
- 2023: 5-3
- 2024: 2-3
- 2025: 0-3
Combine the primetime record, a losing record in the series, and the disadvantage on the gridiron against a top 15 team, and the national stage doesn’t seem so cool.
But, it still is.
The more eyes on the program, the better. Of course, fans don’t want the world to see their team in a blowout loss. But what if they win?
The eyes of the world see WVU get bowl eligible a year after going 4-8. They’d also see a road win over a ranked team, something that happened last year but would mean more now.
Maybe it doesn’t even matter.
I’d argue it does.
Big challenge ahead
Kickoff between the Mountaineers and Red Raiders is set for 9:30 p.m. Saturday, November 7. We’ll have all your game week and game day coverage on WV Sports Nation, getting you ready for the showdown in Texas.
Don’t forget to check out The Mountaineer Tailgate, hitting the air Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and leading all the way up to kickoff. Hosts Mitch Rogers and Santana Withrow will lead the crew in breaking down the matchup from a fan’s perspective.
You can catch the show on 100.9 FMÂ The Torch or any of its affiliate stations, as well as JFMN.TV. The game is airing on ESPN.
Get those sunglasses ready, because the lights are bright again and they’re shining on the old gold and blue.
