WVU football news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
West Virginia beat Coastal Carolina 31-24 on Sept 5, then hosts UT Martin on Sept 12.
A win gives WVU its first 2-0 start in eight years.
Background
West Virginia opened its 2026 season, the second under head coach Rich Rodriguez, with a 31-24 home win over Coastal Carolina on Sept 5, jumping to a 24-0 halftime lead before the Chanticleers scored 24 of the game's next 31 points. The Mountaineers are now 1-0 and host UT Martin in Week 2. WVU is chasing its first 2-0 start in eight years, having been tripped up in either its opener or second game every season since. Pass defense is the lingering concern: WVU ranked 127th nationally last season at 265.4 yards allowed per game, and Coastal Carolina's Deuce Bailey threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns.
How it unfolded
- Sep 5, 2026West Virginia beat Coastal Carolina 31-24 at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, leading 24-0 at halftime before Coastal scored 24 of the game's next 31 points. Coastal quarterback Deuce Bailey passed for 373 yards and three touchdowns.
- Sep 7, 2026Cam Cook shines in his WVU debut, while a 5 SPORTS video headline asks whether Michael Hawkins is not the QB1 for WVU Football.
- Sep 9, 2026WVU (1-0) seeks its first 2-0 start in eight years; latest injury updates deal a significant blow to the offense. UT Martin is set for Saturday, Sept 12 at 1:00 p.m. at Milan Puskar Stadium.
- Sep 10, 2026The Mountaineer defense works on 'containment'; Rich Rodriguez reveals WVU has more than 25 players on multi-year deals, with more coming.
- Sep 12, 2026West Virginia (1-0) faces Tennessee-Martin (1-1) as massive favorites at home in Week 2; kickoff 1 p.m. ET, broadcast only on ESPN+. The teams have never met.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- WVU Athletics game notes frame Saturday as a shot at the program's first 2-0 start in eight years, and note the pass defense ranked 127th last season at 265.4 yards per game, requiring significant offseason retooling in the secondary.
- Coach
- Rich Rodriguez says WVU has more than 25 players on multi-year deals, and more are coming.
- Caution
- Latest injury updates deal a significant blow to the offense, and the defense is working on 'containment' after giving up significant yardage through the air against Coastal Carolina.
Still unverified
A 5 SPORTS video headline asks whether Michael Hawkins is not the QB1 for WVU Football; this is presented as a question, not a confirmed depth-chart decision.