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College football: Coastal Carolina vs West Virginia
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
West Virginia hosts Coastal Carolina on Sept. 5 as a 21.5-point favorite. The game marks Rich Rodriguez's second-season leap and Coastal's new coach Ryan Beard's debut.
Background
West Virginia finished 4-8 last year and hopes to improve under Rich Rodriguez in his second stint. Coastal Carolina went 6-7, lost its last four games, and hired Ryan Beard from Missouri State to rebuild with 39 transfers.
How it unfolded
- Aug 31, 2026Coastal Carolina announces a watch party at Ole Smoky for the season opener.
- Sep 1, 2026Betting odds released: West Virginia -21.5, moneyline -1600, over/under 55.5.
- Sep 4, 2026Preview articles highlight Coastal's new pro-style offense and experienced linebacker group.
- Sep 5, 2026Game day: West Virginia retires Pat White's No. 5 jersey before kickoff at noon ET.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- West Virginia will rout Coastal, pushing for close to 300 rushing yards against a weak run defense.
- Caution
- 21.5 points is a lot for a team with 80+ newcomers; Coastal might cover despite likely losing.
Still unverified
Coastal's starting quarterback is unconfirmed; Deuce Bailey is likely but Tre Guerra and Trever Jackson are also in contention.