MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Big 12 Board of Directors announced Monday the league will play a 10-game schedule, featuring nine conference games plus one nonconference home matchup, which allows scheduling flexibility throughout the season.
The start of conference play will be solidified in the coming weeks, with an anticipated start sometime between mid-to-late September, with the expectation nonconference games will be played prior to the beginning of league games.
The model also gives the conference flexibility to move back the Big 12 Championship game to Dec. 12 or 19 (currently scheduled for Dec. 5.
“The decision by the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors is an important one because now we can move forward.” WVU athletic director Shane Lyons said in a statement. “We lost the Florida State game in Atlanta so that put us in a transition period. We will have a 10-game schedule, and we will get it finalized with the Big 12 and announced to our fans in the coming days.”
Previously, WVU’s season opener was scheduled for Sept. 5 against Florida State in Atlanta, but that game was previously canceled when the ACC announced its teams’ nonconference games could only be played in their respective home states.
The Mountaineers’ home game against Maryland previously set for Sept. 19 was canceled when the Big Ten announced it was not playing a nonconference slate at all.
Currently, WVU is scheduled to play Eastern Kentucky at Milan Puskar Stadium on Sept. 12, though Lyons does not mention that game in his statement. The NCAA is expected to discuss the future of FCS this week.
WVU is working with university, local and state officials to determine game day attendance numbers and percentages allowed in Milan Puskar Stadium for the season. Finalized plans will be announced at a later date.
Ticket purchasers for the Florida State game can credit the amount to a future ticket purchase by logging on to wvuga.me/CFATix. No login action is required for customers who wish to receive a refund. A credit will be placed on the original card used for the purchase beginning Aug. 10.
Ticket purchasers can also convert their payment to a tax-deductible contribution to the Mountaineer Athletic Club for student-athlete scholarship fund.
