WVU football not overlooking U.T. Martin to get to 2-0 for 1st time since 2018
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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia football can break a long eight-year streak on Saturday against the FCS’s U.T. Martin. No, it's not going to the College Football Playoffs or setting a statistical record. It's simply starting a season 2-0.
The last time the Mountaineers started a year 2-0 was in 2018 when Dana Holgorsen was coaching. Since then, WVU has lost to Penn State twice to open two straight seasons, lost to Ohio last season, fell to Pitt to open the season in 2022, and Oklahoma State in Week 2 in 2020. There's been a lot of losing in those first two weeks.
After starting the season with a win over Coastal Carolina, WVU is looking favorable to start 2-0 against U.T. Martin in Week 2. The Mountaineers are projected to win by 40, according to sportsbooks, and ESPN gives them a 97.1% chance to win. The Skyhawks are one of WVU's and the rest of the Power Four schools' "pay-to-win" games, meaning U.T. Martin is getting paid to get beat by 40.
Even if they're an inferior opponent based on level and the sportsbooks, Rich Rodriguez and the team know they still have to take care of business.
"You just have to have the mentality of taking this game as you would take another opponent in your conference," offensive lineman Amare "Bubba" Grayson said. "Just keeping your foot on the gas at all times."
U.T. Martin isn't your average FCS school. The Skyhawks are 1-1 on the year, but they've been historically one of the better FCS schools. U.T. Martin was in the FCS Playoffs in 2024 and has won its conference championship six times. The Skyhawks have a veteran head coach, Jason Simpson (the father of Los Angeles Rams and former Alabama QB Ty Simpson), who's been there since 2006.
"Known coach Simpson for a long time," Rodriguez said. "Got a lot of respect for him. They're a really good 1AA FCS program."
The Skyhawks have used two different quarterbacks through their first two games. In Game 1, returner Julian Calvez started. U.T. Martin was blown out by Central Arkansas, but Calvez returned to start against Chicago State in the second game. He played just a drive before Simpson handed the keys over to redshirt freshman Tate Surber.
Surber led the team to a dominant 42-7 win over the Cougars. Surber completed 16 of 22 passes for 222 yards and one interception. Calvez went 1-for-3 in his limited time.
Calvez is more of a runner compared to Surber, who stays more in the pocket and looks to throw.
"I don't see them as vastly different, if one is in versus the other and how they're going to run the offense and what they're going to do," defensive coordinator Zac Alley said. "They're fairly similar body types. I think (Surber) throws the ball a little bit better than (Calvez) does. But I wouldn't say it’s apples to oranges."
Neither of them threw a touchdown pass in the 42-point blowout. All of the touchdowns were scored on the ground by a committee of rushers. Junior Tommy Ansley is U.T. Martin's main back, and he rushed 16 times for 106 yards and three touchdowns in Game 2. He doesn't have a negative rush through two games. Not far behind him was redshirt junior Chris Franklin. Franklin carried the ball 14 times for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
Not all the offense went through the running backs. It was a balanced attack with 261 yards in the air and 216 rushing. All the touchdowns just happened to come on the ground.
A lot of their offensive success is their use of different looks. They shift around, change up personnel and motion, trying to confuse the defense.
"They'll have two things going that way and two things going back that way at the same time," Alley said. "Make sure your eyes are disciplined and try to move you off the spot. Create havoc for your communication and whatnot."
U.T. Martin's defense greatly improved from Game 1 to Game 2. The Skyhawks allowed just one touchdown compared to the 36 points allowed in the first game.
But even if it sounds like U.T. Martin is a higher caliber FCS program, it isn't on the same level as WVU. The Mountaineers should get to 2-0 for the first time since 2018, and they are showing the Skyhawks the respect to do so, avoiding a crazy upset like those that have been on display in college football these first two weeks.
"They've done a great job there for a long time," Alley said. "Really using what they have and putting guys in positions to be successful."