Column: WVU football faces 1st real test against No. 25 Virginia
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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia football is 2-0 for the first time since 2018, which in some eyes is a big feat. But, looking at the competition, the Mountaineers shouldn't be any worse than 2-0. They've played Coastal Carolina, who has a new head coach, and FCS for U.T. Martin. In both games, WVU was a 20-point favorite. It might not have looked pretty at times, but as Rodriguez said, the best you can be after two games is 2-0, and that's what his team is.
Like Rodriguez also said, it only gets harder from here, though. The Mountaineers play their first Power Four and first ranked opponent of the season against No. 25 Virginia (I had the Cavaliers at No. 20 on my poll). This is also the first time the rivals have played each other since 2002. Virginia holds the series record 10-12-1.
The Cavaliers are 2-0 as well and face their second Power Four school. Virginia dominated N.C. State in Week 0 34-8, and then rolled Norfolk State 59-3 in Week 3.
Head coach Tony Elliott has the program going in the right direction in Year 5. Elliott is coming off his best year as head coach. Virginia won 11 games in 2025 and made the ACC championship in Charlotte. UVA was a win over Duke in that game from making the College Football Playoff, but Elliott's squad lost in overtime
"It’s a great opportunity for us to get the bad taste out of our mouth from the last time that we were down there," Elliott said. "We came up a little bit short."
Now, the school is undefeated and back in the ACC title conversation.
Virginia replaced 3,000-yard passer Chandler Morris, who ran out of eligibility, with athletic Missouri and Penn State transfer Beau Pribula. Pribula won the job over former Pitt quarterback and starter for last year's Backyard Brawl, Eli Holstein. Pribula has run with it since, quite literally. In the season opener against the Wolfpack, Pribula rushed for 110 yards on 15 carries. Through the air, Pribula has five touchdowns and 317 yards.
What really plays to Pribula's benefit is his veteran offensive line. Virginia has multiple sixth and seventh-year players, making for one of the oldest lines in the country. The Cavaliers sit tied for No. 19 in the country in rushing.
WVU's defense hasn't looked sound through two games, even against weaker opponents. Coastal Carolina came all the way back, and despite pitching a shutout against U.T. Martin, the Skyhawks had chances to score and had 318 yards of total offense.
Virginia is defensively talented as well. The Cavaliers have allowed just 11 points through two games. The defense is top 10 in average yards allowed per game, and in regard to the Mountaineers, have allowed the 14th-fewest rushing yards per game in the country (65.5).
Virginia is going to be a tough out. Luckily, it's in Charlotte. Which, you might think, would be a home environment for the Cavaliers, but WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker told me that major donors and a strong WVU contingent reside in the Charlotte area. There's a chance WVU has cheering behind them.
The Mountaineers are going to need all the help they can get. Virginia opened up as an 8.5-point favorite on DraftKings, and ESPN analytics gives WVU just a 15.9% chance to win.
Taking from what we saw last year, Rodriguez does better when the odds are stacked against him. WVU was down for the count against Pitt in the Backyard Brawl, and had no shot beating a ranked Houston team on the road, but it did. On the other hand, when the odds are for him, like against Ohio, Coastal Carolina or UCF, he tends to struggle.
Maybe this weekend will be another shocking win for Rodriguez in Year 2 back in Morgantown. If WVU were to win, it'll be a massive vote of confidence heading into the Big 12 slate.
Virginia is a top 25 team, and I think it is very worthy of that title. It takes the game just because the Cavaliers are a bit further along on the path than WVU. But for the Mountaineers, the No. 25 next to Virginia's name is just a number, so they could make it close.
"The ranking is after the first two weeks," linebacker Ben Cutter said, shrugging his shoulders.
Prediction: Virginia 28, West Virginia 17