Back to gold and blue: WVU Homecoming draws generations to Morgantown

Generations of students, alumni and fans will gather in Morgantown for West Virginia University Homecoming this week, Oct. 12-18, to celebrate cherished traditions and showcase the pride that unites the Mountaineer family.

"Homecoming captures the spirit of what makes WVU feel like home," said Kevin Berry, vice president of Alumni Relations and CEO of the WVU Alumni Association. "It brings Mountaineers from every generation together to reconnect with one another and celebrate the traditions that unite us."

The annual Homecoming Parade, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Friday on High Street, will feature Jordan Harrison, WVU women's basketball standout and May 2026 graduate from the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics, as the grand marshal, along with the other recipients of the 2026 Homecoming and Alumni Service Awards.

The university will also name two students "Homecoming Royalty" during a halftime ceremony at the Stripe the Stadium football game against Cincinnati Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon. Even numbered sections wear gold, while odd numbered sections wear blue.

This year's Homecoming Court candidates are all seniors and include:

Nicholas Albright, a business administration major with a focus on organizational leadership from Martinsburg; Emma Bates, a forensic biology major from Lexington, Virginia; Zoe Burleson, an accounting major from Martinsburg; Lakyn Campbell, a journalism and political science major from Parkersburg; Gabrielle Custer, a marketing major from Charleston; Ariana Davidson, a journalism major with an emphasis in broadcast from Sharon, Pennsylvania; Izayah Everett, an exercise physiology major from Morgantown; Reagan Frazier, an agribusiness management and applied economics major from Frederick, Maryland; Ruby Jackson, an industrial engineering major from Elkins; and Alison Stone, a marketing and entrepreneurship major from Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania.

Students can vote for Homecoming Royalty on WVUENGAGE from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Wednesday.

Other key events include:

• The men's and women's basketball teams will tip off the 2026-27 season with "Ballin' at Woodburn" at 7 p.m. Thursday in Woodburn Circle on the Downtown area of campus.

The evening will feature food trucks, a live DJ and emcee, team introductions, fan competitions and more. The first 500 fans will receive a free T-shirt courtesy of Coca-Cola and the first 500 students will receive a free $10 voucher to be used at one of the participating food trucks.

The WVU Bookstore will be set up for fans to purchase WVU gear. There will be a variety of products available including basketball gear, jerseys and basketballs that fans can get autographed following the game.

• A special Homecoming edition of Mountaineer Friday will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday outside the Mountainlair with the WVU Alumni Association truck on hand with giveaways, including mum buttons, a WVU Bookstore pop-up shop, the Mountaineer mascot, food trucks and more.

• A Homecoming open house will be held in Elizabeth Moore Hall from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday. The Mountaineer community is invited to drop in before the WVU Homecoming parade to connect, relax and enjoy refreshments.