West Virginia

The first major decision belongs to Rodriguez at quarterback. Returners Scotty Fox Jr. and Max Brown entered August in competition with Oklahoma transfer Michael Hawkins Jr., and the program’s official account said the winner might remain undisclosed until the opener. Beat reporter Spencer Ripchik framed Fox and Hawkins as the leaders after spring, with Brown still involved. Fox brings five 2025 starts, two wins and a full year in the system; Hawkins offers a higher-profile dual-threat challenge that could expand the designed-quarterback run game. Ripchik reported that Fox looked more comfortable reading pressure and coverage, while Rodriguez praised Hawkins for learning quickly. Both were protected from most live contact, so fall evaluation matters. Fox’s six interceptions as a freshman keep decision-making and ball security central to the choice.

The quarterback will not have to carry the offense alone. Jacksonville State transfer Cam Cook arrived after a 1,600-yard-plus 2025 season and was West Virginia’s lone selection to the conference media’s Preseason All-Big 12 team. Freshman Amari Latimer has been identified as a significant complementary talent. A proven feature back fits Rodriguez’s run-heavy approach: Cook can steady the offense, ease the burden on a new starter and create room for quarterback mobility. But his production depends on the blocking in front of him.

That puts considerable responsibility on an offensive line Rodriguez said had stabilized through personnel additions, returning players and Rick Trickett’s arrival. He also expected freshman Kevin Brown to play immediately. The line must create movement and protect well enough for the quarterback competition to be decided by command rather than survival. Outside, Rodriguez called receiver the room most likely to improve, pointing to a healthy Jaden Bray in late July, productive transfers DJ Epps and John Neider, and holdovers Armoni Weaver-Bomar and Cyrus Traugh. Their ability to stretch the field could keep defenses from crowding Cook and the quarterback run game. Rodriguez also liked the tight ends, although no clear order or defined roles had emerged. USC transfer Prince Strachan’s August status remained uncertain after a spring shoulder injury Rodriguez did not expect to be long term.

The defense carries a different uncertainty. Rodriguez expects a more athletic group, and West Virginia added taller defensive backs after coverage losses in 2025. Coordinator Zac Alley kept the spring package simple before adding more pressure concepts, establishing assignment discipline before complexity. More length can help at the catch point, while greater speed can make pressure more disruptive. But blitzes magnify communication failures as readily as they create negative plays. Progress depends on whether improved physical tools produce reliable execution across the front, linebackers and secondary.

Cohesion is the concern connecting both sides. The spring roster incorporated 37 transfer additions, 36 high-school signees and 11 junior-college additions. That volume may raise the talent ceiling, but it also leaves extensive integration work. Linebacker Ashton Woods, safety Emory Snyder, Antoine Sharp Jr. and kicker Peter Notaro were out after offseason surgeries as of March 3; their August availability was unclear. Those spring absences should not be treated as current unavailability.

The schedule offers a brief runway. Coastal Carolina and UT Martin visit Morgantown before the Sept. 19 neutral-site meeting with Virginia in Charlotte, the first major test. Big 12 play then opens at home against Oklahoma State. Later trips to Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech and Utah increase the cost of carrying unsettled combinations or communication problems into the heart of the season. The first two home dates offer time to establish the quarterback operation and defensive calls; Virginia and Oklahoma State should begin revealing whether that early work has taken hold.

West Virginia’s season therefore turns less on one breakout candidate than on Rodriguez connecting the roster’s most consequential pieces. The quarterback must run the offense securely, Cook needs blocking that lets his production travel, and the receivers must force defenses to cover the whole field. Alley’s defense must turn athleticism into disciplined speed. If those developments arrive together, the Mountaineers can challenge low external expectations. If cohesion lags behind talent, the Big 12 schedule will expose the gap quickly.

Win probability

35%