College Football Insider Bullish on West Virginia for 2026

Mountaineers have a favorable schedule and an influx of new talent, according to CBS Sports analyst Tom Fornelli.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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After a disappointing 2025 season, the West Virginia Mountaineers are poised for a bounce-back year in 2026 according to CBS Sports college football analyst Tom Fornelli. With a roster overhaul and a favorable home-heavy schedule, Fornelli believes the Mountaineers have a clear path to bowl eligibility and potentially more under head coach Rich Rodriguez.

Why it matters

West Virginia is looking to rebound from a down year and regain its footing in the Big 12 Conference. A successful 2026 campaign would be a major boost for the program and its passionate fan base in Morgantown.

The details

Fornelli cites West Virginia's three winnable non-conference games against Coastal Carolina, UT Martin, and Virginia, as well as five Big 12 home games, as key factors in his optimism about the Mountaineers' chances. He also believes the team is more talented than last year's squad, despite the significant roster turnover. The Mountaineers open Big 12 play at home against Oklahoma State, which is also in a transition year, and then travel to Iowa State before returning home to face Arizona and Cincinnati.

  • The 2026 college football season kicks off in September.
  • West Virginia opens its season with three non-conference home games in September.
  • The Mountaineers begin Big 12 play in early October, hosting Oklahoma State.

The players

Rich Rodriguez

The head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, known for his up-tempo offensive schemes and ability to quickly turn around struggling programs.

Tom Fornelli

A college football analyst for CBS Sports who is bullish on West Virginia's prospects for the 2026 season.

Drew Mestemaker

The quarterback who transferred from North Texas to Oklahoma State, where he will be a key part of the Cowboys' offense in 2026.

Caleb Hawkins

The running back who transferred from North Texas to Oklahoma State, joining Mestemaker as part of the Cowboys' new-look offense.

Jimmy Rogers

The new head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones, taking over a program that West Virginia will face early in the 2026 Big 12 schedule.

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What they’re saying

“Yep! I am optimistic about West Virginia! It's not just that I think Rich Rodriguez is an underrated coach (he is), and that this team is more talented than many realize (it is); it's also the schedule. Three home nonconference games against Coastal Carolina, UT Martin, and Virginia are winnable. The Mountaineers also get five Big 12 games at home, giving them eight home games on the season. They won't leave Morgantown until October. Road games against TCU, Texas Tech, and Utah won't be fun, but Oklahoma State, Arizona, Cincinnati, Kansas, and Houston all have to come to Milan Puskar Stadium. This team is going bowling.”

— Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports college football analyst (CBS Sports)

What’s next

The Mountaineers will look to build momentum during their favorable early-season schedule before facing tougher Big 12 opponents in the second half of the year. How they perform in those key conference matchups will determine if they can achieve Fornelli's prediction of a bowl game appearance.

The takeaway

After a disappointing 2025 campaign, West Virginia has the pieces in place to bounce back in a big way in 2026. With a talented roster, favorable home schedule, and an experienced head coach in Rich Rodriguez, the Mountaineers have a clear path to return to the postseason and potentially compete for a Big 12 title.