The off-season spark revolves around the massive rebound hope. Fixing, flexing, spring practice, and the analysts are going on a full swing with the prediction ahead of another full-fledged battle. ESPN, like every year, is taking a pivotal role in giving some stern reality check to the elite coach phenoms. It’s never wise to take an eternity to get over the hangover of last season’s success. ESPN, based on the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football, breaks down a list of SP+ ratings. But the list cast a bad spell over all the West Virginia Mountaineers’ fans for a reason. Rich Rodriguez made an emotional homecoming in 2024 and led the WVU to a 6-7 record with a gusty loss in the Frisco Bowl. 2025 will look different with the portal hunts and Rich’s second-year redemption. But ESPN’s brutal ranking left them in a doomed spirit, with a 57th rank in the chart.

Rodriguez had a record of 60-26 at West Virginia from 2001 to 2007. The fanbase got under his skin when they ruined a chance to play for the BCS national championship. They gave it up to heavy underdog Pittsburgh 13-9 in the 2007 season finale at home. They were even more irked when Rodriguez pulled the rug two weeks later for Ann Arbor. West Virginia returns a mix of experience and new faces, but still has areas to fumble. But coach Rod’s advantage can become the game changer.

“The staff that West Coach Rodriguez has put together here and his familiarity with the program, I think, are a little bit underrated. I think it’s not talked about enough about the familiarity with the program,” Insider Mountaineer Paul said on the Locked On Virginia State podcast. “It’s not necessarily your typical new hire. I also don’t think that you can judge this like previous coaching hires. Because only Scott Frost and Rich Rod know what it’s like in this era that we’re in now, to be rehired.”“We’re about to go get some championships. And that’s what today is all about,” Pat McAfee said back in 2007, the day Rich Rod stepped on before having a shot interview. The disposal was hard, but the arrival was harder. To come back home is to maximise your potential to fill up the scoreboard. The recruiting staff can be your best friend in a tough time.

But nowadays, the NIL era has set the portal on fire. So, roster evaluation becomes more of a challenge than before. “

You don’t have to try to build teams like they used to have to, like when Bill Snyder came back for a second time. It was the same exact thing that the first time he was there. I think Rich Rod and Scott Frost, to a certain extent, as well as have different challenges. But also different advantages.”

However, Coach Rod didn’t set any trend reverting after one and a half years on tenure. Scott Frost recently returned to UCF. The other repeaters of the head coach lists include Mack Brown at North Carolina, Greg Schiano at Rutgers, Brady Hoke at San Diego State, Jeff Tedford at Fresno State, Bill Snyder at Kansas State, and Randy Edsall at UConn. But Rod, in all senses, oozes out the confidence to make it big this time, a token to his regret over the past misfire of 17 years back.

“If you can get the right people behind these guys, like we know, which rich rod had the boosters all behind him this year – you can do some pretty cool things. He knows how to maximize talent, and West Virginia just is a perfect fit for Rich Rod,” Paul added, “So I think that’s not factored into this ranking at all.”

What does the head coach have to say?

Rich Rodriguez wants to end his career as a WVU coach

People have already been stacking the pepperoni rolls for an elusive celebration when Rich Rod’s WVU career came full circle. Incorporating players like Jarod Bowie and Cam Vaughn at receiver, Jaylen Henderson at quarterback, and an entirely new crop of defensive backs and linemen is going to pay off. QB – Garrett Greene, Nicco Marchiol, and now Henderson seem to be hungry to pull out their best.

However, Rodriguez is taking things slow, not promising mountains and seas and roses to a lover. In a recent discussion in an episode of The Triple Option, Rob Stone asked Rich, “What made you and your family decide that a return to West Virginia was the right move for you?” Rich replies, “The last time we were here, I think we can win a national championship…” He kept scratching his head with sheer regret. “I hadn’t seen the facility since I left, and they did a fantastic job with the facility, and so all the pieces are in place for us to have a chance to win it all.”

A 6-7 might seem pale compared to 11-3. But looking at their technologies and amenities and the overall intangible improvements, they can think of a title run, if not the trophy. “We just loved our time at Jack State, you know we had moved up from 1AA to 1A, we were successful going to bowl games, won the conference and all that, and so I’ll have been perfectly happy just finishing my career out there.”

It remains to be seen if WVU offers their new head coach the satisfaction of a homecoming in a winning all season ahead.