Rich Rodriguez is back at the helm of West Virginia football. Known affectionately as “Rich Rod,” he first made his mark at WVU nearly two decades ago, building a football culture that combined high-octane offense with blue-collar toughness that loyal Mountaineer fans still talk about. Now, Rodriguez brings that legacy back, and it’s special. Because it isn’t just nostalgia; it’s the promise of reinvention in his second stint, but this time the challenges look different.

With a huge roster overhaul completed, Rodriguez is navigating through a sea of over 115 players. Most teams acquire new faces through the transfer portal and recruiting. And the ticket sales surging back to levels not seen since the 2013 Orange Bowl glory days, the 2025 season feels like a hopeful new dawn for WVU football. But after the fall camp practice, things are looking a bit dicey for the Mountaineers. There’s no set depth chart yet. But instead, the whole team is essentially fighting for every spot, competing fiercely without labeling anyone “ones” or “twos.” Still, Rodriguez does not feel delighted with it.

Rodriguez is turning up the heat in the WVU locker room after a disappointing second day of fall camp. “Would you just leave the program lying around? Would you want someone else to get their hands on the program?” He meant that to perform well, you need to perform as a team and not just individually carry a football and score that touchdown, to boost your stat sheet. With about 30 days until the season opener against Robert Morris, Rodriguez’s message is raw and real: the team needs to get tougher and embrace discomfort. Rodriguez talked openly about how the team showed some softness during practice, moments where effort or focus just wasn’t there.

A key example Rodriguez highlighted was with the running backs. Only two made it through practice without having to “tap out” or request medical attention. This indicates they couldn’t fully handle the physical demands of the session. But instead of pointing fingers at the players, he’s owning that it’s on the coaching staff to lead better and push the team harder. He’s preaching a culture where players have to “learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable.” The current roster is filled with 72 new faces and only 17 returning lettermen. Who is still figuring things out.

So far, it’s clear that toughness, discipline, and mental grit are priorities for Rodriguez as he tries to build a program that meets the high expectations set for WVU. Then the quarterback battle is another headline story. As of now, Rodriguez has not named a clear starter yet, with Nicco Marchiol, Jaylen Henderson, and Max Brown still in the mix. He is keeping multiple options in play and remaining open to a dual-quarterback system if that proves best. Alongside that, new transfers reshape the defense to fill gaps, especially in the secondary, which lost key players last year.

Rodriguez reunited with defensive coordinator Zac Alley. There’s hope that their combined effort resets a defense that was one of the weaker units in the Big 12 last season. Expectations around WVU are complicated. Sportsbooks set win totals modestly around 5.5, and some polls predict the Mountaineers near the bottom of the Big 12. Yet locally, there’s a sense Rich Rodriguez is the program’s savior. He is capable of restoring pride and competitiveness in the Mountaineers. Rodriguez himself listens to the outside noise but knows all bets are off once the games begin. His priority is to prepare a team that fights relentlessly, regardless of the preseason rankings.

Pat McAfee’s loud and proud endorsement

Pat McAfee is West Virginia’s hometown football wildman and has now turned into a major sports personality. He has been stirring up some serious excitement about Rich Rodriguez and the Mountaineers’ future under his leadership. McAfee has dropped some bold claims. “I’ll just let you know that we got some mountaineers that are ready to run,” he said on his show. “I don’t know if it’s gonna be this year. Rich Rod will get them back. We’re building dogs. We’re ready to become Texans, but if not, they’re gonna be the Indianapolis Colts. You don’t want to see them in your nightmares.”

McAfee’s message is crystal clear. Rodriguez is building something special in Morgantown. He discusses the coach’s effort to recreate that hard-nosed, gritty football culture that made WVU a nightmare for opponents during Rodriguez’s first tenure from 2001 to 2007. He jokingly warned NFL GMs that these players will soon create havoc on the field. A huge part of McAfee’s hype comes from his firsthand connection to Rodriguez and WVU. He played as a punter there when Rich Rod was the head coach. This insider perspective makes his praise feel authentic and stirring for Mountaineer fans.

McAfee has emphasized that Rodriguez isn’t just here for the short run; he is committed long-term to building a program with a “hard edge” and a strong work ethic rooted in West Virginia’s blue-collar identity. Part of the conversation around this revival includes the enormous roster shake-up Rodriguez has orchestrated. There’s faith that Rodriguez, the “prodigal son” of West Virginia football, will reignite that winning spirit and he’s actively forging players fit for the biggest stages, college or pro.