The West Virginia program wants to make sure they stay competitive for the future. In this new world of NIL deals and conference realignments, a program has to innovate or perish. Just ask the remaining PAC-12 teams and you will be able to see the costs of complacency. So it comes as no surprise when the program just announced sweeping changes across the entire university, but especially for the athletics department.

At the September 15th meeting, the board of governors (BOG), collectively approved a plan to support WVU Athletics and establish a new financial strategy. This plan aims to elevate WVU’s position among the top funding tiers within the Big 12, while sticking to core academic development.

BOG chair Robert “Rusty” Hutson Jr. said: “A strong and visible athletics program is essential to advancing student enrollment, enriching the student experience, strengthening alumni and donor engagement, supporting recruitment of talented faculty and staff, and providing a source of pride and connection for Mountaineer fans in West Virginia and around the world.” This must come as a relief for Rich Rodriguez who just faced an embarrassing loss to a MAC team in Week 2.

The WVU board is trying to adapt to remain relevant in this tough competitive environment. If they can raise enough funds, they can compete for top recruits and attract talent on staff as well. If done well, WVU can capitalize on the current volatility and achieve success. Even if exact figures on how much each college spends on football is difficult to ascertain with accuracy as their budgets are bundled up with athletics as a whole, it is clear that it has become almost like an arms race to get the best talent using attractive NIL deals and other attractions.

But this vision isn’t just about money and sports but also about academics. So, how does that work? The resolution reinforces WVU’s identity as a primarily academic institution, aiming to maintain its R1 research status, support the medical center, and recruit top educational staff. Now, more clarity about it will be out by November and December this year, and even a full-blown plan will also be announced by February 2026.

Rich Rodriguez gears up for future opponents

The Mountaineers are going up against Utah for the third time on September 27. It’s going to be their first game since Utah won the 2017 Heart of Dallas Bowl 30-14. But looking at this season’s run, West Virginia is at a better place after a thrilling 31-24 overtime victory against Pitt in the Backyard Brawl, where they overcame a 10-point deficit in the final 10 minutes. Yes, that’s true. Best part? Next week they’ll also have a chance to improve their record against Kansas, aiming for a 3-1 start under Rich Rodriguez. Because with Utah approaching, WVU needs to show a steady game.

On the flip side, even Utah’s pretty solid under Kyle Whittingham. The Utes ground out a 31-6 victory against Wyoming, and now they are sitting high at a 3-0 record. But their real test is against Texas Tech at home, and this back-to-back grind might be stressful for them. So, let’s just say that might give WVU an upper hand.

Now comes in the interesting part: WVU’s newest Sports Hall of Fame class before the Utah game. The headliners include all-time leading scorer Pat McAfee, former head coach Bill Stewart, and four others. So, it’s not just a conference matchup for West Virginia but a full celebration weekend.