Countdown to Kickoff: Lights, Coal Rush Uniforms and Bowden-Era Player Reunion Part of Tonight’s Homecoming Clash
October 25, 2025 11:00 AM | Football
| Tale of the Tape | TCU | WVU |
| Points Per Game | 36.3 | 21.0 |
| Points Against | 26.3 | 30.9 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | 128.0 | 195.4 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game | 130.6 | 169.3 |
| Passing Yards Per Game | 309.3 | 158.7 |
| Passing Yards Allowed Per Game | 251.7 | 247.1 |
| Total Yards Per Game | 437.3 | 354.1 |
| Total Yards Allowed Per Game | 382.3 | 416.4 |
| First Downs For | 155 | 136 |
| First Downs Against | 148 | 143 |
| Fumbles/Lost | 6/3 | 12/6 |
| Interceptions/Return Yards | 9/146 | 8/121 |
| Net Punting | 40.8 | 40.3 |
| Field Goal/Attempts | 3/5 | 5/7 |
| Time of Possession | 27:18 | 26:21 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 49/93 | 30/102 |
| 3rd Down Conversion Defense | 44/103 | 34/101 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 8/13 | 9/21 |
| 4th Down Conversion Defense | 9/13 | 12/18 |
| Sacks By/Yards Lost | 18/113 | 12/67 |
The two coaches have met twice prior when they were coaching Pac-12 teams in 2013-14, Rodriguez at Arizona and Dykes at Cal.
The Wildcats claimed a 33-28 victory in Berkeley in 2013 and then rallied to defeat the Bears 49-45 on a Hail Mary touchdown pass at the end of the game in 2014 in Tucson.
"We even got an onside kick right before that," Rodriguez recalled.
West Virginia fans will gladly stick around to witness some late-game drama tonight following last Saturday's uninspiring performance at UCF.
The Mountaineers (2-5 overall and 0-4 in Big 12 play) were trailing by a touchdown at halftime before the wheels came off in the third quarter. In a span of just 73 seconds, the game went from being competitive to out of reach.
West Virginia began the game with Scotty Fox Jr. becoming the first true freshman quarterback to start a game for the Mountaineers since Freddy Wyant did it 73 years ago in 1952.
Fox completed just 6 of 17 passes for 47 yards for the game, giving way to redshirt freshman Khalil Wilkins, who got the starting nod in the BYU loss. Wilkins played the entire second quarter, a portion of the third and some of the fourth before getting injured while attempting to throw a pass with 11:23 remaining.
With Wilkins joining Nicco Marchiol and Jaylen Henderson on the team's injury list, the quarterbacking candidates have been pared down to Fox, junior Scott Kean, freshman Max Anderson and possibly redshirt sophomore Max Brown, if he's healthy enough to play tonight.
Rodriguez indicated during the taping of his weekly United Bank Playbook segment with Tony Caridi earlier this week that Fox will likely make his second start of the season tonight.
"He's going to see a lot, and fortunately for us, at least during camp, he saw a lot against our defense, so we'll have to go back and mine some of that stuff," the coach said. "We've got to simplify it to the point to where we know we can execute it, but at the same time not confuse our guys – not just him, but our guys up front."
Rodriguez indicated earlier this week that some other players will get consideration for playing time up front, including backup left guard Donovan Haslem and backup right tackle Malik Agbo.
However, he cautioned that there is no magic potion for a unit that has struggled all season long to establish the line of scrimmage.
Running backs Cyncir Bowers and Diore Hubbard combined for just 56 yards on 17 carries against the Knights and couldn't break off a run longer than 8 yards.
Cam Vaughn has been West Virginia's most consistent pass receiving threat with 21 catches for 334 yards and three touchdowns, but without reliable No. 2 and No. 3 performers, not to mention protection issues up front, teams have been able to bracket Vaughn and take him out of games.
The Mountaineers' longest pass play from scrimmage last week was 19 yards to Justin Smith-Brown late in the game when the outcome was already decided.
"You are playing young quarterbacks, so there are growing pains, but it's more than them when the pieces around them aren't performing," Rodriguez said.
In its four Big 12 defeats this season, the offense has scored touchdowns on only eight of its 53 total possessions for an 18.9% success rate. Senior Oliver Straw has punted 23 times; the team has lost possession of the football on downs eight times; there have been five turnovers and four times the half has ended.
WVU is also two of three on field goal tries, including a 44-yard miss at the end of the first half in last Saturday's 45-13 loss to UCF.
The Mountaineers are facing another sizable challenge today against a TCU defense that Rodriguez terms "the most athletic" that his team has faced up front.
West Virginia, defensively, began the season playing effectively against Robert Morris, Ohio and Pitt, but has since allowed 41, 48, 38 and 45 points in successive losses to Kansas, Utah, BYU and UCF.
WVU comes into tonight ranked in the bottom third of the country in points allowed, rushing defense, pass defense and total defense.
The Horned Frogs (5-2 overall and 2-2 in Big 12 play) are averaging 36.3 points and 437.3 yards per game and will present a significant challenge with quarterback Josh Hoover's accurate passing.
Hoover has got weapons at all levels and an offensive coordinator in Kendal Briles known for dialing up big plays and scoring lots of points.
"Their pass game is kind of an extension of their run game, and they've got a veteran quarterback who is really good about getting rid of it," Rodriguez observed. "He's an athletic guy who can get out of trouble, but he's going to look to throw it a lot."
It's been a difficult 39 days since West Virginia rallied to defeat rival Pitt 31-24 in overtime back on Sept. 13, and Rodriguez is hopeful his team bottomed out in Orlando last Saturday.
He is seeking a return to the effort, enthusiasm and passion that his players demonstrated in their come-from-behind victory over Pitt. Perhaps a 6 p.m. kickoff, special "Coal Rush" black uniforms and a homecoming crowd can serve as catalysts.
Among those returning to campus this weekend, according to WVU Varsity Club Director Kevin Johnston, are more than 100 former Bobby Bowden-era Mountaineer players celebrating the 50th anniversary of West Virginia's 13-10 victory over NC State in the 1975 Peach Bowl.
Reunion organizers also included all players from Bowden's six seasons at West Virginia from 1970-75 in this weekend's activities.
Bowden, who led Florida State to two national championships in 1993 and 1999, has the second most victories in NCAA history behind Penn State's Joe Paterno. Bowden, who died in 2021, earned 42 of those at West Virginia.
Here is tonight's Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – The Mountaineer defense has recorded multiple sacks in games in all but TEN of their last 25 games dating back to the 2023 season.
9 – Rich Rodriguez ranks NINTH among all active coaches with 22 career victories against AP Top 25-ranked teams.
8 – West Virginia's defense picked off its EIGHTH pass during last Saturday's loss at UCF. Last year, the Mountaineer secondary had just five interceptions for the entire season.
7 – Rodriguez won all SEVEN homecoming games during his first coaching tenure at West Virginia from 2001-07.
6 – The Mountaineers rank SIXTH in the Big 12 this week with 39 rushing plays of 10 yards or longer.
5 – Three of West Virginia's FIVE losses to TCU have come in Morgantown, most recently in 2022. Overall, the Mountaineers own an 8-5 advantage in series play.
4 – WVU has registered at least FOUR tackles for loss in 34 of its last 41 games.
3 – Redshirt freshman running back Diore Hubbard has scored rushing touchdowns in THREE straight games, most recently at UCF last Saturday.
2 – Rich Rodriguez has defeated TCU coach Sonny Dykes TWICE in their two prior meetings when they were coaching in the Pac-12, Rodriguez at Arizona and Dykes at Cal.
1 – Scotty Fox Jr. became the FIRST true freshman quarterback to start a game for West Virginia in 73 years last Saturday at UCF. Fred Wyant was the last true freshman to do so in 1952.
Television coverage will be provided by ESPN+ (Pete Sousa and Craig Haubert).
Mountaineer Sports Network radio coverage with Tony Caridi, Dwight Wallace and Jed Drenning begins with the GoMart Mountaineer Tailgate Show at 3 p.m. leading into regular network coverage at 5 p.m.
TCU is making its longest road trip of the season to Morgantown today and its first visit to Milan Puskar Stadium since 2022. In each of the last three meetings, the road team has won the game.
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