Welcome to The Shotgun/Throwdown, your daily West Virginia sports roundup (that we didn’t already talk about in another article) with some sophomoric humor and daily distractions thrown in for good measure. And if there’s something we missed, be sure to talk about it in the comments.
PROVE IT
Rich Rodriguez called Saturday night one of the top five of his career, and not just because it was Pitt. He said he sat outside his office with recruits long after the stadium cleared out, soaking in how the Mountaineers
dug out of a 10-point hole to win the Backyard Brawl and what it meant for the team moving forward.
Now it’s about what happens next. Kansas comes in 2-1, and Jalon Daniels has looked dangerous — 9 TDs, just 2 INTs. He can hurt you with his arm, but also can tuck it and run if the play breaks down. The Jayhawks have averaged about 36 points per game, but their run game has been inconsistent. If WVU can disrupt Daniels early and force Kansas into one-dimensional offense, that could be the edge. This is the start of the Big 12 grind, with only one bye between BYU on Oct. 3 and UCF on Oct. 18, and it’ll show quickly if this roster can handle a week-to-week battle.
WVU will get help this week from Jimmori Robinson, last year’s AAC Defensive Player of the Year, finally cleared to play. He’ll join a pass rush that has produced 13 sacks thus far, second best nationally to USC’s 14. On offense, Rich Rod may have found some new wrinkles — Grayson Barnes turned into a reliable target when it mattered most, and the nine-lineman heavy package proved he isn’t afraid to get creative.
MOUNTAINEER ROUNDUP
- WVU’s Sept. 27 home game against Utah has been set for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on FOX. The matchup will serve as the 1965 Throwback game, with the Mountaineers wearing uniforms from that season that were unveiled earlier this spring. You can grab throwback gear online and tickets remain available through WVUgame.com
- WVU’s Board of Governors passed a resolution directing athletics to present a financial plan that puts the department in the Big 12’s top funding tier while keeping the school’s academic mission front and center. The move comes just over a week after Wren Baker and president Michael Benson floated the idea of tapping into state revenue streams — like gambling and tourism taxes — to support athletics. With university leadership and the BOG on the same page, the push to fund WVU at a top-tier Big 12 level is gaining momentum, and a full plan is due back to the board by February 2026.
- WVU cross country checked in at No. 5 in the latest national rankings, the second straight week in the top 10. Freshman Aislinn Frazer has finished sixth in both the Lehigh Invitational and RMU Colonial Invitational to open the season. WVU is one of four Big 12 teams in the top 25 and heads to the Louisville Classic on Oct. 4.
- Trinity Sheridan was named WVU’s Student-Athlete of the Week after earning MVP honors at the Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic. She racked up 25 kills on .500 hitting while adding five digs and five blocks as the Mountaineers swept their way to a tournament title. WVU is now 9-0, the program’s third-best start ever.
MOUNTAINEER PROS
- Geno Smith had a rough outing in the Raiders’ 20-9 loss to the Chargers, throwing three picks and finishing with just 180 yards on 43 attempts. He told reporters afterward he’ll be super hard on himself and learn from it, but Vegas also needs to help him out with a more balanced attack. The Raiders will face the Commanders on Sunday at 1:00PM
- Deuce McBride is heading into his fifth season with the Knicks fired up about Mike Brown’s new offense, which he says will feature way more player movement after things got “a little bit stagnant” last year. Off the court, McBride and former WVU swimmer Ana Zortea welcomed their daughter, Ace, this summer, right as he released his first children’s book, Deuce: The Champion of Friendship. He’s been touring schools for readings and says he’s already thinking about the next book project.
- Alek Manoah is heading to the Dominican Republic this winter to pitch for Leones del Escogido, the defending LIDOM champions. Manoah is trying to get back on track after Tommy John surgery in 2024 and a shaky run the past two seasons with Toronto. He’s rehabbing at Triple-A Buffalo, and a strong showing in winter ball could go a long way toward reviving his career.
- Victor Scott was out of the Cardinals’ lineup again Tuesday against the Reds, his fourth time sitting in the last six games.
AROUND THE LEAGUE (AND BEYOND)
- Dabo Swinney had some heat for Clemson’s critics this week, saying if the Tigers are “tired of winning, they can send me on my way.” Clemson’s 1-2 start — with losses to LSU and Georgia Tech — has them out of the Top 25, but Swinney reminded everyone he’s won eight ACC titles and two national championships in the last decade. He insists they’ll bounce back, starting with Syracuse on Saturday.
- Three weeks in, and oddsmakers say the Heisman race is as wide open as it’s been in over a decade. Oklahoma QB John Mateer and Miami’s Carson Beck are splitting favorite status, but both are sitting at longer odds than any Week 4 favorite since 2012. Arch Manning has slid all the way to +3000 after a rough start, while other preseason favorites like Cade Klubnik and LaNorris Sellers have tumbled down the board. Oregon’s Dante Moore, Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith, and Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love are among the newer names climbing into the mix.
- Kyle Thele at the mothership floated a Premier League-style system for college football — top 20 programs, promotion/relegation, the works. His included Virginia Tech, whose AD Whit Babcock recently admitted the Hokies are staring at a $56 million budget gap to keep pace in the ACC, in his top 20 programs. That Tech makes the cut while WVU doesn’t says more about public perception than the actual state of the programs.
VIDEOS OF INTEREST
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