If you walked into Morgantown last week, specifically on January 6, 2026, you didn't need a calendar to tell you it was a rivalry night. The air just felt heavier. The University of Cincinnati (UC) and West Virginia University (WVU) have been doing this dance since 1921, and honestly, the move to the Big 12 has only made things more volatile.
Last Tuesday’s basketball game at Hope Coliseum—the newly minted name for the Mountaineers' home floor—was a microcosm of the whole UC vs West Virginia saga. It was ugly. It was gritty. It was exactly what happens when two fan bases that genuinely dislike each other are trapped in a room together. West Virginia walked away with a 62-60 win, but that two-point margin feels like it tells only half the story of where these programs are right now.
The Honor Huff Show and the "Same Old" Bearcats
Let’s be real: Cincinnati fans are frustrated. I’ve seen the message boards. They’re tired of the "almost" wins. UC held a 57-52 lead with less than five minutes to go after a Moustapha Thiam dunk that should have silenced the crowd. Instead, Honor Huff decided to remind everyone why he’s leading the Big 12 in three-pointers.
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Huff poured in 24 points, including six triples. When he hit that shot to spark the 10-0 run late in the second half, you could almost hear the collective sigh from the Bearcats' bench. Wes Miller, the UC head coach, looked like a man who had seen this movie before. And he has. That loss moved him to a pretty staggering 9-43 against Quad 1 opponents during his tenure at Cincinnati. That’s a stat that’s going to keep him up at night.
The Mountaineers aren't exactly a juggernaut this year—they came into that game 9-5 and were reeling from a blowout loss to Iowa State—but they have this weird ability to turn games against Cincinnati into a rock fight. They slowed the tempo to a crawl (ranking 359th in adjusted tempo nationally) and basically dared UC to beat them in the half-court. Cincinnati couldn't do it. Jizzle James hit a late three to make it look close, but the damage was done.
Football History: More Than Just a Scoreboard
While basketball is the current talk of the town, you can't mention UC vs West Virginia without talking about the gridiron. Historically, this hasn't been much of a contest. West Virginia leads the all-time football series 18-3-1. That "1" in the tie column dates all the way back to 1923, which feels like a different lifetime.
The most recent football meeting in November 2024 saw West Virginia take a 31-24 victory. It’s a rivalry that was essentially born in the old Big East, died when WVU moved to the Big 12 in 2012, and was resurrected when Cincinnati finally joined the "Power Four" ranks.
- 1989: The darkest day for Bearcat fans. WVU won 69-3. Yes, really.
- 2008-2009: The peak of UC’s powers under Brian Kelly. They actually won back-to-back games, including a 24-21 thriller in 2009.
- The Travel: It’s only about 300 miles between these schools. That makes it one of the few "natural" rivalries in the current, sprawling Big 12 landscape.
Why the Gap is Closing (Sorta)
There’s a narrative that West Virginia always has the upper hand, but looking at the analytics, these teams are closer than the history books suggest. Currently, KenPom has UC ranked 65th and WVU at 71st. On paper, Cincinnati is actually the "better" team in many metrics.
But metrics don't account for Morgantown.
West Virginia is 10-0 at home this season. There is something about the travel, the mountain air, and the hostile environment that makes visiting teams wilt. For Cincinnati, the issue is length. WVU is massive. Aside from Honor Huff and Jasper Floyd, almost everyone in their rotation is 6-5 or taller. This length bothered Cincinnati's guards all night, forcing 15 turnovers and making every pass look like a chore.
Recent Results Across Sports (2025-2026)
| Sport | Date | Result | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basketball (M) | Jan 6, 2026 | WVU 62, UC 60 | Honor Huff 24 pts |
| Baseball | May 22, 2025 | WVU 10, UC 3 | Big 12 Tourney Exit |
| Volleyball | Sept 27, 2025 | UC 3, WVU 1 | UC ruins WVU's perfect start |
| Basketball (M) | Feb 19, 2025 | WVU 62, UC 59 | Another late-game collapse |
It's not all doom and gloom for Cincinnati, though. The volleyball team pulled off a massive upset back in September, handing West Virginia their first loss of the season. And in baseball, despite the 10-3 loss in the Big 12 Championship, UC’s Jack Natili emerged as a legitimate star, hitting .340 on the season.
The Bob Huggins Shadow
You can't talk about these two schools without talking about the man who coached both: Bob Huggins. He built the modern Cincinnati program into a powerhouse in the 90s and then did the same for his alma mater, West Virginia.
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Even though he’s no longer on either sideline, his DNA is everywhere. The physical, "Press Virginia" style might be gone, but the toughness remains. Both fan bases still claim him in different ways, and his presence is the unofficial bridge between the two cities. It’s probably why the games still feel so personal.
Honestly, the Big 12 needed this. With the conference expanding to include teams from Utah to Florida, having a local, hate-filled rivalry like UC vs West Virginia provides the "glue" that keeps the conference feeling like college sports and not just a professional league.
What to Watch for Next
The two teams will meet again on February 5, 2026, this time in Cincinnati. If you're betting on that game, keep an eye on the injury report. UC was missing Kerr Kriisa for most of the last matchup, and his playmaking is desperately needed to break down that WVU zone.
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Also, watch the rebounding. West Virginia’s Ross Hodge has been vocal about his team’s "giving mood" regarding defensive rebounds. They gave up too many second-chance points to Cincinnati last time out, and if they don't clean that up, the Bearcats will punish them in the rematch.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- For UC Fans: Don't panic yet. The metrics show the talent is there, but the late-game execution needs a total overhaul. If Jizzle James continues to develop his shot-creation, the backcourt will be fine.
- For WVU Fans: Celebrate the home streak, but be wary of the road. This team relies heavily on Honor Huff's three-point shooting. If he has an off night in Cincinnati, there isn't a clear "Plan B" offensively right now.
- For Neutral Observers: Always take the "Under" in this matchup. Both teams prioritize defense and physical play over fast-break highlights. It’s not always pretty, but it’s always intense.
If you’re planning to attend the February rematch in Cincinnati, get your tickets early. Fifth Third Arena is going to be rocking, and the Bearcats will be looking for blood after three straight narrow losses to the Mountaineers.
To stay ahead of the next matchup, keep an eye on the Big 12 standings and the KenPom efficiency ratings. The gap between these two is razor-thin, and the home-court advantage is currently the only thing separating a win from a loss in the UC vs West Virginia rivalry. Check the local broadcast schedules for ESPN2 or Big 12 Now on ESPN+ to catch the February 5th tip-off.