If you're asking what time does West Virginia Mountaineers play, you probably know that being a fan in Morgantown—or anywhere else in the world—means your schedule is basically dictated by the Big 12. Right now, we’re deep into the winter grind of the 2025-26 season. Whether you’re looking for the men's squad trying to climb the conference ladder or the women’s team continuing their dominant run, the tip-off times are scattered across the week.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a maze. One night they’re playing a 7 p.m. home game at the Coliseum, and the next, they’re out in Tempe or Tucson with a late-night start that has East Coast fans reaching for the extra-large coffee the next morning.
When is the next WVU Men’s Basketball game?
For the men’s team, the immediate focus is a tough road trip out West. If you’re trying to plan your Wednesday night, take note: the West Virginia Mountaineers play Arizona State on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. ET.
This is one of those classic "After Dark" Big 12 matchups. Because it’s being played at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, we’re looking at a late start for those of us back in the Mountain State.
Upcoming Men's Schedule and Tip-Off Times
The schedule doesn't get any easier after the Sun Devils. Here is the breakdown of the upcoming games so you can set your alerts:
- At Arizona: Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET. This is a massive afternoon showdown against the Wildcats in Tucson.
- Vs. Kansas State: Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Mountaineers return home to the Coliseum for this one. It's also "Student Happy Hour" night, so expect the place to be rocking.
- Vs. Baylor: Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET. A Saturday afternoon home game that’s perfect for a "True Blue" atmosphere.
The Mountaineers are coming off a solid 72-61 win against Colorado on January 17, where Treysen Eaglestaff absolutely went off for 22 points. That win moved them to 12-6 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12. Every game right now is a battle for tournament positioning.
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What about the WVU Women’s Basketball schedule?
Mark Kellogg’s squad has been on a tear. They just handled Cincinnati 84-76 on the road this past Sunday (January 18), extending their win streak against the Bearcats to ten. If you want to know what time does West Virginia Mountaineers play for the women's team, you have several key dates coming up fast.
They also have a date with Arizona State on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Unlike the men, the women are playing this one at home in Morgantown.
Women's Basketball Key Dates
- Vs. Arizona State: Jan 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET (Home)
- At BYU: Saturday, January 24 at 9:30 p.m. ET (Away)
- At Utah: Tuesday, January 27 at 9:00 p.m. ET (Away)
- Vs. Baylor: Sunday, February 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET (Home)
Watching the women's team right now is basically a lesson in high-pressure defense. Most of these games are being carried on ESPN+, though a few marquee matchups might flex to linear cable as we get closer to March.
Where to watch the Mountaineers
Knowing the time is only half the battle; you’ve got to know which app to open or which channel to flip to. Most Big 12 games are split between the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN+) and the FOX networks (FOX, FS1).
For example, the January 27 game against Kansas State is slated for FS1. Most of the midweek games, especially the women's matchups, tend to live on ESPN+. If you’re a cord-cutter, you're probably already used to this, but it’s always worth checking the specific listing about 24 hours before tip-off because the Big 12 loves a last-minute broadcast tweak.
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Other Mountaineer sports today
It's not all about hoops. If you’re a multi-sport fan, you might have caught the wrestling team in action. In fact, just today, Sunday, January 18, the No. 22 ranked WVU wrestling team hosted Oklahoma at the Coliseum at 12:00 p.m.
The rifle team also recently picked up a win against Akron (4736 to 4683), proving once again why they are the gold standard of the department. Even the tennis team got in on the action with a 7-0 sweep of Youngstown State on Saturday. It’s a busy time to be a Mountaineer.
Looking ahead to WVU Football 2026
I know, it’s January. But in West Virginia, football season never really ends; it just goes into hibernation. We already have the dates for the start of the 2026 season under Rich Rodriguez.
The big news recently was the cancellation of the Alabama series. Bama was supposed to come to Morgantown on September 5, 2026, but that’s off the books. Instead, the Mountaineers will open the 2026 season against Coastal Carolina on September 5 at Milan Puskar Stadium.
While the kickoff times for these 2026 football games are still "TBA" (and likely won't be announced until the 12-day or 6-day window in the fall), we know the dates:
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- Sept 5 vs. Coastal Carolina
- Sept 12 vs. UT Martin
- Sept 19 vs. Virginia (in Charlotte)
Why game times change so much
You've probably noticed that sometimes a game is listed for 7:00 p.m. and then suddenly it’s 7:30 or even 8:00. TV networks hold all the power here. They wait to see which games have the most "juice" before locking in the prime windows. For the Big 12, this usually happens on a weekly basis during football season, but for basketball, the schedule is mostly set a month or two in advance—unless a game gets flexed for a "Big Monday" spot or a Saturday showcase.
Always check the official WVU Sports app or the @WVUSports Twitter account. They are usually the first to post if a tip-off time moves by 15 or 30 minutes due to a previous game on the network running long.
Common misconceptions about WVU game times
A lot of fans get tripped up by the time zones. When the Mountaineers play at BYU, Utah, Arizona, or Arizona State, the local time is two or three hours behind Morgantown.
When you see a "7:00 p.m." start for a game in Salt Lake City, that actually means you aren't watching until 9:00 p.m. ET. It’s a brutal adjustment for the players and even harder for the fans who have to work the next morning.
Also, don't assume every game is on a major channel. The shift to "Big 12 Now" on ESPN+ means that about 60% of the basketball schedule requires a subscription. If you’re heading to a local sports bar to watch, it’s always a good idea to call ahead and make sure they actually have the streaming package set up on their TVs.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
To stay on top of the schedule without having to search every day, follow these steps:
- Sync the Calendar: Go to the official WVU Athletics website and use the "Add to Calendar" feature. This will automatically update your phone’s calendar with the correct tip-off times and broadcast channels as they are announced.
- Check the "Gold Rush" Schedule: If you are attending in person, check the promotional schedule. Games like the January 27 match vs. Kansas State often have specific themes (like the "Student Happy Hour") that affect when doors open.
- Monitor the Weather: Morgantown in January is unpredictable. While basketball is an indoor sport, heavy snow can delay travel for visiting teams, which occasionally pushes tip-off times back by several hours or even to the following day.
- Verify the Channel: Double-check your streaming logins for ESPN+ before Wednesday's double-header. There's nothing worse than missing the first ten minutes of a game because of an expired password.