It was late 2018 when Will Grier stood in the middle of a hostile Austin, Texas crowd, held up two fingers, and effectively burned the house down. That two-point conversion didn't just win a game. It solidified West Virginia vs Texas as one of the weirdest, most tension-filled matchups in modern college sports.
Honestly, the distance between Morgantown and Austin is about 1,300 miles. On paper, they have no business being rivals. One is a blue-collar mountain stronghold; the other is a massive, wealthy "Forty Acres" in the heart of the Lone Star State. Yet, for over a decade in the Big 12, these two programs traded punches like they grew up on the same block.
The History of West Virginia vs Texas
People forget that before West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012, these two had almost zero history. They played once in 1956—a 7-6 Mountaineer win—and that was it for over half a century. But once they shared a conference, things got spicy. Fast.
The football series ended in a dead heat during their Big 12 era. Looking at the record, it’s a literal 6-6 split over the 12 games played between 2012 and 2022. You rarely see that level of parity in college football. Usually, a blue blood like Texas eventually bullies its way to a lopsided lead.
Not here.
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Why Morgantown Was a Trap for the Longhorns
Texas never quite figured out how to handle a night game at Milan Puskar Stadium. There’s a specific kind of energy in West Virginia that feels… different. It’s loud. It’s tight. The fans are right on top of you. For a team used to the sprawling, corporate feel of modern massive stadiums, Morgantown felt like a gladiator pit.
- 2013: Texas barely escapes with an overtime win.
- 2015: The Mountaineers dismantle the Longhorns 38-20.
- 2021: West Virginia wins 31-23, a game that basically knocked Texas out of bowl contention that year.
Texas fans might try to downplay it, but the Mountaineers were a constant thorn in their side.
The Realignment Ripple Effect
As of 2026, the landscape has changed. Texas moved to the SEC, leaving West Virginia in a revamped Big 12 that looks nothing like the one they joined in 2012. This shift has left fans wondering if we'll ever see West Virginia vs Texas on a regular basis again.
Currently, there are no scheduled football games between the two for the 2026 season. West Virginia is busy filling its non-conference slate with teams like Coastal Carolina and Virginia. It's a bummer for those who loved the culture clash.
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But it's not just about football.
Basketball and Beyond
On the hardwood, the rivalry was just as intense. Bob Huggins and various Texas coaches—from Rick Barnes to Shaka Smart to Chris Beard—turned these matchups into defensive wars.
In early 2025, West Virginia's basketball schedule showed the grit they’ve maintained. While the 2025-2026 season has seen the Mountaineers facing new Big 12 foes like Arizona and Houston, the ghost of the Texas matchups still haunts the Coliseum. Texas always brought out the "Gold Rush" or "Coal Rush" crowds. Without them, the Big 12 feels a little less "big" for some of the old-school WVU faithful.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
There’s a common misconception that Texas dominated this series because of their recruiting budget and brand name. That’s just factually incorrect. In football, the series was perfectly balanced.
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Another myth? That the players didn't care because it wasn't a "traditional" rivalry like the Backyard Brawl (WVU vs Pitt) or the Red River Rivalry (Texas vs Oklahoma). If you watch the tape from the 2018 game, or the 2022 matchup in Austin where Texas won 38-20, the intensity was palpable.
The Horns Down gesture became a focal point of this rivalry. West Virginia players used it so often that the Big 12 eventually had to clarify the rules on whether it constituted a penalty. It became a symbol of the underdog Mountaineers poking the bear.
Looking Ahead: Will They Play Again?
College sports is cyclical. With the 12-team (and potentially 14-team) College Football Playoff, scheduling is becoming more strategic. There is a high probability that we see a "home and home" series scheduled in the 2030s once the current realignment dust settles.
For now, the rivalry lives on in the record books and the memories of fans who remember Will Grier’s shrug.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you're looking to scratch that rivalry itch, keep an eye on the Big 12/SEC Challenge in basketball or future bowl projections. While the regular season meetings are on ice, the high-stakes nature of the post-season means these two could be on a collision course sooner than the schedule suggests. Check the latest recruiting rankings for both schools, as they often go head-to-head for the same four-star talent in the Mid-Atlantic and Florida regions.