Who won WVU football game today?
If you are looking for a final score from a West Virginia football game today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, you won’t find one. The Mountaineers are not on the field. Basically, the 2025-2026 season for WVU football has already wrapped up. They didn't make a bowl game this year, which honestly feels like a gut punch to a fanbase that lives for those December and January road trips.
The team finished with a 4-8 record. It was a rough slide. They ended the year on a sour note with a 49-0 loss to Texas Tech back on November 29, 2025. Since then, the pads have been put away and the focus has shifted entirely to the transfer portal and recruiting.
While the football team is quiet, the basketball team is making plenty of noise. If you heard cheering coming from Morgantown last night, it was because the WVU men’s basketball team took down Colorado 72-61 at the Coliseum. Treysen Eaglestaff was absolutely clinical, dropping 22 points. It’s easy to get the schedules mixed up during the winter crossover, but for football, we are officially in the "wait until next year" phase.
Why West Virginia didn't play a bowl game
It’s been a weird season. After finishing 4-8, WVU was ineligible for postseason play. You've gotta have six wins to get that bowl invite, and the Mountaineers just couldn't find the rhythm under the new leadership this year.
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- The season started with a glimmer of hope after a win over Robert Morris.
- Then came the heartbreak in Athens against Ohio.
- The Backyard Brawl win against Pitt was the high point.
- The wheels kinda fell off during a five-game losing streak in October.
The defense struggled significantly. Giving up 48 to Utah and 45 to UCF essentially sealed their fate. By the time November rolled around, the math just wasn't in their favor. They managed to beat Houston and Colorado late, but that blowout loss to Texas Tech ended any lingering hopes of a miracle.
What's happening with WVU football right now?
Just because there isn't a game today doesn't mean the program is stagnant. Far from it. Coach Rich Rodriguez—who returned to lead the program in 2025—is currently deep in the trenches of roster rebuilding.
The transfer portal has been a revolving door. We’ve seen several key players announce their departure, including Rodney Gallagher, which was a huge talking point on local sports radio recently. But for every exit, there is an entry. The staff is scouring the portal for defensive depth, specifically in the secondary. That's where the 2025 season really fell apart. They couldn't stop the big play.
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Recruiting for the 2026 class is also hitting a fever pitch. With National Signing Day and various early enrollment windows, the coaches are likely on the road or hosting visitors today rather than standing on a sideline.
Looking ahead to the 2026 schedule
The next time you’ll actually be able to ask "who won the WVU football game" and get a result is September 5, 2026. The Mountaineers will open the season at home against Coastal Carolina.
This game was a late addition to the schedule. Originally, WVU was supposed to play Alabama in a massive home-and-home series. Unfortunately, both schools mutually agreed to cancel that matchup. While fans were looking forward to a blue-blood coming to Morgantown, the Coastal Carolina game provides a slightly more manageable start to what will be a critical Year 2 for the current coaching staff.
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The 2026 non-conference slate looks like this:
- September 5 vs. Coastal Carolina (Morgantown)
- September 12 vs. UT Martin (Morgantown)
- September 19 vs. Virginia (Charlotte, NC - Bank of America Stadium)
That Virginia game in Charlotte is going to be massive. It’s a neutral site game that should draw a huge Mountaineer crowd.
Actionable steps for Mountaineer fans
Since there is no game today, here is how you can stay locked in with the program:
- Check the Transfer Portal: Follow reliable sources like Blue Gold News or the official WVU Athletics site. The roster for the September opener is being built right now.
- Support the Basketball Team: If you need a Mountaineer fix, Ross Hodge has the basketball team playing well. They are 12-6 and just beat a tough Colorado squad.
- Review the 2026 Recruiting Class: Look at the early commits. Speed at the wide receiver position seems to be a priority for the upcoming cycle.
- Plan the Charlotte Trip: If you’re planning on heading to the Virginia game in September, start looking at hotels in the Uptown Charlotte area now before prices spike.
The football season is long, but the offseason is even longer. We might not have a winning score to report today, but the work being done in the facility today determines if we’ll be celebrating come next September.