Nov 24, 2025
West Virginia head coach Wealthy Rodriguez shouts to his gamers throughout the second half of an NCAA school soccer sport in opposition to Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photograph/Ross D. Franklin)
After WVU’s win over Houston, there have been hopes that WVU had an opportunity to make a bowl sport. The crew broke a shedding streak and was 3-6 on the yr.
The subsequent check was in opposition to a beatable Colorado crew, and the Mountaineers capitalized, so all that stood in the best way had been Arizona State and Texas Tech.
The Solar Devils didn’t have quarterback Sam Leavitt, who was executed for the season, and though it was a tricky hill to climb in opposition to the Pink Raiders, the sport is at house. There was the thought that there was an opportunity.
The dream stopped earlier than it might actually have some legs.
WVU fell to Arizona State 25-23 in crushing style, shedding on a late fourth-quarter subject objective. Identical to that, the Mountaineers had their seventh lack of the season, transferring them out of bowl rivalry.
The Mountaineers made it shut, not less than. It was trying bleak within the second quarter when ASU scored 15 unanswered, and if it weren’t for the lengthy Jeff Weimer landing, WVU would’ve been down 22-3 on the half.
On a pair extra large performs, WVU got here all the best way again and took the lead. Then, the Mountaineers let quarterback Jeff Sims get into subject objective vary to win the sport.
Making a bowl sport was a protracted shot to start with, particularly after shedding 5 straight Large 12 video games and most by 20-plus factors. It was an thrilling two weeks for the reason that Houston win, however actuality set in rapidly with the loss to the Solar Devils.
After shedding all these video games, WVU didn’t deserve a bowl sport. There have been too many dangerous losses for a crew trying to play postseason soccer. The Mountaineers misplaced to Ohio, who’s 6-4 on the yr, and WVU misplaced its first 5 Large 12 video games.
For many, the objective of Rodriguez’s first season again was to be aggressive and be a high crew within the Large 12. That wasn’t life like with all of the turnover, the brand new gamers, the teaching workers and a brand new scheme. A extra life like objective was to make a bowl sport, however nonetheless, that appeared fairly laborious.
There have been favorable video games, trying forward, however after the season went on, the Mountaineers’ schedule was fairly tough. It had Pitt, Utah, BYU, Houston, Arizona State, and Texas Tech. All six of these groups had been, and a few are nonetheless, ranked within the high 25.
The expectation that athletic director Wren Baker had of simply creating some momentum in Yr 2 was extra life like. To date, it looks like Rodriguez has executed that.
Ever for the reason that UCF loss, WVU has gained or been aggressive sufficient to have an opportunity in successful, and a few of these video games had been in opposition to the highest groups within the Large 12. That’s encouraging for the years to return underneath Rodriguez.
WVU is on a bye this week after which will get Texas Tech at house. The Pink Raiders are the perfect crew within the Large 12, and can most certainly be a 20-point favourite. WVU has a slim likelihood of successful. However how about simply making the sport aggressive? Give the WVU followers a cause to remain till the fourth quarter.
That’ll give followers a cause to be excited for Yr 2 of Rodriguez.
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