2025 College Football Big 12 Team Previews: West Virginia Mountaineers

Team: West Virginia
Mascot: Mountaineers
Student Population: 24,200
Established: 1867
Motto: “Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge”
Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
Head Coach: Rich Rodriguez
Offensive Coordinator: None
Defensive Coordinator: Zac Alley
2024 Record: 6-7

Rankings

SP+: 57
FPI: 66
Kelly Ford: 64

Power Rankings

CBS Sports: 12

The Mountaineers underwent one of the biggest roster reconstructions in the country with 51 departures to the transfer portal. Luckily, running back Jahiem White should be a perfect fit in coach Rich Rodriguez’s offense. After that, though, things get interesting. Defensive coordinator Zac Alley was a major poach from Oklahoma, and he should get the defense right… eventually. Will it be in 2025? (+3500)

SB Nation: 12

We’ve seen teams in the transfer portal era basically portal their entire teams to new schools. Indiana turned around their program last season by transferring in basically every James Madison player, and West Virginia aims to do the same thing but with Jacksonville State. Rich Rodriguez comes over from JSU and brings everyone with him, including Zac Alley as his defensive coordinator. WR Cam Vaughn and DB Fred Perry come with him from Jacksonville State, but the prized jewel is AAC Defensive Player of the Year Jimmori Robinson, who led the AAC in sacks last season. Offensively, keeping around RB Jaheim White is the biggest plus here. QB Nicco Marchiol is an interesting returnee as well.

There’s always the risk that this entirely new roster backfires in 2025, but you can’t knock Rodriguez for trying. Where WVU ends up by around midseason could be fascinating.

24/7 Sports: 13

West Virginia also brought back a familiar face as head coach for 2025, with Rich Rodriguez returning to Morgantown. A massive incoming transfer class — the second-largest among power conference teams — jumpstarts the rebuild for the Mountaineers.

Transfer Class Rankings

24/7 Sports: National Rank 30 | Big 12 Rank 4 (52 players)
Rivals: National Rank 13 | Big 12 Rank 3 (50 players)

Miscellaneous

Bovada Win Totals: 6.5

Athlon Big 12 Predictions: 14

Rich Rodriguez’s return to Morgantown is one of the Big 12’s most intriguing storylines for 2025. The Mountaineers are navigating a massive roster overhaul and face a brutal schedule. However, Rodriguez has won here before and knows how to get the most out of the roster. This fall could be a rebuild year to set the stage for better results in 2026 and beyond.

Rodriguez’s track record of building prolific offenses will be tested this season. West Virginia enters the fall with a completely revamped offensive line, an ongoing quarterback battle between transfer Jaylen Henderson and Nicco Marchiol, and a developing receiving corps that was hit hard by departures. However, there are zero concerns at running back with Jahiem White leading the way, while transfers Tye Edwards (Northern Iowa) and Jaylan Knighton (SMU) providing depth.

Hiring coordinator Zac Alley away from Oklahoma was a huge get for Rodriguez and West Virginia’s defense. This unit massively struggled in 2024, allowing 31.9 points a contest and giving up over six yards a snap. Alley has just one returning starter to work with in Edward Vesterinen. However, there are promising transfers at every level, including UTSA edge rusher Jimmori Robinson and safety Fred Perry.