8/31 – vs. Penn State
Quite easily the biggest game on the WVU schedule comes in at week one. Most fans were hoping to see the highly anticipated ‘coal rush’ theme be place for a night game against the Nittany Lions. However, this rematch from last season will feature the Big Noon Kickoff crew for Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff game.
Last season, when the Mountaineers traveled to Happy Valley, they played a competitive first half, going into the locker room down 14-7 before losing the game 38-15. The game will feature many of the same pieces from a season before with WVU’s Garrett Greene and CJ Donaldson. Jahiem White did not play in the game as a true freshman last season.
9/7 – vs. Albany
In what should be the easiest game of the Mountaineers’ season, the Great Danes will travel to Morgantown for WVU’s FCS game. It has been quite some time since an FCS team has even played a close game with West Virginia. Albany last season finished the year with an impressive 11-4 record, winning the Colonial Athletic Association.
9/14 – @ Pittsburgh
To start the year, we have seen the Mountaineer’s biggest game, easiest game, and now most important game. It cannot be understated what the Backyard Brawl means to the players and fans involved in the rivalry. Neal Brown was able to get his record against Pitt to .500 after a win last season with his back-up quarterback in the game.
But when Brown and the team step back on the field up in Pittsburgh. Memories of a heartbreaking loss in the game that resumed the long lost rivalry two seasons ago could be flashing through their heads. Pittsburgh will feature a new starting quarterback for the third straight season. While WVU will march a very similar team to last season onto the field.
The only thing fans might be looking forward to more than this game, is singing Sweet Caroline in Pittsburgh once again.
9/21 – vs. Kansas
The Kansas Jayhawks have been on the rise over the past couple of seasons and are now in position to hope to compete for a Big 12 championship. Two seasons ago in Morgantown, the Jayhawks defeated West Virginia in overtime in Morgantown. Star quarterback Jalon Daniels will pose quite the treat to WVU in a potential upsetting game at home for WVU.
A win to start the Big 12 season play could mean big things ahead for WVU while facing a playoff potential team in Kansas.
10/5 – @ Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State plays home to the Big 12 preseason player of the year, Ollie Gordon, and will also play host to the Mountaineers to start the month of October. Last season many fans were heartbroken after a shot to play in the Big 12 Championship was shot after a blown lead to the Cowboys at home.
This season, Oklahoma State will be just as competitive and an even harder get should the Mountaineers want to pick up another conference win. The last time the Mountaineers traveled to Stillwater, it was two years ago when WVU came out with a win to end the season.
10/12 – vs. Iowa State
In what could be an easy trap game if the Mountaineers are not careful, the Cyclones could be a sneaky team in the Big 12 good enough to knock off some of the top teams. Last season Iowa State finished 6-3 in the Big 12 and they could be looking to improve that record in the upcoming season.
10/19 – vs. Kansas State
West Virginia will play in their second straight Big 12 home game against the Wildcats before a short road trip. Garrett Greene made his first career start against Kansas State at home two seasons ago. While Greene looked impressive, the Mountaineers were not able to pull out a win.
The matchup between the two teams this season could be one of the most evenly matched games of the year. If WVU wants any chance of being a team that is playing the Big 12 Conference Championship, a win against the Wildcats at home could be considered a must.
10/26 – @ Arizona
The first of two straight road games, the Mountaineers will travel to play Arizona for the first time since they joined the Big 12 conference this season. Coming into the conference off of a very impressive last season going 10-3 in the Pac 12, the Wildcats are one of the favorites to win the Big 12 this season.
This could be the hardest road test of the season for the Mountaineers and one that could define how the rest of the season plays out for the team. A win here against the best the conference has to offer on the road could mean big things for WVU.
11/9 – @ Cincinnati
In the second year of being in the conference, WVU will now travel to Cincinnati to continue the new regional rivalry starting in the Big 12 Conference. Last season, Garrett Greene had a breakout game at home against the Bearcats where he threw for 210 yards and rushed for 154 more. He also had a total of 4 touchdowns; one through the air and three on the ground.
The matchup between these two teams could be the start of a new rivalry that is renewed every single season. WVU is already up 1-0 and can look to make it 2-0 this season.
11/16 – vs. Baylor
Last season was a shockingly bad one for the Baylor Bears. They went 2-7 in conference play and 3-9 overall on the year. The Mountaineers were able to escape with a walk-off touchdown catch by Jahiem White at the end of last season on the road. The iconic moment of now Pittsburgh Steeler Zach Frazier occurred this game when hopping off the field with a broken leg to avoid a ten second run off.
Baylor will definitely be better than last season but that is still not saying much. This is a must win game for the Mountaineers.
11/23 – vs. UCF
UCF was another close game that the Mountaineers were able to pull out on the road. But the Knights were a young team, specifically offense, that will be much better in the 2024 campaign. With one of the best running back rooms in the country and a young dynamic quarterback, UCF will be a very dangerous team if not taken seriously. The knights could be an upset team for many this upcoming year.
11/30 – @ Texas Tech
The last game of the season comes on the road down in Lubbock where the Red Raiders will be looking for revenge on last season in a game that featured WVU’s backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol. It was the start of a great season for WVU but Texas Tech will be no slouch.
Last season going middle of the pack at 5-4 and 7-6, they will only be better and looking to knock a few teams off from the top. It could be a season like the Mountaineers had last season for the Red Raiders.
