West Virginia Football Preview 2025: Mountaineers Season Prediction, Win Total Projection, Top Players

West Virginia Key Player

Nicco Marchiol, QB Jr.
If this thing is going to fly, it’s Marchiol who has to be terrific in all phases. He’s just experienced enough to be the right guy to bridge the gap and be the veteran leader who can be steady.

- West Virginia Team Preview

West Virginia Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: Jimmori Robinson, EDGE
A massive get for the West Virginia line, the former UTSA Roadrunner was a terror last season with 10.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. The 6-4, 265-pound American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year will be an instant tone-setter.

Top Transfer Out: CJ Donaldson, RB
The big bruiser didn’t exactly fit the RichRod offense, but there’s always a place for guys who can power through like he can - he ran for 2,058 yards and 30 scores as a Mountaineers. Now he’ll be a key part of the Ohio State attack.

West Virginia Key Game

at Kansas, Sept. 20
The Pitt game will always matter when it’s on the schedule, and going to Ohio is quirky-weird, but at worst West Virginia should be 2-1 to start the season. The Big 12 schedule opens in Lawrence as the start of a rough conference run of three road games in the first four. Up next - Utah and then at BYU.
- 2025 West Virginia Schedule Breakdown

West Virginia Top 10 Players

1. Jimmori Robinson, EDGE Sr.
2. Fred Perry, S Sr.
3. Jamiem White, RB Jr.
4. Nicco Marchiol, QB Jr.
5. Michael Coats, CB Sr.
6. Eddie Kelly, EDGE/DE Jr.
7. Carson Lee, OG Sr.
8. Cam Vaughn, WR Jr.
9. Walter Young Bear, OG Sr.
10. Nick Krahe, OT Soph.

West Virginia 2024 Fun Stats

- Interceptions Thrown: WVU 14, Opponents 5

- Penalties: Opponents 77 for 664 yards, WVU 57 for 446 yards

- Passing Yards Per Game: Opponents 270.8, WVU 210.3

West Virginia 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen

The Big 12 should be terrific from top to bottom. To set the dial to lame cliché, West Virginia can beat anyone in the conference, but it could lose to anyone, too.

Here’s the great part. There isn’t a game on the schedule West Virginia can’t win - it’s not like there’s a Georgia or Ohio State to deal with.

The offense will be nasty enough at times to blow past a few teams that can’t hit the fastball. But there’s way too much of an overhaul on both sides to expect any sort of huge turnaround right away. Once Rodriguez gets settled in again everything should be far smoother.

That doesn’t mean it’ll be a bad year, and this could absolutely be one of those teams that rocks by the end of the season, but it’ll be an up-and-down grind at times. Even so, a winning season - there’s been just one in the last four years - is hardly a crazy goal.

Set The West Virginia Win Total At … 6.5

Likely Wins: at Ohio, Robert Morris

50/50 Games: Colorado, at Houston, at Kansas, Pitt, TCU, Texas Tech, at UCF, Utah

Likely Losses: at Arizona State, at BYU

- West Virginia Team Preview