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Wren Baker made the decision to end the Neal Brown era after six, long dreadful seasons in hopes of restoring the success that the West Virginia football program was once known for.

To do so, he brought back Rich Rodriguez, who had, without question, the greatest three-year stretch in program history, playing a part in the Mountaineers winning 33 games in three seasons, including two BCS wins (although he left before the Fiesta Bowl).

There's a lot of confidence inside the building and around the state that Rich Rod will get the Mountaineers back on track, but it might not happen in year one. College football expert and regular guest on the In the Gun podcast, Phil Steele, predicted WVU to finish dead last in his 2025 season preview.

Phil Steele's Big 12 predictions for the 2025 season

1. Baylor

1. Utah

1. Iowa State

4. Arizona State

4. Kansas State

4. Texas Tech

7. TCU

7. BYU

9. Cincinnati

9. Kansas

11. Houston

12. UCF

12. Colorado

14. Oklahoma State

15. Arizona

16. West Virginia

WVU will be replacing nearly 20 starters from last year's team and will have well over 60 newcomers in total. When you have that much turnover, it's expected that wins will be few and far between.

MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI

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West Virginia Adds FIU Transfer Owen Puk to Bolster 2026 Pitching Staff

West Virginia Has a Legit Shot to Snag the Nation’s Top Punter in 2026 Class

West Virginia Eyes Huge Commitment Decision as Top Safety Chance Collins Narrows List


This article first appeared on West Virginia Mountaineers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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