MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — The West Virginia Mountaineers finished the 2023 season with a big bowl game win and a 9-4 overall record. With that, the expectations for the Mountaineers heading into the 2024 season will soar. Here’s my early prediction for how next season will play out for West Virginia.
(The full official schedule has not been released, but the opponents have)
Penn State – Both teams will likely be ranked in the Top 25 to begin the season and it’s very possible that ESPN’s College Gameday will be in Morgantown for this huge matchup between two old rivals. Penn State will be super talented and loaded at every position, but the crowd will be a huge advantage for the Mountaineers. I just can’t imagine Penn State leaving Morgantown with a win. West Virginia 28 Penn State 17
Albany – The Great Danes finished the 2023 season with an 11-4 overall record and a 7-1 record in conference play to finish in 1st in the Colonial Athletic Asssociation, so they won’t be a pushover. But West Virginia will be far too talented and deep for Albany to keep it close. Mountaineers move to 2-0. West Virginia 45 Albany 6
at Pitt – Pitt was terrible this past season, finishing 3-9, but records go out the window in rivalry games, especially in one with so much hate and passion involved like the Backyard Brawl. Still, I believe West Virginia is the far better team and will get a big win in Pittsburgh. West Virginia 41 Pitt 35
at Arizona – Arizona had an outstanding season this year, finishing 9-3, and they return a lot of their talent next season. This is a game that could go either way, and will likely be a high-scoring shootout, but I’ll take the Wildcats at home. Arizona 56 West Virginia 55
Baylor – Baylor should be better in 2024, but the Mountaineers bounce back after their first loss with a home win against the Bears. West Virginia 21 Baylor 10
Kansas – Talented 5th year senior quarterback Jalon Daniels will be back and Kansas will be sneaky good again. Again, this should be a close one, but the home crowd wins it for the Mountaineers. West Virginia 35 Kansas 31
at Cincinnati – Cincinnati could be a tough team in a few years, but right now, they just don’t have the level of talent to compete with West Virginia right now, even at home. West Virginia 42 Cincinnati 21
Kansas State – Kansas State came to Morgantown 2 years ago and absolutely destroyed the Mountaineers 48-31, and West Virginia will undoubtedly have this game circled. Both of the teams could potentially be ranked in the Top 15 at this time and it will be a huge game for both programs. At home, West Virginia gets another big win to move to 7-1 and enter the Top 10. West Virginia 24 Kansas State 21
at Oklahoma State – This 3-game stretch against Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech is probably the most challenging part of the Mountaineers’ schedule. Mike Gundy is probably the best head coach in the Big 12 and the Cowboys are always loaded. Still, I think Neal Brown gets a real program-defining win here and the Mountaineers move to 8-1. West Virginia 38 Oklahoma State 35
at Texas Tech – I don’t expect Texas Tech to be great next season, but Lubbock is a tough place to win regardless. This will be a lot closer than it should be, but West Virginia leaves Texas 9-1. West Virginia 49 Texas Tech 42
Iowa State – Iowa State will be improved in 2024, but they will also be walking into a bee’s hive that is Morgantown against a top ten West Virginia team. Mountaineers win big. West Virginia 38 Iowa State 6
UCF – Like Cincinnati, UCF will be a really competitive team in a few years, but not in 2024. West Virginia closes the season 11-1 and will be a part of the twelve-team College Football Playoffs next season. West Virginia 28 UCF 3
