Opinion
Asti: 3 Reasons to Be Optimistic About WVU Football in 2025
Since projections for WVU football are all over the place, it’s time to look at why West Virginia will either succeed or fail this fall. And based on the immense uncertainty surrounding the new-look Mountaineers, the only thing everyone seemingly agrees on is their season can truly go either way.
So to kick things off, here are the three mains reasons why WVU will win in 2025.
Jahiem White taking his game to another level
West Virginia is going to go as far as Jahiem White takes them. The offense can’t be one-dimensional and White can’t do it all, but the junior running back will have to be the driving force offensively. Fortunately for Rich Rodriguez, White elevating his game and star power is a very real possibility.
White first agreed to return to WVU after Neal Brown’s dismissal to stay with former offensive coordinator Chad Scott. He then decided to remain a Mountaineer after Scott’s departure to learn from Rodriguez. Since making his final decision, White is back to 100% health and has even bulked up.
Looking more muscular, White’s true potential could be unlocked within Rodriguez’s spread offense, a system that heavily relies on the run game. Most of what happens through the air is set up by first establishing success on the ground, a success that will be predicated by White.
WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose
Rodriguez’s current offense won’t be an exact carbon copy of what Steve Slaton and Noel Devine, who has been playing a role in White’s transformation as a member of the coaching staff, enjoyed in the past, but their belief that White is a perfect fit does say a lot nonetheless.
PFF listed White at No. 10 on their list of the best running backs who decided to stay with their school instead of hitting the transfer portal or exiting for the NFL Draft.
West Virginia’s Jahiem White (1) fights off a tackler against Cincinnati during the 2024 season. (WVSN photo by Cody Nespor)
Rodriguez even said during the spring practice period that White was the only player he felt confident about listing atop the depth chart, a testament to the rising junior’s talent amidst a roster in flux. White missed time during the spring with an undisclosed injury, but should be more than ready to go before the season begins.
White led West Virginia in rushing each of the last two seasons, running for 842 yards and four touchdowns in 2023 and 845 yards and seven scores during the 2024 season.
He currently has over 1,900 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns so far in his WVU career, a career that’s far from over.
An easier out of conference schedule
Much was made about WVU’s non conference schedule during Neal Brown’s tenure as head coach. For all of Brown’s faults, his contention about West Virginia’s schedule to open seasons was fair.
WVU opened the past two seasons against national contender Penn State, kicked off 2022 in Pittsburgh in the rebirth of the Backyard Brawl and faced Maryland in Week 1 in 2021. WVU lost all of those Week 1 games. Even though it may have been fun for fans to look forward to a Week 1 against a regional foe, no one else started four consecutive seasons against Power Four competition, especially with three out of those four games taking place away from home.
WVU director of athletes Wren Baker has been open about his belief that West Virginia’s recent schedule strategy did not put the Mountaineers in a position to have success in this era. Baker has contended he wants WVU to have an out of conference schedule that features one P4 opponent (ideally Pitt), one Group of 5 and one FCS school. The only exception to this rule would be a neutral site opportunity that can generate a significant stream of income (example: Virginia in 2026).
In 2025, Rodriguez will open his return to WVU with FCS Robert Morris visiting Milan Puskar Stadium. He will then take his team to Athens, Ohio to meet the Bobcats out of the MAC before his hosting Pitt in first Brawl since the infamous game that immediately preceded his departure in 2007.
Like it or not, WVU’s new schedule incorporates an out of conference model closer to what other P4 schools play. It’s also one that should allow Rodriguez to enter Big 12 play with a winning record. Even if the unthinkable occurs and West Virginia does lose to Pitt, WVU will very likely go into the game with the cushion of a 2-0 record. And a win over Pitt would then make West Virginia 3-0 prior to the tough conference slate ahead.
Knowing the depth and parity level of the Big 12, an easier non conference schedule should add at least one more win to WVU’s overall record and keep a positive vibe around the program several weeks into the season. WVU will also still be able to earn wins against ranked teams within the conference schedule.
The undeniable Rich Rod factor
Those buying WVU in 2025 are mostly doing so due to a belief in Rodriguez. His track record speaks for itself and made him the top candidate for the job. Rodriguez has proven he gets the most out of his players, something he will need to accomplish again with a far from perfect roster.
To be fair, Rodriguez did have to endure a 3-8 season in year one in 2001. His Jacksonville State team even lost three-straight games before eventually winning a conference title in 2024. He’s even admitted that he simply can’t afford to go 3-8 again and knows an 0-3 start would be an absolute disaster of epic proportions.
Asti: Winning Only Option for Rich Rodriguez in Second WVU Tenure
While it could take time before he’s truly able to make WVU football great again, coaches have turned programs around at a quicker pace in this era and Rodriguez knows Mountaineer Nation is starving for a return to glory.
A “3 Reasons to Be Pessimistic About WVU Football in 2025” story coming soon….
For related content, WV Sports Now’s Mike Asti and Luke Blain discuss WVU’s return to the glossy helmets and the expectations for the football season on Mountaineer Report.
