Big 12
College GameDay Analyst Makes Really Bold Prediction About WVU Football
Most of the national media is predicting another rough season for WVU football. And even the most optimistic believe Rich Rodriguez is still a year away from making the Mountaineers a contender again.
However, a lone ranger has now emerged. There’s now someone on a very prominent platform who’s willing to predict big things for West Virginia in 2026. ESPN’s Stanford Steve, a fixture on the network’s College GameDay show, is willing to go out on a limb and say WVU can shock the college football world this fall.
During an appearance on The Ryen Russillo Show, he threw out West Virginia as his answer when was asked which team could dethrone Texas Tech as Big 12 champion.
“I’m going to go way off the cuff, and if I had to do a quarterback, my favorite one, I look at Rich Rod and Michael Hawkins coming in. Rich Rod with a running quarterback, and then bringing in [Cam] Cook, the NCAA leader…you want a mini Pat White and Steve Slaton back in Morgantown? I think West Virginia is built to surprise a lot of teams,” he said.
WVU quarterback Michael Hawkins takes a snap during the 2026 Gold-Blue Festival’s scrimmage. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)
“I like the teams that they get at home, so I’m going to say West Virginia plays in the Big 12 title game. That’s my big surprise. I just think to beat Texas Tech, you need something different and possibly outscore ‘em. I’ll take my chances with a West Virginia team with Hawkins, who I think can really succeed in that offense. I know they’re starving there and I think a big year is coming in Morgantown.”
But one bold prediction isn’t going to stop Rodriguez selling a “prove everyone wrong” message to his team.
He even reiterated that he doesn’t care what people outside the program have to say about his team when he opened fall camp in early August. He knows it doesn’t really matter, and many of the greatest teams in school history were viewed as a surprise success by the rest of the country.
What Did Rich Rodriguez Tell His WVU Team About the National Projections?
So what exactly did Rodriguez tell his 2026 group about what’s being said – those predicting West Virginia to finish towards the bottom of the Big 12? Well, he’s hoping they use it as extra motivation.
“I told the team there’s not a lot of people predicting us to not do very well, and I hope that’s motivation. It should be motivation when people are picking last or next to last,” responded Rodriguez during his first when faced with a question about the offseason projections.
Rodriguez has continuously expressed a belief in the 2026 West Virginia Mountaineers, pointing to the talent and experience he acquired. He feels this year’s team has a legitimate shot at being a Cinderella story and contending, not only just in the Big 12, but nationally.
Only time will tell if Rodriguez is right or if the doubters are vindicated.
Find more coverage of the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.
