Could WVU Make the College Football Playoff Without Big 12 Title?

WVU players and coaches have been open about using a Big 12 title as their way in the College Football Playoff, but is it possible the Mountaineers could make it in without winning a conference title?

While hoping for an at-large bid offers no guarantees, Andy Staples of On3 Sports (h/t the Associated Press’ Ralph D. Russo) argues that’s exactly what’s going to happen for Neal Brown’s team. And at the end of the day, a playoff appearance, no matter the path, will certainly signal a successful season for West Virginia in 2024.

History says the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket will be crazier than we imagine👀

(via @Andy_Staples, h/t @ralphDrussoAP)

Read why: https://t.co/7Z4OvkcCKO pic.twitter.com/tOKPBbuKgD

— On3 (@On3sports) August 13, 2024

For more on Staples’ story, he released his projections for the first ever 12-team FBS level College Football Playoff on Tuesday. Since Staples doesn’t have WVU winning the Big 12, he has the Mountaineers earning an 11 seed and a first round matchup with Alabama, making it as a six seed at-large out of the SEC in the Crimson Tide’s first season after Nick Saban’s retirement.

But Staples has another big surprise beyond WVU getting in without a conference title. He has UCF winning the Big 12 title and claiming the No. 4 seed as the lowest ranking conference champion.

And if you’re wondering what Staples predicts occurs that allows West Virginia to have a resume worthy of an at-large selection, he has WVU kicking off the season with a monumental victory over Penn State. The loss to WVU would send the Nittany Lions on a disappointing season and failing to make the playoff themselves.

A WVU Football ‘Would You Rather?’: Beat Rivals, Lose in Big 12 or Win Conference After Losing to Rivals?

“Let’s say K.J. Jefferson turns out to be the create-a-quarterback of Gus Malzahn’s dreams and UCF wins the Big 12. Now let’s retcon another previous choice and say one of the reasons Penn State didn’t make the CFP is because the Nittany Lions lost at West Virginia in week one. UCF — with losses to Florida in Gainesville and West Virginia in Morgantown — beats the Mountaineers in the rematch. West Virginia, with a second loss either at Oklahoma State or at Arizona, slides into the final at-large spot,” explained Staples to make sense of his CFP predictions.

For a related story, WV Sports Now’s Mike Asti sparked an offseason debate by posing a question asking  if WVU fans would prefer beating rivals or winning the Big 12.

The Sporting News’ Bill Bender also sat down with Asti to preview WVU’s season on an episode of the Mike Drop podcast back in July.

Find more coverage of the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.