How Does WVU Football Compare to Other Open P4 Jobs?

Whenever any job is open, it’s important to look at which other similar schools are also trying to fill a vacancy. So when trying to determine how attractive the WVU football job really is in this current cycle, let’s look at the other Power Four jobs that are also open.

North Carolina 

North Carolina is probably the job most similar to West Virginia, and that even includes factoring in one that’s open inside the Big 12. And in an ironic twist from this point one year ago, WVU’s 2023 bowl opponent is joining them in looking to move into its next era.

Soon after legendary coach Mack Brown, who is North Carolina’s all-time wins leader, expressed his desire to return and not retire, the Tar Heels made the decision for him and decided to move on themselves.

WVU quarterback Garrett Greene scrambles against UNC in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on Dec. 27, 2023. (Mitchell Northam / WV Sports Now)

Brown’s second tenure with UNC was very Neal Brown-like as well. In fact, it was arguably worse despite no losing seasons and more bowl appearances because it included only one bowl win the entire time.

Historically, North Carolina has 751 all-time wins (WVU – 783), eight conference titles (WVU – 15), granted none since 1980, and 38 bowl appearances (WVU – 41). The Tar Heels program has also never reached the level WVU has in the past, most notably this century in the first decade of the 2000s and the early part of the 2010s.

While the ACC has proven to be more respected with elite teams at the top of their conference, the Big 12 can still argue overall depth. Both WVU and UNC are in the two second-rate conferences of the current Power Four, and that’s not even debating on field play but how they are viewed by networks and their financial value — what really matters. It’s just the reality for both programs and both conferences.

Some could argue there’s more money within the state of North Carolina than West Virginia, but North Carolina doesn’t possess the notable football (not talking basketball here) alumni WVU does.

No matter what, North Carolina will always be a basketball school and the main focus will always be contending at a national level on the hardwood above all else. Despite a rich history in basketball, WVU will always be a football school first in terms of what is cared about the most.

There’s an argument UNC could be a sleeping giant in this new NIL era, but WVU can argue a higher upside with the right coach and their prominent donors fully on board.

UCF 

The UCF program is probably the most confusing and debated school in all of college football over the last five years. Of course, that starts with the Knights’ rise to achieving big success as a Group of 5, so much so they claim a national championship for the 2017 season. But while their fans will die on the hill of that argument even though that title is claim quite controversial, and arguably fraudulent, to say the least, what happened to UCF before joining the Big 12 doesn’t really matter now.

Ever since jumping to the now Power Four level, UCF has been an afterthought nationally, going 6-7 in their debut season and then 4-8 in 2024. WVU beat UCF in Orlando in 2023 and then in Morgantown this season. Other than running back RJ Harvey, there’s been minimal excitement on the field. Gus Malzahn even decided to simply leave to be Florida State’s offensive coordinator rather than try to fix things at Central Florida.

To further show the difficulty in their transition to the Power Four, UCF won nine games in each of their final two seasons in the American Athletic Conference.

As things currently stand, people are able to say UCF only went undefeated in 2027 and enjoyed success in other years because they played a strength of schedule that was often ranked in the 80s and high 90s nationally. They would usually play one or two ranked teams, including in the bowl games, all year. In 2017, they only faced one team ranked inside the top 15 that entire season, and it was Auburn in their bowl game after being left out of the College Football Playoff.

However, even though UCF has failed to prove anything in the Big 12 to this point, there’s tons of money in Orlando and the school has a relationship with Disney. They even often have celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal at games pumping up the crowd. There’s also no denying the passion of UCF fans, especially on social media.

The ceiling could be through the roof for UCF if they can utilize the financial situation down the street properly. WVU has the prestige factor advantage, but UCF can argue a big edge financially. The money UCF is dealing with is even evident in their current search, as there are reports suggesting they are trying to steal away Lincoln Riley from USC and even convince Scott Frost to return for a second tenure.

Purdue 

Purdue has been playing college football since 1887, yet there’s an argument to be made that the 2024 season is maybe the worst season in program history. The Boilermakers finished 1-11, losing 10 games in a row and ending the year with only an FCS win. Calling 2024 bad would be a serious understatement. Purdue’s most recent season makes any year during Neal Brown’s tenure look like national contention. Purdue lost 66-0 to Indiana in their season finale.

But with all of that said, the Purdue program has experienced success in the past, although it’s been 24 years since Drew Brees helped bring home a Big Ten title in 2000.

Compared to West Virginia, Purdue has fewer all-time wins with 642 (WVU – 783), fewer conference titles with 12 (WVU – 15) and significantly fewer bowl appearances with only 21 (WVU – 41).

The only advantage Purdue has over WVU and the other schools with jobs open is they are firmly within the Big Ten. But the downside to that conference stability and edge from a resource perspective is the Boilermakers path to ever contending in the conference again seems impossible.

The odds of WVU, UNC or even UCF using a conference title as their way into the CFP in the not too distant future is simply far greater than Purdue doing the same.

It’s hard to think of any scenario where Purdue is not the worst of these open Power Four jobs.

For a related story, WV Sports Now broke down the pros and cons of some of the top candidates to be the next WVU football head coach.