McAfee, Saban Talk Importance of Backyard Brawl on College GameDay

The WVU football team has arguably the biggest game of the season lined up for Saturday with the Backyard Brawl. As the game approaches, former Mountaineer Pat McAfee along with former Alabama head coach and Fairmont native Nick Saban highlighted the matchup on College GameDay.

The Backyard Brawl is ALWAYS a huge one#CollegeGameDay https://t.co/rS9uUbcrP5 pic.twitter.com/k5HcFJ01ZB

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 13, 2025

“Those are two groups of people that think very similarly about life and live very similar lives and love ball,” McAfee said.

McAfee continued by mentioning the infamous 2009 Backyard Brawl, which marked the end of Rodriguez’s first tenure as the head coach at WVU.

“I think about a backyard brawl battle from my junior year every day of my life still to this point… And Rich Rodriguez, it’s September 13, 9-13, and that 13-9 Backyard Brawl changed the trajectory of both programs mightily,” McAfee said. “And now that Rich Rod’s back, this is a big one for him and reinstates that he’s a West Virginia guy through and through and I’m pulling for him.”

McAfee continued his mantra of “Ohio is a good football team” after WVU’s disappointing 17-10 loss to the Bobcats last weekend, dropping the team to 1-1. McAfee discussed the future and how it may take more time for WVU to solidify its style of play.

“What we need to see out of the West Virginia football team is a little bit of fight,” McAfee said. “What’s gonna be in the future? Rich Rodriguez comes back and brings the hard edge, the complete opposite of what Neal Brown was basically running in that building. So we’re learning that it’s gonna take a little bit.”

Saban also gave insight into the game while on the panel, marking it as an opportunity to “prove who we are” as a team.

“You know, Rich Rod grew up the same way I did, about 25 miles from Morgantown so this game against Pitt was always the biggest game of the year. And it was a pride thing for the people of the state of West Virginia,” Saban said. “The Mountaineers have tremendous pride, they’re hardworking people, they’re good people. And this was sort of the way we could prove who we are by playing in this game and playing well in this game. So, we’re always gonna be rooting for West Virginia in this one and it’s always about beat the hell out of Pitt.”

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