Nicco Marchiol to Open Season as West Virginia’s Starting Quarterback

As expected, West Virginia will open the season with Nicco Marchiol as their starting quarterback. Just before kickoff, WV Sports Now can confirm Marchiol will get the start.

In his third year at WVU, Marchiol will now start a season as the leader of the Mountaineers for the first time.

To this point, Marchiol has played in 20 games with three starts in his three seasons at WVU. Throughout his career, he’s thrown for 742 yards and eight touchdowns. Marchiol is 3-0 record wise as a starter at WVU.

Last year, Marchiol started two games, playing in eight, and threw for 434 yards with five touchdowns. He made his first start of the year against Arizona, where he threw for 198 yards and one touchdown while completing 18 passes on 22 attempts.

Marchiol started the following week against Cincinnati as well, completing 9-of-15 passes for 156 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

West Virginia’s Nicco Marchiol (8) drops back to pass in Cincinnati during a game in 2024. (WVSN photo by Cody Nespor)

As a redshirt freshman in 2023, Marchiol made his first career start against Texas Tech, leading WVU to a win just one week after coming off the bench for a win over Pitt in the Backyard Brawl’s return to Morgantown.

Just a few weeks ago in the middle of fall camp, Marchiol talked about why he believes he fits so well into Rich Rodriguez’s offense.

Nicco Marchiol Confident in Fit, Reveals What Surprised Him About Rich Rodriguez’s Offense

“This offense, I feel, fits me so well. … I really enjoy playing in this offense. Feel like I’m getting a better grasp every day we go out there,” said Marchiol. But despite his comfort level, Marchiol did also admit to being surprised by the tempo.

He knew Rodriguez liked a fast paced offense, but he had no idea just how fast until he started trying to learn the offense himself.

“We want to be the fastest team in America.”

Marchiol also talked about enjoying Rodriguez’s philosophy, both on and off the field. “Hard Edge is a lifestyle,” said Marchiol before adding that this WVU team embodies what it means to be “Hard Edge.”

WVU’s 2025 season kicks at 2 p.m. against Robert Morris at Milan Puskar Stadium.

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