Rich Rodriguez Asks WVU Fans to Trust Process, Makes Bold Proclamation

Even though his first season back in West Virginia hasn’t gone as planned, Rich Rodriguez remains extremely confident in the process. In fact, Rodriguez is willing to make a big promise to fans willing to trust the process.

Rodriguez went as far as to predict WVU will be playing for a national championship in the not too distant future, in five years to be exact.

“As much as we’re still hopeful that there’s a lot of games still out there for us to win and all that, it is a process, and we’re working as hard as we can. I know what the hell I’m doing, so I take comfort in that,” initially responded Rodriguez when asked for his message to fans during his weekly radio show.

He then made sure to emphasize he understands the frustration, but he knows what he’s doing.

“But I also understand the frustration, but there’s nobody more frustrated than our players and coaches. You just got to let the process go on. We’ll be better in a month than we are today,” he added.

What Rodriguez said next is what made the ears of Mountaineer Nation perk up.

“We’ll be better in a year than we are today. We’ll be a lot better in two years than we are today. And in five years, we’re going to be playing for a national championship.”

West Virginia’s rough start to the 2025 season – they currently sit at 2-3 and 0-2 in Big 12 play headed into a matchup with BYU – hasn’t made Rodriguez waiver off what initially borough up during his introductory press conference in December.

At that time, Rodriguez promised he will make his controversial exit right – he left West Virginia for Michigan following his team’s infamous 13-9 loss to Pitt that cost WVU a birth in the BCS National Championship Game. And to make it right, Rodriguez proclaimed he will deliver a national championship to his home state and alma mater.

So while some may roll their eyes at a coach talking about national championship in the midst of what looks to be a losing season, Rodriguez’s most recent comments are only reiterating and reenforcing what he’s been saying since he was hired.

Of course, WVU still seems a long way away from contending for anything and winning a Big 12 title is the first step before worrying about another crack at a national championship.

At this point, it’s imperative for this current West Virginia team to end the season strong. Then, and only then, will fans have hope about seeing more in 2026 and beyond. And as Rodriguez has also said, while winning early in a tenure is easier in this era, it still requires luck, something WVU has yet to experience this season.

Note: West Virginia is currently the winningest all-time football program without a national title claim. WVU played for a national tittle in 1988 before falling to Notre Dame. Some argue WVU should follow the standard set by other major schools and claim a title from 1922 season – they finished as the only undefeated 10-win bowl champion that year.

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