Rich Rodriguez Has Chance at First FBS Conference Title Since Last at WVU

Rich Rodriguez will have a chance to win his first conference championship at the FBS level since his last title at WVU in 2007. With Jacksonville State’s 21-11 win over Sam Houston State, Rodriguez and the Gamecocks have clinched a spot in the Conference USA Championship Game.

The win also marked Jacksonville State’s eighth straight win after starting the season with three consecutive losses. And like a typical Rodriguez team, Jacksonville State’s offense was powered by 278 yards out of their 332 total yards coming on the ground.

Conference Championship Bound‼️#HardEdge | #EarnSuccess pic.twitter.com/wan03V3DZv

— Jax State Football (@JaxStateFB) November 23, 2024

Rodriguez owns 10 conference titles from all levels to date throughout his coaching career, dating back to his first opportunity as a head coach with Salem in 1988.

But as far as the FBS level goes, Rodriguez won four Big East crowns during his tenure at WVU. He did win a Pac-12 South Division title with Arizona, but then lost in the Pac-12 Championship Game in 2014. Most recently, Rodriguez led Jacksonville State to a conference title in 2022, their final season as an FCS program.

Rodriguez, a West Virginia native, currently holds a 189-128-2 overall coaching record. He experienced most of his success while leading the Mountaineers from 2001-2007. At WVU, Rodriguez won four Big East titles and was named conference Coach of the Year twice. He added a third Coach of the Year honor in the Pac-12 in 2014 with Arizona.

In November 2022, WVSN’s Mike Asti asked WVU legend Rasheed Marshall if he would ever want Rodriguez to return as head coach of the Mountaineers during an episode of their past “All Three Phases” podcast.

Find more coverage of Rich Rodriguez at WV Sports Now.