Rich Rodriguez on Diore Hubbard Against Houston: ‘He Ran Possessed’

In a win that was a complete team effort for WVU, Rich Rodriguez made sure to highlight the emergence of a former top recruit.

Running back Diore Hubbard ran for 108 yards on 29 carries, averaging 3.7 yards per touch. Hubbard also solidified the win with a fourth quarter touchdown, leading to his head coach to compliment his performance after the game.

“Diore Hubbard ran his tail off. I challenged him. I said, ‘we gotta run hard and make them tackle you’ and he ran possessed today,” said Rodriguez when asked about Hubbard reaching 100 yards in a game for the first time in his college career.

WVU HC Rich Rodriguez on how Diore Hubbard ran against Houston:

"Diore Hubbard ran his tail off. I challenged him. I said, 'we gotta run hard and make them tackle you' and he ran possessed today."

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) November 1, 2025

Cast into a featured role due to season-ending injuries to Jahiem White and Tye Edwards, Hubbard had only totaled 156 yards all season prior to imposing his will on the Cougars.

Hubbard’s previous season-best was when he rushed for 61 yards on 10 attempts against Utah, but that was a game West Virginia lost 48-14.

Rodriguez has continuously reiterated that his offense can’t enjoy success without production from the ground game, most notably his running backs. If the running backs are gaining yards, it then becomes easier for a dual-threat quarterback to take off and find space as well, noted Rodriguez following a loss earlier in the season.

And that was evident on Saturday, as quarterback Scotty Fox added 65 yards and two scores himself. Cyncir Bowers also ran for 65 yards on just nine carries.

Of West Virginia’s 403 total yards in the game, 246 of them came thanks to the ground game, which earned the offensive line some much-deserved praise of their own.

“To end the game with getting a key first down when everybody knows you’re going to run it embodies what we want to do up front.”

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