WVU Football Currently Heavy Favorite in Season Opener vs. Coastal Carolina

A day of full of celebrating the start of a new season and appreciating a legend will end with WVU football fans leaving just as happy as when they arrived, at least if everything goes according to what sportsbooks are projecting.

As of July 23rd, major sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel have the Mountaineers as a heavy favorite in their season opening game against Coastal Carolina. West Virginia is currently a 20.5-point home favorite over the Chanticleers. 

Kickoff for West Virginia vs. Coastal Carolin is set for Sept. 5 at 12:00 pm ET from Milan Puskar Stadium.

More about WVU’s season opener:

Turning up the dial on the celebratory day for WVU football fans, the 2026 season opener will now be a “White Out” game in honor of the program retiring Pat White’s No. 5.

Labeling the game as a “White Out” comes a day after revealing the date of the retirement ceremony and weeks after the initial announcement.

WVU Football Labels Season Opener ‘White Out’ in Honor of Pat White

WVU Athletics officially announced the retirement of No. 5 on June 5.

Pat White’s brief biography

White was the nation’s most versatile threat at quarterback, becoming the first college quarterback to start and win four consecutive bowl games from 2005-08. The Daphne, Alabama, native set 19 WVU, Big East and national records during his illustrious career, including finishing as the all-time rushing quarterback in NCAA history with 4,480 yards.

West Virginia was 35-8 (.814) with White as the starting quarterback. He led the Mountaineers to wins in the 2006 Sugar, 2007 Gator, 2008 Fiesta and 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowls. White set Big East records in touchdowns responsible for (103), total offense (10,529) and became the first player in Big East history to pass for more than 10,000 yards. He posted a 7-2 (.777) record against Top 25 opponents during his career.

“Pat White was a generational player for West Virginia football and led our program through perhaps the greatest era in our history,” WVU director of athletic Wren Baker said in a statement. “Everywhere I go, I hear stories about the way Pat elevated our program and his teammates to greatness.

“There is no question Pat deserves this ultimate honor. His legacy and success have been documented and appreciated by his teammates, national media and college football fans all over the world,” Baker added. “It has also been a privilege to watch him continue to pour himself into our program while serving on our coaching staff. Pat White is a special person and one of the greatest Mountaineers of all time.”

White’s No. 5 will become the seventh number retired in football and will join prestigious company in Major Harris (9), Ira Rodgers (21), Chuck Howley (66), Sam Huff (75), Bruce Bosley (77) and Darryl Talley (90).

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