WVU Football Earns Historically High National Ranks for 2026 Class

West Virginia fans are far from alone in their support of the WVU football 2026 class. In fact, Rich Rodriguez and his staff earned some note worthy national recognition. And based on the national rankings, West Virginia’s 2026 class is the program’s highest rated ever.

At the end of the week that included the Early National Signing Day, WVU is firmly with the top 25 of one national outlet and right on the outside looking in of another. Rivals has West Virginia ranked at No. 20, which is also the highest of any Big 12 school. 247 Sports doesn’t have WVU in the top 25, but does have them still higher than the Mountaineers usually find themselves at No. 26.

By their calculations, Rivals awarded WVU a score of 89.032. Conversely and based on their own scoring system, 247 Sports gave West Virginia a score of 228.89.

While some may argue the large size of the class inflated the rankings of the class, WVU did land multiple top prospects, most notably securing former four-star Penn State commits offensive lineman Kevin Brown and safety/athlete Matt Sieg, who was a surprise National Signing Day win.

During his post Signing Day press conference, Rodriguez both explained how he won Sieg over and what made him fall in love with Brown.

“(Sieg) was solidly committed to Penn State, and every time we would talk to people in Western Pennsylvania it was like this guy was the talk of the whole state,” West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said. “Everybody in Western Pennsylvania knew him and you watch him play and it’s like he’s dynamic, he can play a bunch of different positions, and we weren’t sure we were in it.

Rich Rodriguez Reveals How WVU Won Over Matt Sieg, Plans for the 4-Star

“We tried to be,” he continued. “Then, there was a little bit of a crack in there again with what happened (at Penn State) and so we got a chance to stay in it. I think he probably saw there is a great opportunity for him here at safety, and I told him, ‘I think you are good enough to play that but also help us on the other side of the ball as well.’”

After recent reports suggested WVU was out of the running, Sieg ended up signing with the Mountaineers during a live ceremony on the Early National Signing Day. WVU is believed to have beat out Franklin bringing Sieg to Virginia Tech and a big effort from Pitt in recent weeks.

“He’s everything you want in a football player and everything you want in a guy as well,” responded Rodriguez to describe what he loves about Brown so much.

Rodriguez even referred to Brown as a “monster” and called recruiting him a “no-brainer” as well.

Find more coverage of WVU football recruiting on WV Sports Now.

For a related story, WV Sports Now compiled a comprehensive list of West Virginia’s entire 2026 class.