There's nothing fans love to debate more than their favorite football team's schedule – whether it's too easy or too hard, what teams are on it, and who they'd like to see on it instead in the future. As there's less going on during the summer months, let's take some of this offseason down time to take a look at a few opponents WVU would love to see on a future schedule.
Author Note: For the sake of variety, we'll be leaving Pitt off this list. Fans love seeing the Bakcyard Brawl on the schedule, but after a three-year break, the rivalry is already back on the schedule for eight consecutive years from 2029-2036. So we'll focus on opponents not currently on WVU's schedule.
Virginia Tech Hokies
A true Appalachian college football rivalry, the Mountaineer and Hokies have faced off 53 times on the gridiron, and met every single season from 1973-2005. The rivalry has been play just three times since, but The Battle for the Black Diamond Trophy has always been a competitive series (WVU holds a 30-23-1 advantage) that gets both fan bases excited.
The two programs recently arranged a three-year series in basketball, and it only feels right to get them back on the schedule on the gridiron as well.
Syracuse Orange
Other than The Backyard Brawl, no rivalry has been played more for the Mountaineers. The two teams have met 61 times, and it is also historically competitive – with Syracuse leading the series 34-27. The two teams play for the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy, named after a former West Virginia alum and Syracuse head coach.
The two teams last met in the regular season in 2011, and played in bowl games in 2012 and 2018. West Virginia has lost the last four meetings, and would love a chance to bring the Schwartzwalder Trophy home.
East Carolina Pirates
Every Power 4 team needs some Group of 6 opponents to fill the schedule, and it's always a bit more fun when it's regional rivalry. And while Marshall always comes up here, the Mountaineers share more of a history on the gridiron with East Carolina. The Pirates are WVU's ninth-most played FBS opponent, with 22 games played between the two programs – more than the Mountaineers can claim against any Big 12 team.
WVU leads the series 19-3, so it's not exactly competitive. But Group of 6 games are supposed to be easier wins, and the history with East Carolina would make those games a tad more fun.
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