The West Virginia Mountaineers are getting set to return to campus this fall, where they will begin preseason activities to prepare for the second season under Ross Hodge coming off a College Basketball Crown championship. And there is some palpable excitement among the fan base.
But with the first game not set until November, fans will have to wait a few more months to get a good look at the team. But for fans interested in seeing how this team fares against legitimate Power 5 competition before the season is fully underway, a recently announced exhibition provides some positive news.
West Virginia Mountaineers renew regional rivalry in basketball exhibition
It was reported earlier this week that the Mountaineers will be facing off with Maryland in an "open exhibition" game ahead of the 2026 season, which should give the Mountaineer fan base a better look at what Ross Hodge's new team will look like against the type of competition they need to be able to beat than the typical exhibitions against a small college opponent
#WVU will play an open exhibition MBB game against Maryland
— Blue Gold News (@BlueGoldNews) July 30, 2026
Meeting with the Terrapins in unoffical action ahead of the season is becoming an early tradition in the tenure of Ross Hodge, as West Virginia faced off with Maryland in a "secret scrimmage" last year ahead of the official campaign beginning. That was the point in the preseason significant hype for the Mountaineers began to rise, as they reportedly put up an impressive performance against the Terrapins behind closed doors.
This year, the doors will apparently be open for a similar meeting, and it will be exciting to see what comes of the event for the Mountaineers, and what early glimpses it gives us into the incoming WVU roster.
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