It's no secret to WVU football fans that 2019-2024 – the six season stint where former head coach Neal Brown was in charge of the program – we're not among the most enjoyable for Mountaineer fans. Characterized by what some might describe as 'average' or 'mediocre' football, Brown coasted to an unremarkable 37-35 overall record during his tenure, posting a losing record in Big 12 play (25-28) and three losing seasons along the way.
Now, Rich Rodriguez is in charge of the West Virginia Mountaineers for the second time in his long coaching career. Former WVU kicker and current ESPN College GameDay analyst Pat McAfee – who played for Rodriguez in college – is among many expressing excitement at the coaching chance, even praising Rodriguez while throwing shade at Brown just earlier this week. But Rodriguez will have some work ahead to restore the reputation of the program to where it was when he and McAfee roamed the sidelines.
Exiting the Brown era for the program, the Mountaineers will begin the 2025 season with the second-longest active AP Poll drought amongst Power 4 teams in college football – their last AP Poll appearance came in 2019, in what was technically the final AP Poll of the 2018 season. The Mountaineers were ranked 20th in that poll after an 8-4 finish to Dana Holgorsen's final season with the program.
Longest Active AP Poll Droughts 📉
— CFB Tracker (@MatchupTracker) August 11, 2025
(Among Power 4 Teams)
Texas Tech snapped a 110-poll drought dating back to 2018 by debuting at #23 in today’s preseason poll. pic.twitter.com/WyasyWiqde
From there, Brown took over the program in 2019, and the Mountaineers have since been on a streak of 100 missed AP Poll appearances. They inherited second-place on the list yesterday, as Texas Tech snapped a 110 poll streak by making an appearance in the preseason AP poll for the upcoming season. The only team ahead of WVU on the list is the team's former Big East rival Rutgers, with a stunning streak of 201 missed polls dating back to 2011.
The Mountaineers made just one national poll appearance under Brown's tenure, popping up in the Coaches Poll at No. 25 to cap the 2023 season, which finished with a 9-4 record and a Duke's Mayo Bowl victory.
The AP Poll drought will likely continue for at least a few more polls, as it will take some time to earn respect from the voters even if the Mountaineers get off to a hot start in 2025. But WVU fans will be eager for Rodriguez to get them back to the days of anticipating the weekly AP Poll release.