Things got off to a slow start, but the second Rich Rodriguez era has begun for WVU football and Week 1 of that experiment ended with a 45-3 win for the Mountaineers against FCS opponent Robert Morris.
Now, the Mountaineers will hit the road for an unusual challenge for a Power 4 program as they have to hit the road and travel to a Group of 5 opponent. And not just any G5 program, but the defending MAC champion Ohio Bobcats. It's not a long trip for WVU, and fans will surely travel well, but it's a perilous road trip against an underrated team in a hostile environment. Here's all the information you need to follow the action this weekend.
The Basics: When And Where
The matchup with Ohio will be the first road game on the 2025 schedule for the Mountaineer -- West Virginia posted a 3-2 recrd in away contests in 2024. The action is set for Saturday, September 6 at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio, and kickoff is currently set for 4:00 PM EST.
TV, Streaming, and Radio
Those trying to catch this unique and potentially explosive road trip for the Mountaineers can follow along on television on ESPNU, and the game can also be found streamed live online with a valid ESPN subscription. Commentary will be hand to the team of play-by-play announcer Courtney Lyle and analyst Rene Ingoglia.
Radio coverage will also be available, and can be found on all local Mountaineer Sports Network affiliates or The Varsity Network via web browser or smartphone app. The legendary Tony Caridi will handling play-by-play commentary, with Dwight Wallace taking care of analyst duties and Jed Drenning covering action from the sidelines. Coverage starts with the GoMart Mountaineer Tailgate Show at1:00 PM EST leading into pre-game coverage at 3:00 PM EST.
Tickets
For those Mountaineer fans looking to make the trip to Athens to catch the action, tickets are unfortunately sold out through the Ohio University Athletic Depart. However, select tickets are still available through re-sell on SeatGeek, which serves as the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace of WVU Athletics.
Weather Forecast
Early forecasts for Athens on Saturday call a balmy, unseasonably cool high of 66 degrees, and a down right chilly low of 44 degrees. There is a 50% chance of rain in the forecast with 73 percent humidity and the wind at a relatively relaxed eight miles per hour. The chance of rain falls to 35% about an hour after scheduled kickoff.
WVU-Robert Morris Series History
The West Virginia Mountaineers and Ohio Bobcats have met 17 times, with WVU holding an advantage of 13-4 in the series. The first meeting came in 1897, and the most recent came in 2001 – during Rich Rodriguez's first-ever season at WVU during his first tenure in Morgantown. The Mountaineers won that game 20-3. The last time the Bobcats won in the series coincides with the last visit to Athens by the Mountaineers – that came in 1949, when Ohio defeated WVU 17-7 in Athens.