WVU Football Officially Announces Opponent For 2025 Coal Rush Game

After debuting new black uniforms for a 'Coal Rush' themed game to honor the state of West Virginia's mining heritage last season, WVU football has announced the jerseys and theme night will officially be returning later this month.

It was announced on Monday afternoon that the Mountaineers would be bringing back the Coal Rush for the upcoming October 25 showdown against TCU, which will also serve as Homecoming for the program this season. It was also announced that the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and is set for a 6:00 PM EST kickoff. All fans in attendance will be encouraged to wear black to honor the state's coal mining traditions, and the evening will begin with the Homecoming Kickoff Concert in Almost Heaven Village on the east end of Milan Puskar Stadium. The concert will be headlined by the Davisson Brothers Band,

Last season's Coal Rush also featured a drone show, though no plans for such an event have yet been announced for the upcoming game. The Mountaineers ended the evening in heartbreak during the 2024 Coal Rush game with a 28-16 loss to a nationally-ranked Iowa State, and will hope to bless the tradition and the all-black jerseys with a win this season against the Horned Frogs.

TCU is currently 4-2 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 play and will face the Baylor Bears this weekend in one of the oldest rivalries in college football, recently dubbed "The Bluebonnet Battle" but more famously known by its informal name "The Revivalry" – the Bears will also enter 4-2, but at 2-1 in league play.

The Mountaineers, meanwhile, are 2-4 overall and 0-3 in league play and will face off this weekend with 3-3 UCF – who is also winless in conference action – and attempt to get their first win in over a month before returning home for the Coal Rush game. WVU enters the week as underdogs by more than a touchdown to the Knights.