MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Having struggled to keep up in each of its first four Big 12 Conference games, West Virginia hopes a return to Milan Puskar Stadium can bring better fortune when the Mountaineers welcome TCU at 6 p.m. Saturday.
The Homecoming matchup has also been dubbed a Coal Rush contest, with West Virginia to honor the state’s rich mining tradition by donning black uniforms for a game airing on ESPN+.
While struggles have been all too prevalent for the Mountaineers since starting Big 12 play, a 45-13 loss at Central Florida last Saturday was particularly alarming in that it marked the team’s first game in 15 days following a bye week and came against an opponent that entered with an identical 0-3 record in league play.
True freshman quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. was ineffective in his first career start at UCF but is in line to make his second against the Horned Frogs. The only other quarterback to throw a pass for WVU in Orlando was redshirt freshman Khalil Wilkins, who had started the previous game at BYU, but exited the matchup early against the Knights with an injury and has been ruled out for the team’s first home game since September 27.
“Sometimes you get into game-planning and try to put a plan together for them and you forget that there are still fundamental things you have to work with. We have to make sure as coaches that we don’t overload these guys, because he’s still learning,” WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez said. “The good thing with Scotty is he has a good skill set, he’s a very conscientious guy and he wants to be really good. We’re pushing it along because we have to and we have no choice, but he’ll be fine.”
With Nicco Marchiol and Jaylen Henderson also out injured, it leaves Fox and Max Brown as the Mountaineers’ available scholarship quarterbacks. Brown, having yet to attempt a pass in 2025, has also battled injuries this season, but could see his first meaningful action against the Horned Frogs.
“Max Brown has been banged up. He might be available this week. It’s a unique situation,” Rodriguez said.
The Mountaineers hope to find an offensive spark, something they so desperately need as the lowest-scoring unit of 16 Big 12 teams at 15.3 points on average.
Additionally, by allowing an average of 43 points over its first four conference games, a WVU defense that offered encouraging efforts throughout non-league play has turned into a sore spot and still seeks its first sack against a Big 12 foe.
Slowing down TCU (5-2, 2-2) will be no easy task as the Horned Frogs possess a well-respected offensive-minded head coach in Sonny Dykes, who benefits from having junior quarterback Josh Hoover lead the way.
Hoover has 17 more touchdown passes than the Mountaineers (21-4) and after finishing as college football’s seventh-leading passer with 3,949 yards a year ago, Hoover is currently sixth with 2,124 yards.
Oct 18, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes on the sidelines against the Baylor Bears during the second half of a game at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
When the Horned Frogs have struggled, much of it has stemmed from an inability to establish the run as TCU is last in the Big 12 with 93 rushing yards on average in league play and 128 yards overall. TCU was limited to 10 rushing yards and two first downs by way of rush in its first loss to Arizona State and managed only 72 rushing yards in its other setback to Kansas State.
Still, the Horned Frogs have scored no fewer than 24 points in any game and at least 35 in all five victories.
Third downs have been a strength for the TCU offense, which is converting them at nearly a 53 percent rate to rank 11th nationally.
West Virginia has been strong defensively on third down, allowing a less than 34 percent conversion rate. However, the Mountaineers have stopped opponents on only 6-of-18 fourth-down attempts and 3-of-13 in Big 12 play, with four touchdowns surrendered on those 13 attempts, including both of Central Florida’s first two TDs a week ago.
“You can’t change your whole offense, whole defense and special teams,” Rodriguez said. “By now, we know what we can and can’t do well, and frankly, give a couple other guys a shot. We’re not going to be insane here and try to do the same thing and get a different result, so there are going to be a few guys that have maybe been in a backup role the last few weeks that get thrust into a starting opportunity with a good week of practice.”
Rodriguez is hopeful to see a more spirited effort from his team after last week’s poor showing in which the Mountaineers were out-gained, 578-210.
The average margin of defeat for WVU over its first four Big 12 games is 27.8 points.
“I have to do a better job of getting our guys to understand you’re a young guy, it’s still a game,” Rodriguez said. “Don’t worry about all the outside stuff. Go play football and have some fun.”
