MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The 2026 season for West Virginia and Coastal Carolina kicks off at noon Saturday with the Mountaineers welcoming the Chanticleers for a second time.
Sixteen years ago Friday, the Mountaineers secured a 31-0 victory in the only other meeting the teams. At that point, Coastal Carolina was a FCS program, and it began competing at the FBS level in 2017.
Plenty to discover about both sides in this one as WVU starts its second season in the second stint for Rich Rodriguez as the program’s head coach. For the Chanticleers, it marks a new era under Ryan Beard, and the 37-year-old is the eighth youngest head coach in all of FBS.
With less than 1 hour until kickoff, it’s overcast, but not raining in Morgantown. Heavy rain fell throughout much of the morning in Clarksburg and Fairmont, but it appears it may be avoided for the first couple hours of this matchup, which is airing nationally on TNT.
Entering Saturday, Big 12 teams are 4-1 for the season, with TCU’s loss to North Carolina a week ago the lone setback. Colorado earned an impressive win Thursday night at Georgia Tech, 14-13. Kansas, UCF and Utah knocked off FCS squads. The Chanticleers are members of the Sun Belt, of which Georgia State is the only team with a game under its belt thus far and posted a 49-point victory against North Carolina A&T of the FCS.
Of note, WVU wideout Prince Strachan, cornerback Jason Chambers and defensive lineman Jaylen Thomas are not in uniform.
3:30 p.m. — FINAL: West Virginia 31, Coastal Carolina 24. Second-half total yardage: Coastal 311, WVU 77.
3:29 p.m. — The onside kick attempt goes out of bounds and the Mountaineers have it and are one kneel down from wrapping up the win.
3:27 p.m. — SCORE: Bailey continues to carve up the Mountaineers, leads his team into the red zone and Beard immediately elects for a field goal to save time and make it a one-score game. Nico Cavanillas Alti makes the 32-yard boot and the Chanticleers are within a possession and set to try an onside kick. West Virginia 31, Coastal Carolina 24, 0:27 4Q
3:16 p.m. — The Chanticleers try an onside kick that goes out of bounds. WVU has it in Chanticleers’ territory to start with 1:51 remaining. Coastal has all three timeouts left.
3:12 p.m. — SCORE: Bailey continues to impress and connects with Coppock for a 37-yard touchdown. For as impressive as West Virginia’s defense (and offense) was in the first half, the second half has left a lot to be desired. West Virginia 31, Coastal Carolina 21, 1:51 4Q
3:04 p.m. — The Mountaineers get an 11-yard touchdown run from Hawkins and regain a three-score lead that should all but wrap this one up. West Virginia 31, Coastal Carolina 14, 2:58 4Q
QB KEEP! MOUNTAINEER TD! 👏@mikehawkinsj gets into the endzone to extend the lead!
WVU 31 || CCU 14
📺 TNT/TruTV pic.twitter.com/xlhtNKLL0g
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) September 5, 2026
3:02 p.m. — Cassidy knocks in a 47-yard field goal, but the points come off the scoreboard as Coastal is flagged for separate penalties on the same play — an illegal substitution that was declined and a roughing the kicker that was accepted. The Mountaineers have it in the red zone with inside 4 minutes left.
2:57 p.m. — The Mountaineers come up with a key stop as Isaiah Patterson sacks Bailey on third down, forcing Coastal to punt of its end zone. The Mountaineers will start at the Chanticleers’ 35 with 5:58 left.
2:51 p.m. — West Virginia picks up its first first down of the second half, and three on the series, but Hawkins takes a sack on third down that moves the Mountaineers out of field goal territory. They punt and the Chanticleers take over at their 14 with 7:20 left.
2:43 p.m. — SCORE: West Virginia’s offense sputters for the third time in as many drives since halftime, going three-and-out again. The Chanticleers then strike quickly as Bailey finds Robby Washington for a 58-yard connection, with most of the damage coming after the catch. Two plays later, Colton Hinton hauls in a 13-yard touchdown pass. West Virginia 24, Coastal Carolina 14, 12:56 4Q
Found the open man 👌 pic.twitter.com/nh1nMcljrn
— Coastal Football (@CoastalFootball) September 5, 2026
2:35 p.m. — The fourth quarter starts with the Mountaineers forcing a critical turnover as Nate Gabriel sacks Bailey, causes a fumble and it’s recovered by Zeke Durham-Campbell, who transferred from Coastal to WVU. However, on that play, WVU defensive end Darius Wiley suffered what appeared to be a significant injury and was removed from the field on a cart.
2:28 p.m. — Bailey continues to give WVU fits, and the Chanticleers will start the fourth with first-and-10 at the Mountaineers’ 33 and a chance to make this interesting down the stretch. Coastal dominated the third quarter, running 21 offensive plays to WVU’s six and gaining 127 yards to 23 for the home team.
2:22 p.m. — Penalties continue to be problematic for WVU in the second half after the Mountaineers were flagged once in the first half. A holding penalty tight end Cam Ball plays a part in a three-and-out, and Coastal takes over at its 30 trailing by 17. WVU has been held to 10 points over its last six series since producing touchdowns on each of its first two.
2:12 p.m. — SCORE: Aided by three separate Mountaineer defensive penalties, the Chanticleers march 99 yards and score their first points on Bailey’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Clayton Coppock. Bailey has made several accurate throws on the run throughout the game and is now 13-for-22 with 162 yards through the air. Harper Holloman was flagged for holding, negating a third down stop that would’ve otherwise forced Coastal to punt out of its end zone. West Virginia 24, Coastal Carolina 7, 3:57 3Q
99 yards for 6 👌 pic.twitter.com/DiwyBDnK6Z
— Coastal Football (@CoastalFootball) September 5, 2026
1:50 p.m. — Moments away from the second-half kickoff. Today’s attendance is 53,755.
1:30 p.m. — HALFTIME: West Virginia 24, Coastal Carolina 0. The Mountaineers forced a fourth Coastal punt, but elected to take a knee and head into the half after getting the ball back at their 14 with three timeouts and 45 seconds remaining. It was all Mountaineers in the first two quarters. WVU has a 336-114 edge in total yards. Hawkins has been good and efficient, completing 7-of-9 passes for 113 yards and rushing 12 times for 68 yards. Hawkins is 6-for-6 with 94 yards and a touchdown on third down. All but one of the six completions yielded a first down or TD. Cook has 119 yards on 15 carries. A big difference to this point has been third down execution. The Mountaineers are 8-for-10 and the Chanticleers are 0-for-5 in addition to not converting their only fourth down attempt as well.
1:21 p.m. — SCORE: Cook punches it in on a 1-yard run for his second touchdown of the matchup. It finishes off a 17 play, 84-yard drive, and it’s all Mountaineers in the opening half. West Virginia 24, Coastal Carolina 0, 1:18 2Q
12:56 p.m. — Hawkins stretches for the goal line on a second down run from the Coastal 9, but fumbles it through the end zone, resulting in a touchback. The Chanticleers start at their 20 with 10:19 left in the first half.
12:49 p.m. — WVU forces its first turnover of the season as Cyrus Ellison brings in a pass, but is hit by Ashton Woods, who forces a fumble that is recovered by true freshman Matt Sieg. The Mountaineers take over at midfield 13:11 before halftime.
12:46 p.m. — The Mountaineers get into the red zone, but the series stalls after the second quarter starts with a false start on Kevin Brown — WVU’s first penalty of the season. The home team settles for a 38-yard field goal from Jack Cassidy, who has offered a strong impression thus far and has a pair of touchbacks on kickoffs. West Virginia 17, Coastal Carolina 0, 13:51 2Q
12:38 p.m. — Coastal punts for the second time after a potential long pass on second down is broken up by linebacker Cam Torbor. An intentional grounding penalty follows, forcing the Chanticleers to punt out of their end zone and WVU will start its fourth possession 9 yards beyond midfield.
12:32 p.m. — SCORE: The Mountaineers showcase a passing attack for the first time on their third series and it culminates with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Hawkins to wideout Armoni Weaver-Bomar, who got behind the Chanticleers’ secondary. An encouraging series for Hawkins, who was 3-for-3 with 77 yards and the TD. All of his attempts were good for third down conversions. West Virginia 14, Coastal Carolina 0, 2:14 1Q
Michael Hawkins Jr. throws a 49-yard TD for his first as a Mountaineer 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PZTE5BDSsG
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) September 5, 2026
12:25 p.m. — Coastal gets inside the WVU 10, elects to go for it on fourth-and-2, and Bailey’s pass into the end zone falls incomplete. The Mountaineers start at their 8 with 5:47 left in the opening quarter.
12:18 p.m. — The Mountaineers go three-and-out, failing to get off their goal line when a third-and-5 pass from Michael Hawkins Jr. to Cam Cook goes for 4 yards. Bryan Hansen’s punt is not a good one and travels 30 yards out of bounds, allowing Coastal start at the WVU 41.
12:15 p.m. — The Chanticleers approach midfield, call a timeout before third-and-1, but lose 2 yards on a pitch to tailback Jevon Edwards, causing them to punt. Roland Podesta gets off a 53-yard punt with no return and the Mountaineers start their second series from their 2-yard line. Deuce Bailey, who played for Beard at Missouri State, is the Coastal quarterback to start.
12:04 p.m. — SCORE: West Virginia starts with the ball and reaches the end zone in two plays. The first is a 72-yard run from tailback Cam Cook. The second is Cook’s 3-yard touchdown run. An ideal start, to say the least, for the Mountaineers. West Virginia 7, Coastal Carolina 0, 14:13 1Q
WHAT A START 😳 @WVUfootball scores in their first TWO plays to kick off their season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1uYWVAEXzf
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) September 5, 2026
The Mountaineers have arrived at Milan Puskar Stadium to host Coastal Carolina: pic.twitter.com/sUkFU8qEoK
— MetroNews Sports (@MetroNewsSports) September 5, 2026
Setting the scene from Morgantown as WVU hosts Coastal Carolina: pic.twitter.com/Dr1dYJ1Ch9
— MetroNews Sports (@MetroNewsSports) September 5, 2026
Your essential pregame links:
Mountaineers welcome Coastal Carolina to kickoff 2026 campaign
Pat White set to be enshrined into WVU lore with retirement of No. 5
3 Guys Before The Game – WVU Football – Coastal Carolina Preview (Episode 736)
Settling in to handle environment a cause for concern on both sides of WVU-Coastal Carolina matchup