On Sunday, West Virginia did exactly what it was supposed to do against an inferior opponent, with all due respect to Wheeling, cruising to an 80-54 victory in an exhibition. Now, it’s time to turn the page and focus on the season-opener, which is slated to tip off exactly one week from today against Mount St. Mary’s.

On today’s episode of Between The Eers I discuss…

Harlan Obioha was really impressive, even if he had a clear advantage in the paint. He moves extremely well for a guy that’s 7-foot and 260+ pounds, and seeing him even stretch out to defend on the perimeter was a surprising sight. Treysen Eaglestaff and Honor Huff had a rough night shooting the basketball, but it’s nothing to be concerned about. Those two have made shots their entire lives, and one off night is not an indication of how they’ll shoot it the rest of the season.

Anytime you flip an entire roster, all possibilities are on the table. I’m going with a rather conservative prediction because there are just too many unknowns, although I really do like the makeup of the roster. They have more scoring options than we saw last year, and with Ross Hodge having a defensive background, they should be able to play well enough on that end of the floor to be a team fighting for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

If you haven’t yet, please go over to our YouTube page, West Virginia On SI (@SI_WVU), and subscribe. You’ll get a notification the second a new episode of Between The Eers, The Walk Thru GameDay Show, or Mountaineer Postgame drops.

Recent Between The Eers episodes:

Is Scotty Fox Jr. the Answer at QB for West Virginia?

Why Bail on WVU After Just Seven Games?

Portal Trouble Just a One-Year Thing for WVU?

Why is WVU Refusing to Make Changes Along the Offensive Line?

Football season show schedule

Between The Eers: Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays

The Walk Thru GameDay Show: Thursdays

Mountaineer Postgame: Immediately after the game

MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI

Penn State OL Commit Kevin Brown Visiting WVU as Flip Watch Officially Begins

Injury Updates on Khalil Wilkins, Jaylen Henderson, Malik Agbo + One Player Done for the Season

West Virginia Flips 2026 Buffalo Defensive Back Commit Jayden Ballard

A New Running Back Option? Rich Rod Reveals One Defensive Player Could Be in the Mix

Kickoff Time, TV Channel Announced for WVU’s Game vs. Deion Sanders, Colorado

Up next for WVU is a road trip to Houston to take on the Cougars. The Mountaineers will try to claim their first conference win of the season against a 7-1 team that’s riding a three-game win streak.

Announced on Sunday after the Big 12 initially decided to delay deciding on the details for the matchup, the game will kickoff at noon and air nationally on FS1.

While WVU is in the midst of enduring one of the worst seasons in program history, Houston has managed to become a surprise contender. The Cougars are coming off a 24-16 win over Arizona State and have only lost once all season, a 35-11 defeat to Texas Tech.

West Virginia is on the heels of their fifth-straight loss. On Saturday, WVU lost 23-17 to TCU in their closest loss of their losing skid. The Mountaineers last win came on Sept. 13 in a comeback victory over the rival Pitt Panthers in the Backyard Brawl.

Josh Hoover threw a touchdown pass, Nate McCashland kicked three field goals and TCU outlasted West Virginia 23-17 on Saturday night.

TCU (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) barely outgained West Virginia 343-342 but made the most of its opportunities.

TCU started its first three possessions past midfield and led 10-0 before West Virginia had mustered a first down. Each team scored its initial touchdown on a short field following a poor punt.

After Trent Battle opened the scoring on a 1-yard run for the Horned Frogs, Hoover fooled West Virginia’s defense with a fake handoff, then found Eric McAlister on a 4-yard scoring toss midway through the second quarter for a 17-7 lead.

McAlister, who was targeted 18 times, caught nine passes for 124 yards. Hoover, tied with two others for the most TD passes (21) in the country entering play Saturday, finished 24 of 39 for 247 yards.

McCashland kicked field goals of 35, 22 and 41 yards.

West Virginia (2-6, 0-5) has lost five straight. The Mountaineers have been held to 17 or fewer points five times this season.

West Virginia freshman Scotty Fox Jr. threw two touchdown passes, including a 28-yarder to Jeff Weimer with 3:15 remaining in the game.

TCU recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock. McAlister gave his team a scare, though. He caught a 21-yard pass on third down but fumbled and teammate Major Everhart recovered it at the West Virginia 19 with 2 minutes left.

Fox, the fourth quarterback used by the Mountaineers this season due to injuries, went 28 of 41 for 301 yards in his second straight start. It marked the first time in over a month that West Virginia surpassed 150 passing yards.

The takeaway 

TCU: The Horned Frogs were held to their fewest points this season but got tested by a determined West Virginia team playing in its annual Coal Rush game.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers, with 80-some new players on the roster, are heading for their worst season since 2001, when they went 3-8 in Rich Rodriguez’s inaugural season of his first stint at the school. They must win all four remaining games to become bowl eligible.

Up next

TCU has next Saturday off before hosting Iowa State on Nov. 8.

West Virginia plays at Houston on Saturday.