Winning 10+ games in year one of Rich Rodriguez’s return to West Virginia is a tall task, especially given the schedule the Mountaineers have. Unfortunately, that’s likely the ballpark WVU needs to be in if they want an at-large bid in the College Football Playoff, assuming they don’t win the Big 12.

The chances of that happening? Slim to none, according to the ESPN Football Power Index (FPI).

West Virginia has just a 0.8% chance of making the playoffs, which is toward the bottom among Power Four teams. Only Mississippi State, Arizona, Stanford, Syracuse, Houston, Northwestern, Wake Forest, and Purdue have worse odds of making it.

Anyone who is expecting WVU to crash the college football playoff party this season may want to rethink their assessment of the team. Yes, Curt Cignetti did it in year one at Indiana a year ago, but he had the benefit of playing just one ranked opponent all season. Rich Rod won’t get that lucky.

Rodriguez knows it’ll be an uphill battle in 2025, but that doesn’t mean he’s altered his main goals.

“If we’re not in contention in November for the conference championship, then I think it’s not a good year,” he told the ESPN College GameDay crew. “Every year, our first goal is to win the league. Now, if you win the league, you’re going to be in the playoff. I saw Arizona State do it last year, and I know it was in Kenny (Dillingham’s) second year, but they went from down the bottom to the top. Now, can we do that in one year, not two years? That’s a harder ask to do, but certainly that’ll be our focus.”

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Wildfires burning in Canada affected the air quality in much of the United States.

“Until 2023, wildfires hadn’t been as much of an issue in West Virginia or even generally on the East Coast as we’re seeing now in 2025,” said Renu Chakrabarty, assistant director, air monitoring & air toxics for the West Virginia EPA. “We’re seeing another round of wildfires coming through and impacts from wildfires.”

Smoke made its way into our region — triggering an air quality alert on Thursday.

“We just wanted to make sure that folks who may have some health sensitivities–children, elderly, heart or lung conditions — were aware of what was going on so they could take precautions if they thought it was warranted,” Chakrabarty said.

The EPA has different time averaging periods for different pollutants.

In this case, particulate matter is what led to the haze.

The Air Quality Index monitored by the EPA looks at the hourly data for the pollutant.

“We were concerned that some of the hours in the day maybe go over the standard on an hourly basis,” Chakrabarty said. “We actually did not see that. We did come close.”

The West Virginia APA also checks data and forecasts from the National Weather Service to better inform what they see on their own monitors.

Copyright 2025 WSAZ. All rights reserved.

ST. MARYS, W.Va. (WTAP) – The Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis football game is almost here.

Six West Virginia cheerleaders were picked to cheer during the football game.

These girls are representing St. Marys High School, Tyler Consolidated High School, and Wirt County High School.

They have all graduated and will be cheering for the last time.

Savannah Keife from St. Marys said she is excited to cheer at the game.

“Being able to cheer one last time. It’s just I didn’t think it would happen, so I’m so very glad it’s happening, and I think everyone should come out Friday night and at least come here to support, like the football players and the cheerleaders and everyone’s who got everyone who is battling cystic fibrosis. And if you can’t do anything else, at least be here to support the game,” said Keife.

Their coach, Becca Mathews, is familiar with Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis.

She performed as a cheerleader in 2019 with girls from West Virginia and Ohio.

Mathews said it will be a night to remember.

“It’s a great feeling. I personally cheered this event myself and it’s one of my favorite memories as a cheerleader, so I know it’s gonna be one of theirs. It’s a great feeling just coming out one last time and just to coach it is amazing,” said Mathews.

All of the proceeds from the game will go towards Cystic Fibrosis research and helping local families affected by Cystic Fibrosis.

Ava Mongold from Tyler Consolidated said she is excited to support a good cause.

“It’s just an honor, honestly, all of us being here and supporting it. It just makes me feel good. Makes others with this diagnosis probably feel good too, and just help everyone out,” said Mongold.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at St. Marys High School’s football stadium.

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