Overview
- West Virginia won 31-24 in the season opener, securing the victory despite Coastal Carolina’s late rally on Sept. 5 at Milan Puskar Stadium.
- Running back Cam Cook rushed for 142 yards and two short TDs and quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. completed 11 of 14 for 132 yards while rushing for 103 yards in his WVU debut.
- Coastal Carolina’s redshirt freshman Deuce Bailey threw for 373 yards and three TDs as the Chanticleers erased a 24-0 halftime deficit to make the game close late.
- The Mountaineers’ defense collapsed after halftime and defensive lineman Darius Wiley was carted off with an injury, prompting coach Rich Rodriguez to sharply criticize the team’s second-half play.
- Both programs enter the season after major roster overhauls — WVU added roughly 88 incoming players and Coastal Carolina’s Ryan Beard brought a large transfer class — and both sides will use the coming week to address personnel and consistency issues.