WVU students have moved in, and classes have started. And the WVU sports year is officially underway!
The first official contest was last Thursday, when the women’s soccer team hosted defending Atlantic 10 champ Dayton. West Virginia came out on top, with a 2-0 win.
There are plenty of other fall sports about to start their seasons, as well. The men’s soccer team opens on the road at Charlotte on August 20, and has their home opener against St. Bonaventure on the 24th.
The volleyball team hosts the Country Roads Challenge on August 28 & 30, with games against Texas-Rio Grande Valley and Maryland-Baltimore County, respectively. Cross Country hasn’t officially released their schedule, but the season starts on September 4 nationally. WVU was in the Lehigh Invitational last year, and could be again this year.
The golf team has a brief fall season, and they start on August 31 with the New York Harbor Cup, hosted by Rutgers. And, of course, the football team begins on September 5 with a home game against Coastal Carolina.
Off the field, it looks like WVU will be adding players who have been granted a fifth year of eligibility across some sports. The football team announced that DB Jason Chambers and TE Jacob Barrick are practicing with the team. They might not play until there is further clarification on their eligibility.
In baseball, relief pitcher Ben McDougal is listed on the roster as a grad student. And in men’s basketball, Brenen Lorient is returning, which is a huge addition for the Mountaineers.
In some other legal news, the Protect College Sports Act did not have a vote before the Senate’s August recess. It is expected to have a vote in September after the Senate is back in session.
Finally, the WVU Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2026 class. It includes basketball coach John Beilein, wrestling coach Craig Turnbull, soccer stars Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence, linebacker Dennis Fowlkes, basketball player Bria Holmes, and distance runner Alex Kasich. Congratulations to all!
