BCSNN — West Virginia didn’t just win its home opener on Saturday afternoon — it looked like a program beginning to find its stride. Behind explosive plays, a deep rotation of contributors and another strong outing from quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., the Mountaineers rolled past UT Martin 52–7 before 47,049 sun‑drenched fans at Milan Puskar Stadium.
The victory pushed WVU to 2–0 for the first time since 2018, a season that began 5–0 and ended with eight wins. And while head coach Rich Rodriguez emphasized that his team still has plenty to clean up, the Mountaineers’ performance — and the flashes of talent across the roster — offered reasons to believe this group may be building toward something meaningful.
“I thought our offense played pretty sharp, particularly the first offense,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball, but going 2–0 is the best you can be after two games.”
Hawkins was electric again, firing touchdown passes of 53 and 32 yards and adding scoring runs of 71 and 5 yards. The Oklahoma transfer accounted for 251 all‑purpose yards before giving way to a parade of backups in the second half. West Virginia scored touchdowns on six of its eight possessions with Hawkins on the field, generating 361 total yards during his time in the game.
His 32‑yard strike to tight end Ryan Ward opened the third quarter, and just three minutes later, freshman running back Amari Latimer broke free for a 29‑yard touchdown — the first of his collegiate career. Latimer wasn’t done, later adding a 52‑yard scoring run as part of a breakout performance that showcased WVU’s growing depth at running back.
Hawkins finished 5‑of‑7 passing for 155 yards and added 96 rushing yards, including a dazzling 71‑yard touchdown, WVU’s longest run by a quarterback since Pat White’s 76‑yard sprint in 2005.
Backup quarterbacks Scotty Fox Jr., Jyron Hughley, Max Brown and Max Anderson all saw action, with Fox setting up a 35‑yard field goal from Jack Cassidy, and Hughley engineering a 10‑play, 68‑yard drive capped by a 27‑yard touchdown pass to Kedrick Triplett. Hughley’s poise and command offered another encouraging glimpse of WVU’s future at the position.
The Mountaineers’ offense wasn’t the only unit flashing promise. Linebacker Ashton Woods delivered a standout performance with an interception, a sack, two tackles for loss and five total tackles. UNLV transfer Isaiah Patterson led the team with eight stops, while Ezekiel Durham‑Campbell and Ben Cutter combined for a key forced fumble and recovery inside the WVU 10‑yard line.
West Virginia’s special teams contributed as well. Andrew Powdrell blocked a punt early in the game, setting up Cam Cook’s 2‑yard touchdown run — Cook’s third score of the season.
UT Martin moved the ball at times, finishing with 318 total yards, but WVU’s defense repeatedly stiffened in the red zone. The Skyhawks reached the Mountaineer 5‑yard line late in the second quarter before Durham‑Campbell’s hit jarred the ball loose. Another drive ended with a missed field goal, and a final first‑half possession stalled on a Hail Mary attempt.
The Skyhawks avoided a shutout only after a late fumble by Brown was returned six yards for a touchdown by John Betts III.
West Virginia finished with 316 rushing yards and 525 total yards, with 13 different players carrying the ball and five quarterbacks seeing action. Receiver DJ Epps led all pass catchers with 112 yards on two receptions, including a 53‑yard touchdown.
Rodriguez said the ability to play so many contributors was intentional — and encouraging.
“That was one of the things I was hoping we would be able to do,” he said. “A lot of guys have worked really hard, and we were able to get them on the field.”
The win extended WVU’s record to 24–0 against FCS opponents, but more importantly, it continued to reveal a team with emerging playmakers, growing depth and a quarterback who has quickly become one of the most exciting players in the Big 12.
“I know the schedule starts getting a whole lot tougher,” Rodriguez said. “But the best you can be after two games is 2–0, and I think we made some steps on offense. We’ve got a lot of work to get done in the next 24 hours.”
West Virginia now turns its attention to a major early‑season test: a neutral‑site matchup with No. 25 Virginia in the 2026 Duke’s Mayo Classic next Friday in Charlotte. The Cavaliers improved to 2–0 after a 59–3 win over Norfolk State.
For the Mountaineers, the next challenge arrives quickly — but so does the opportunity to prove that this promising start is the beginning of something bigger.
