Game Preview: West Virginia football at Arizona State
West Virginia will head to Arizona State in a Big 12 Conference matchup, and WVSports.com breaks down some of the key items of the matchup in our preview.
Kickoff: 1 PM ET.
Series: Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: 2015: WVU 43 ASU 42
Television Information: TNT/TruTV/HBOMAX, J.B. Long (PBP), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst), Coy Wire (sideline reporter)
Odds: Arizona State -10.5 — U/0 47.5 (BetMGM)
Head Coaches Information:
| West Virginia | Arizona State | ||
| Rich Rodriguez | Kenny Dillingham | ||
| Record at West Virginia: | 64-32 | Record at Arizona State: | 20-15 |
| Overall Record: | 194-135-2 | Overall Record: | 20-15 |
| 2025 Record: | 4-6 | 2025 Record: | 6-3 |
Numbers of Note:
–The 2025 season marks West Virginia’s 133rd season of football. The Mountaineers are the winningest program in the Big 12 Conference and No. 15 in college football.
–West Virginia Football Coach Rich Rodriguez has 194 career victories, ranking No. 3 among Power Four coaches.
–Rodriguez is No. 2 on the all-time WVU win list with 64, behind only Don Nehlen (149).
–WVU is 12-3 in games played on Nov. 15, including 6-2 away from home. The last time WVU played on that date was against Pitt in 2003 (W/52-31).
–Rodriguez moved into a tie for No. 1 with Don Nehlen at WVU for the most true road game wins (5) against ranked opponents.
–Since 2012, WVU has rushed for at least 150 yards 99 times.
–West Virginia has surpassed at least 140 rushing yards in 40 of the last 48 games (since 2022)
–WVU’s defense also has recorded multiple sacks in 17 of the last 28 games
–WVU is 105-19 since 2002 when winning the turnover battle.
–On first down, the Mountaineers have run 302 plays and gained 1,532 yards for a 5.1 average. On second down, the Mountaineers have run 238 plays for 1,198 yards and a 5.0 average. On third down, the Mountaineers have run 150 plays for 682 yards and a 4.5 average gain. West Virginia has run 36 plays on fourth down for 181 yards and a 5.0 average
–WVU’s touchdowns have come 13 times on first down (10 rush/3 pass), seven times on second down (3 rush/4 pass), seven times on third down (6 rush/1 pass) and two times on fourth down (2 rush/0 pass).
–Breaking down the West Virginia offensive numbers for the 2025 season shows that the Mountaineers have run 726 plays, 462 on the ground and 264 through the air.
–The rushing game has totaled 1,822 yards, an average of 3.9 yards per carry and 21 touchdowns. The passing attack has totaled 1,771 yards, eight touchdowns and an average of 11.3 yards per completion. Combine the two and the Mountaineers have turned in 3,593 yards of total offense, 29 touchdowns, an average of 4.9 yards per play and an average of 23.8 points per game.
–Deeper analysis shows that the Mountaineer offense has gained 108 first downs by the run and 67 via the pass. On average, West Virginia has totaled 182.2 yards per game on the ground, 177.1 yards per game passing and 359.3 yards per game of total offense.
–West Virginia has gone to a bowl game in 20 of the last 23 years but a loss would eliminate the Mountaineers eleven games into the season.
–The Mountaineers added 79 new players to the roster in 2025, including 39 on offense, 37 on defense and three on special teams.
–The 2025 roster consists of 124 players from 23 different states, Washington D.C. and three foreign countries: Australia (1), Finland (1) and Liberia (1).
–The TNT broadcast of the WVU-Colorado football game on Sept. 27 marks the 346th national television game for WVU. All-time, the Mountaineers are 179-165-1 in nationally televised games.
Arizona State
The Sun Devils are the defending Big 12 Champions after head coach Kenny Dillingham revitalized the program in his second season turning around a 3-9 record to an 11-3 campaign.
This season Arizona State has started the year 6-3 but will be without the services of starting quarterback Sam Leavitt for the remainder of the year due to injury. That has elevated Jeff Sims into the starting role and he led the Sun Devils to a 24-19 win over Iowa State completing 13-24 passes for 177 yards and a score, while rushing 29 times for 228 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The transfer quarterback is experienced with previous stops at both Georgia Tech and Nebraska earlier in his college career.
Over his 73 pass attempts Sims has only completed 50.7-percent of those this season.
Running back Raleek Brown leads the ground attack along with Sims as he has rushed for 770 yards and 3 touchdowns on the season while averaging over five yards per carry.
The passing attack is led by one of the premier wide receivers in not only the Big 12 but the entire country is Jordyn Tyson but he will not suit up against the Mountaineers due to injury. He is coming off a year where he had 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns but already has reeled in 57 passes for 628 yards and 8 scores despite missing time.
Tight end Chamon Metayer is second on the team in receptions with 31 grabs for 349 yards and 3 touchdowns, while wide receiver Malik McCain has 15 catches for 259 yards. The Sun Devils also will utilize Brown in the passing game as he has 29 catches for 167 yards.
The Arizona State defense is giving up 23.7 points per game good for ninth in the conference and has been effective stopping the run surrendering just 123.2 yards per game good for 34th nationally. Overall, Arizona State’s defensive unit ranks 44th nationally in total defense.
National Statistical Rankings
| Statistic | West Virginia | Arizona State |
| Scoring Offense | 95 (23.8) | 88 (24.7) |
| Scoring Defense | 100 (29.6) | 62 (23.7) |
| Rushing Offense | 40 (182.2) | 31 (187.7) |
| Rushing Defense | 58 (141.4) | 34 (123.2) |
| Passing Offense | 112 (177.1) | 77 (220.8) |
| Total Offense | 87 (359.3) | 52 (408.4) |
| Pass Defense | 118 (259.4) | 59 (211.6) |
| Total Defense | 100 (400.8) | 44 (334.8) |
| Third Down Conversions | 130 (30.0) | 114 (34.3) |
| Opponent Third Down | 30 (34.2) | 42 (34.4) |
Coaching Staff Assignments:
Zac Alley (AHC-DC-LB/Field)
Travis Trickett (Senior Offensive Assistant/Press Box)
Jack Bicknell Jr. (OL/Field)
Jeff Casteel (Bandits/Field)
Logan Bradley (IR/Field)
Gabe Franklin (S/Field)
Ryan Garrett (WR/Field)
William Green (DL/Field)
Pat Kirkland (STC-Defensive Assistant/Field)
Michael Nysewander (TE/Field)
Larry Porter (RB/Field)
Rhett Rodriguez (QB/Press Box)
Rod West (CB/Field)
Derek Dressler (Assistant OL/Press Box)
Henry Weinreich (Nickels-Sams/Field)
Pat White (Assistant QB/Field)
Jake Casteel (Asst. Defensive Coach/Press Box)
Ryan Nehlen (Asstant WR/Press Box)
Andrew Warwick (Assistant Defensive Coach/Press Box)
Depth Chart:
OFFENSE:
QB:
| No. | Name | Ht | Wt | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Khalil Wilkins | 6-3 | 204 | r-Fr. |
| -or- | ||||
| 15 | Scotty Fox | 6-2 | 213 | Fr. |
| -or- | ||||
| 6 | Max Brown | 6-2 | 223 | r-Jr. |
RB:
| No. | Name | Ht | Wt | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Diore Hubbard | 5-10 | 190 | r-Fr. |
| -or- | ||||
| 27 | Clay Ash | 5-9 | 196 | So. |
| -or- | ||||
| 23 | Cyncir Bowers | 5-10 | 191 | So. |
WR X:
| No. | Name | Ht | Wt | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Cam Vaughn | 6-2 | 185 | r-So. |
| -or- | ||||
| 16 | Jeff Weimer | 6-1 | 209 | r-Sr. |
WR Y:
| No. | Name | Ht | Wt | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Rodney Gallagher | 5-10 | 180 | Jr. |
| -or- | ||||
| 7 | Jarod Bowie | 5-9 | 162 | Sr. |
WR Z:
| No. | Name | Ht | Wt | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Justin Smith-Brown | 5-11 | 190 | r-Sr. |
| -or- | ||||
| 29 | Preston Fox | 5-10 | 181 | r-Sr. |
| 17 | Christian Hamilton | 5-11 | 190 | r-So. |
TE:
| No. | Name | Ht | Wt | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 80 Grayson Barnes | 6-4 | 222 | Sr. |
| -or- | ||||
| 81 | Jacob Barrick | 6-3 | 231 | Sr. |
LT:
| No. | Name | Ht | Wt | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | Nick Krahe | 6-6 | 305 | r-So. |
| 78 | Xavier Bausley | 6-4 | 305 | r-Jr. |
LG:
| No. | Name | Ht | Wt | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | Walter Young Bear | 6-3 | 306 | r-Sr. |
| -or- | ||||
| 57 | Donovan Haslam | 6-3 | 341 | r-Jr. |
C:
| No. | Name | Ht | Wt | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | Landen Livingston | 6-4 | 294 | r-Jr. |
| 55 | Carson Lee | 6-2 | 327 | r-Sr. |
RG:
| No. | Name | Ht | Wt | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | Kimo Makane’ole | 6-4 | 300 | r-Sr. |
| 59 | Josh Aisosa | 6-3 | 321 | r-So. |
RT:
| No. | Name | Ht | Wt | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74 | Ty’Kieast Crawford | 6-5 | 305 | r-Sr. |
| -or- | ||||
| 65 | Malik Agbo | 6-4 | 280 | r-Jr. |
DEFENSE:
DE:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | Devin Grant | 6-2 | 267 | r-Sr. |
| -or- | ||||
| 1 | Eddie Kelly | 6-5 | 286 | Sr. |
DT:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96 | Edward Vesterinen | 6-3 | 284 | r-Sr. |
| 69 | Nate Gabriel | 6-3 | 315 | So. |
NG:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | Asani Redwood | 6-3 | 294 | r-Jr. |
| 52 | Corey McIntyre | 6-3 | 281 | r-So. |
| 94 | Elijah Simmons | 6-0 | 278 | r-Jr. |
BANDIT:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Braden Siders | 6-2 | 243 | r-Sr. |
| 0 | Jimmori Robinson | 6-4 | 248 | r-Sr. |
MIKE:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Reid Carrico | 6-2 | 229 | r-Sr. |
| 32 | Ben Bogle | 6-1 | 225 | r-Jr. |
WILL:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Chase Wilson | 6-1 | 230 | r-Sr. |
| 15 | Ben Cutter | 6-0 | 225 | Jr. |
NICKEL:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Fred Perry | 5-9 | 206 | Sr. |
| 18 | Curtis Jones | 6-4 | 231 | So. |
FS:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
| 13 | Derek Carter | 5-10 | 182 | r-Sr. |
| -or- | ||||
| 14 | Kekoura Tarune | 6-0 | 199 | Sr. |
| -or- | ||||
| 19 | Nick Taylor | 6-1 | 192 | So. |
BS:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Darrian Lewis | 5-9 | 198 | r-Sr. |
| -or- | ||||
| 7 | Israel Boyce | 5-11 | 192 | So. |
LCB:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Michael Coats | 5-11 | 183 | Sr. |
| 6 | Jordan Scruggs | 5-10 | 172 | r-Sr. |
RCB:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Jason Chambers | 5-11 | 193 | Sr. |
| 16 | Ty Crutcher | 5-8 | 176 | Sr. |
SPECIAL TEAMS:
K:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Kade Hensley | 5-10 | 190 | r-Sr. |
| 99 | Ethan Head | 6-1 | 185 | So. |
KO:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | Nate Flower | 6-2 | 184 | r-So. |
| 99 | Ethan Head | 6-1 | 185 | So. |
H:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Oliver Straw | 6-2 | 215 | Sr. |
| 42 | RJ Kocan | 5-10 | 233 | r-Jr. |
P:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Oliver Straw | 6-2 | 215 | Sr. |
| 47 | Aidan Stire | 6-0 | 198 | Fr. |
LS:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | Macguire Moss | 6-1 | 225 | r-Jr. |
| 53 | Kaden Seller | 6-2 | 256 | r-Fr. |
KR/PR:
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Preston Fox | 5-10 | 188 | r-Sr. |
| 24 | Rodney Gallagher | 5-10 | 180 | Jr. |
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