Rich Rodriguez and West Virginia look for turnaround after a 4-8 season and roster exodus

West Virginia University is in search of a turnaround after a disappointing 4-8 season and a significant roster exodus. Under second-year coach Rich Rodriguez, the Mountaineers are aiming for a Big 12 championship. The team has undergone significant changes, losing nearly three-quarters of its roster in the offseason, including many transfers who entered the transfer portal.

However, some promising transfers joined the team, including quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. and running back Cam Cook, who was named to The Associated Press all-America third team last season.

Rodriguez hopes to improve the team's spread-option offense, which has been lackluster in recent years. The addition of Hawkins and Cook is expected to help address these issues. The offensive line has also benefited from the transfer of Kevin Brown, a 6-foot-6 freshman who is expected to start at left tackle.

However, the Mountaineers still face challenges, particularly at wide receiver and defense. They lost their top seven receivers from last year, with Jaden Bray being their main hope for success. Bray has had season-ending injuries in the past two years, playing only seven games total. The defense also suffers from lack of depth, with only one of their top 10 tacklers returning from last season and no starters from the previous season.

West Virginia has struggled in recent years, with five blowout losses, including a 49-0 defeat to Texas Tech. The defense allowed an average of 28 passing touchdowns and 265 passing yards per game, ranking eighth-worst in the nation. The team has yet to win a Big 12 championship since joining the league in 2012, with its last 10-win season occurring a decade ago.