West Virginia opened the 2026 season with a win, but the Mountaineers had to survive a furious second-half comeback attempt from Coastal Carolina.
The Mountaineers defeated the Chanticleers 31-24 Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium, jumping out to a big early lead before Coastal Carolina nearly turned the game into a thriller.
West Virginia Dominates the First Half
The Mountaineers came out firing.
West Virginia built a 24-0 halftime lead, scoring 14 points in the first quarter and another 10 in the second. The Mountaineers’ rushing attack was particularly impressive, eventually finishing with 281 rushing yards.
That early dominance appeared to put the game out of reach, especially with Coastal Carolina struggling to generate much offense in the opening half.
Coastal Carolina Refuses to Quit
The Chanticleers completely changed the momentum after halftime.
Coastal finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter and then exploded for 17 fourth-quarter points, cutting into what had been a 24-point deficit.
The Chanticleers finished with 425 total yards, including 373 through the air. West Virginia’s defense suddenly found itself under serious pressure as Coastal continued throwing the football and extending drives.
But the Mountaineers managed to make enough plays to keep the comeback from becoming reality.
Mountaineers Survive
West Virginia eventually added another touchdown in the fourth quarter, giving the Mountaineers enough breathing room to withstand Coastal’s late push.
The final numbers showed two very different offensive approaches. West Virginia dominated on the ground, while Coastal Carolina relied heavily on its passing attack.
The Mountaineers also converted 9 of 18 third downs, helping them control the clock and keep the Chanticleers from getting too many possessions.
A Winning Start for Rich Rodriguez
For head coach Rich Rodriguez, the victory gives West Virginia a 1-0 start and some positive momentum heading into the rest of the season.
The afternoon also carried plenty of emotion before kickoff, as West Virginia honored legendary quarterback Pat White by retiring his No. 5 jersey. White became the seventh player in program history to receive the honor.
It wasn’t always pretty for the Mountaineers, especially during the second half, but they accomplished the most important goal.
West Virginia survived Coastal Carolina 31-24, starting the 2026 season with a victory while getting an early test of its ability to handle adversity.
