The Smoking Musket
Changing The Culture Of West Virginia Sports
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WVU Brings the Show to Glenville in Exhibition Blowout
West Virginia men’s basketball makes its first-ever stop in Glenville, blasting the Division II Pioneers 103‑66 in a preseason exhibition at the Waco Center. The Mountaineers jump ahead early with a 21‑0 run, lead 48‑26 at halftime, and dominate the glass 43‑21 while committing just 10 turnovers. Freshman Miles Sadler tops the box score with 18 points, six rebounds and six assists, and the bench contributes 47 points. Coach Ross Hodge highlights improved aggression, rebounding and depth after a tough loss to Maryland. WVU heads back to Morgantown for a game at Wheeling on Oct. 28 before opening the season against Niagara on Nov. 2.
Why We Beat TCU
West Virginia secured its first true road win of the season, beating Texas Christian 24-? on Oct. 24 at Amon G. Carter Stadium to improve to 5-3 before the bye week. The Mountaineers’ defense limited TCU to 112 rushing yards, forced three turnovers—including a decisive strip sack in the final drive—and held the Horned Frogs to 484 yards and 37 minutes of possession. Offense was conservative but managed key plays: Michael Hawkins Jr. ran 36 yards for a touchdown and, with Cam Cook, connected on a 13‑yard TD pass in the fourth quarter. The victory breaks a three‑game skid and builds momentum for the final four games.
WVU vs TCU Game Thread
Huge game for us heading into a bye week. Let’s hang out and see if we can get a Big 12 road win.
How to Watch WVU vs TCU
WVU travels to Fort Worth, TX for their 8 straight game before a much needed bye week. Here is what you need to know to tune into the game on Saturday.
WVU vs. TCU: What to Look For
The Smoking Musket previews West Virginia’s week‑8 showdown with TCU in Fort Worth, highlighting the Mountaineers’ recent comeback win that lifted them to 4‑3 and put them two victories from bowl eligibility. WVU boasts the nation’s eighth‑best offense, averaging 497 yards and 37 points per game, while TCU counters with the third‑best defense, allowing just 12 points and 264 yards. Both coaches—Sonny Dykes and Rich Rodriguez—must keep their teams focused after big emotional wins, as the game could hinge on whether WVU’s defense can improve and TCU’s defense can contain the high‑powered Mountaineer attack.
There’s Nothing Like Homecoming
The author recounts a thrilling 45-42 win over Cincinnati on Oct. 21, 2026, marking a perfect Homecoming finish at West Virginia University. Returning as a 26‑year‑old alum, he reflects on the deeper meaning of Homecoming—family, tradition, and pride—after years of feeling like the lone Mountaineer from his high school. The game’s clutch final drive and a decisive field goal sparked a jubilant “Country Roads” sing‑along, cementing his bond to Morgantown. His narrative blends personal nostalgia with the electric atmosphere of Blue Lot tailgating, underscoring why this Homecoming will be remembered long after the final whistle.
WVU Women’s Soccer Has One Loss. Yes, Just One.
WVU women's soccer is soaring with a 9-1-2 record, highlighted by recent 2-0 win over No. 20 BYU and a 2-1 victory against Utah. The Mountaineers have proved they can beat ranked foes and thrive in close games, positioning themselves for a strong conference run and postseason push. With the next matchup against UCF on Friday, fans are urged to shift some focus from football to Dick Dlesk Stadium and watch a team that’s delivering consistent, high‑stakes success.
Can We Please Stop Talking About Where Michael Hawkins Jr. Will Play Next Year?
The Smoking Musket’s October 19 piece argues fans should relish West Virginia’s recent walk‑off field‑goal win and Michael Hawkins Jr.’s breakout performance rather than obsess over his potential transfer. Citing his impressive stats, the article notes speculation that Hawkins could jump to Indiana or be too costly for WVU next season, but highlights five reasons the Mountaineers can retain him: existing transfer rules, the talent‑acquisition win, his ability to turn WVU into a QB destination, realistic salary expectations, and plenty of games left to prove his value. The author urges enjoyment of the moment while the season’s still underway.
Why We Beat Cincinnati
Michael Hawkins Jr. We could probably just end the article here. Michael Hawkins Jr. has been great all year for us, but against Cincinnati he took it to another level, and he did it with his throwing ability. His stats on the day: People have been asking all year if he could win a game […]
WVU vs Cincinnati Game Thread
Let’s get back in the winning column today! Hop in here and give your thoughts as we watch our defense pitch a shutout.
How to Watch WVU vs Cincinnati
It’s week 7 of the college football season and WVU takes on Cincinnati in Morgantown. Here is everything you need to know in order to tune into the game. Game Date: October, 16th 2026 Kickoff Time: 12:00 pm eastern Location: Milan Puskar Stadium Morgantown, WV How to watch: You can watch the West Virginia vs. […]
The Key to Beating Cincinnati is Winning the Middle Eight
When you experience 3 straight losses like we have it can be really hard to look back at any of those games and find positives or silver linings. Would it surprise you if I told you that in each of those 3 losses we were tied or had the lead late in the first half? […]
All WVU Fans Want for Homecoming Is a Win. Is That Too Much to Ask?
Photos by Jackson Saunders Homecoming week is officially here in Morgantown, and WVU fans are hoping the Mountaineers can give them something they have not had in a while. A win. The Mountaineers are getting ready to take on Cincinnati this Saturday at noon, and while the football season has not exactly been going as […]
Ballin’ at Woodburn Gives Fans Their First Look at WVU Basketball
Basketball season is almost here, and West Virginia fans will get their first look at both WVU basketball teams at Ballin’ at Woodburn. The event will take place Thursday, Oct. 15 at Woodburn Circle. It starts at 7 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m. Admission is free. Ballin’ at Woodburn gives fans a chance […]
The Good and Bad News After 3 Straight Losses
On September 25 WVU football was 3-0 on the season. We had just come off of a ranked win against Virginia, and were getting votes in the AP Poll. The next game was a night game in Morgantown, with a gold rush theme. It felt like we might actually be ready to take a step […]
WVU vs Arizona Game Thread
Sending our energy from this chat to the Defense. Get in here and help the cause!
WVU vs Arizona: What to Look For
After starting 3-0 and reinvigorating West Virginia football in the hearts and minds of the Old Gold and Blue faithful, the Mountaineers have stumbled the past two weeks and now sit 3-2 on the season. I also don’t need to tell you that it’s been an ugly two weeks of football (on the defensive side). […]
Is Milan Puskar Stadium Still a Tough Place to Play?
Photo by Jackson Saunders Playing in Morgantown used to be a nightmare for opposing teams. Milan Puskar Stadium was loud, WVU was winning and teams did not exactly look forward to making the trip to West Virginia. But is that still the case? The fans definitely are not the problem. WVU fans still show up. […]
Arizona Expert Previews the WVU Game and Gives Us a Score Prediction
Arizona is coming to Morgantown this Saturday for a noon kickoff. They are 4-1 with their only loss to a top 10 BYU team, and coming off a nice win against Cincinnati. To give us some insight into the Arizona squad I threw some questions at Brian Pederson from the AZ Desert Swarm site. We […]
Grades against Iowa State
Mountaineer Nation, I’m not going to lie to you. This one hurts. Not because West Virginia got embarrassed, because it didn’t. Not because the Mountaineers didn’t show fight, because they absolutely did. And certainly not because this offense wasn’t capable of winning the football game. West Virginia lost to Iowa State 45-42 in Ames, and […]
WVU Men’s Soccer Is Heating Up at the Right Time
WVU men’s soccer did not start the season the way it wanted to. The Mountaineers opened the year with a 3-0 loss to Charlotte, but since then, they have not lost a game. WVU entered its matchup against No. 1 South Carolina riding a seven-game unbeaten streak, and the Mountaineers kept that streak alive with […]
The Honeymoon is Over. The Season Isn’t.
The vibes around the WVU fan base were the highest I’ve seen in a very long time heading into the 2026 football season. We were coming off a magical run to the College World Series by the baseball team. We spent a ton of money on the offensive line, quarterback, and running back in the […]
WVU vs Iowa State Game Thread
Join the conversation as WVU takes on Iowa State in Ames, Iowa.
WVU vs Iowa State: What to Look For
It was a tough loss last week against a good Oklahoma State team. Now it’s time to shift our focus against a team that I am not quite sure I know definitively if they are either good or bad. I am of course talking about the Iowa State Cyclones. If Oklahoma State has handed West […]
How to Watch WVU vs. Iowa State
West Virginia heads to Ames, Iowa, this Saturday to take on the Iowa State Cyclones in a Big 12 matchup at Jack Trice Stadium. Here’s everything you need to know before kickoff. Game Day Details West Virginia Mountaineers at Iowa State Cyclones Saturday, October 3, 202612:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. CTJack Trice Stadium — […]
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