# West Virginia Mountaineers football season start

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/west-virginia-mountaineers-football-season-start
> Updated: 2026-09-14T04:12:30.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 3.

West Virginia Mountaineers football began their 2026 season with two consecutive victories. Following a season-opening win against Coastal Carolina, the team secured a 52-7 victory against FCS opponent UT Martin at Milan Puskar Stadium.

Transfer quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., arriving from Oklahoma, recorded four total touchdowns in his debut. His performance included two passing touchdowns—a 53-yard pass to DJ Epps and a 32-yard pass to Ryan Ward—and two rushing scores of 71 and 5 yards. Despite an early second-quarter goal-line fumble that resulted in a touchback, head coach Rich Rodriguez expressed confidence in Hawkins’ decision-making and his comfort within the high-tempo offense. Through the first two games, Hawkins has accumulated 287 passing yards and 199 rushing yards, totaling six touchdowns.

The win moved West Virginia to a 2-0 record, marking the program’s first such start since 2018. While the offense demonstrated strength with 313 rushing yards, the defense faced scrutiny after allowing 246 yards in the first half against UT Martin. Coach Rodriguez noted the team’s increased speed and athleticism compared to last season, highlighting explosive plays from players such as D.J. Epps and Cam Cook. The Mountaineers are scheduled to face No. 25 Virginia in the Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte next week.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-14: West Virginia football moves to 2-0 after blowout win over UT Martin

West Virginia University football improved to 2-0 after a 52-7 win over UT Martin, led by quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.'s efficient performance and explosive plays.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/west-virginia-football-moves-to-2-0-after-blowout-win-over-ut-martin

### 2026-09-11: Michael Hawkins Jr. leads West Virginia to 52-7 victory over UT Martin

Transfer quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. recorded four total touchdowns to lead West Virginia to a 52-7 win over UT Martin, moving the Mountaineers to a 2-0 start for the season.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/michael-hawkins-jr-leads-west-virginia-to-52-7-victory-over-ut-martin

### 2026-09-08: West Virginia Mountaineers host UT Martin Skyhawks in Week 2

West Virginia hosts UT Martin in a Week 2 NCAA College Football matchup on September 12, 2026. The Mountaineers seek a 2-0 start following a win over Coastal Carolina.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/duke-hosts-marshall-and-belmont-for-volleyball-matches

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Cite as: West Virginia Mountaineers football season start. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/west-virginia-mountaineers-football-season-start