# West Virginia University football season performance > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/west-virginia-university-football-season-performance > Updated: 2026-10-20T15:06:54.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 3. West Virginia University football secured its first Big 12 win of the season with a 45-42 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats at Milan Puskar Stadium. The high-scoring matchup featured 1,220 yards of total offense and concluded with the Mountaineers winning in the final moments. As previously planned for the homecoming event, the team wore classic uniforms consisting of glossy blue helmets, blue jerseys, and gold pants. The win breaks a three-game losing streak and improves the team's record from 3-3. Despite the victory, the Mountaineers' defense continues to face significant challenges during Big 12 play. The unit has allowed 40 or more points and over 400 yards of offense in four consecutive games. Defensive coordinator Zac Alley expressed disappointment in the performance, noting that the team allowed six touchdowns during the win against the Bearcats. Head coach Rich Rodriguez observed that while the offense has established an identity through the running game, the defense currently lacks a clear identity. The team currently ranks eighth-worst in the country for scoring defense and second-worst in total defense. In separate athletic news, the West Virginia volleyball team also competed against Cincinnati, resulting in a 3-1 loss for the Bearcats despite a 21-kill performance by Sydney Nolan. The Mountaineers' volleyball squad improved to 10-7 on the season. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-20: West Virginia football defense struggles despite win over Cincinnati West Virginia's defense faces identity challenges after allowing high yardage and points in consecutive Big 12 games, despite a recent win over Cincinnati. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/west-virginia-football-defense-struggles-despite-win-over-cincinnati ### 2026-10-15: West Virginia Mountaineers defeat Cincinnati Bearcats 45-42 in Big 12 thriller West Virginia football defeated Cincinnati 45-42 in a high-scoring Big 12 thriller at Milan Puskar Stadium, while the WVU volleyball team also faced the Bearcats in a 3-1 loss. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/west-virginia-football-to-wear-classic-uniforms-against-cincinnati ### 2026-10-13: West Virginia University football seeks win during Homecoming West Virginia University football seeks a turnaround during Homecoming week against Cincinnati following a three-game losing streak and significant defensive struggles. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/west-virginia-university-football-seeks-win-during-homecoming --- Cite as: West Virginia University football season performance. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/west-virginia-university-football-season-performance