When West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012, one of the biggest concerns was whether the Mountaineers would lose the rivalries that helped define the program.
More than a decade later, that concern hasn’t gone away.
The Mountaineers have developed respect for programs like Kansas State, Iowa State and Oklahoma State. Cincinnati has geographic appeal after joining the conference, but it still doesn’t carry the emotion of decades of history.
Simply put, West Virginia still doesn’t have a game in the Big 12 that compares to the Backyard Brawl. And let’s be honest, it probably never will.
WVU’s Schedule News
That’s why Monday’s scheduling announcement from Athletic Director Wren Baker caught so much attention.
West Virginia moved its 2027 game against Ohio to Week 0, opening Sept. 18 on the schedule. Pitt also happens to have that weekend available, immediately fueling speculation that the two schools could revive the rivalry two years earlier than currently planned.
Is that likely? Probably not.
The Mountaineers would likely have to buy out another non-conference opponent and potentially reshuffle future schedules with Pitt to preserve the home-and-home agreement.
But the speculation highlights something much bigger.
The Backyard Brawl isn’t just another rivalry for West Virginia, it’s the rivalry that still defines the program.
College football has changed dramatically over the last decade because of conference realignment, NIL and the transfer portal. Yet every time Pitt and West Virginia meet, none of that seems to matter. The atmosphere feels different. The hatred feels authentic.
That’s something the Mountaineers haven’t been able to recreate since joining the Big 12.
The conference has been an outstanding competitive fit for West Virginia, but not necessarily an emotional one.
Imagine asking the average Mountaineer fan which game they’d circle first every season. It wouldn’t be Kansas State. It wouldn’t be BYU. It wouldn’t even be Cincinnati.
It would be Pitt.
From the Big 12’s perspective, there’s no reason to fear that reality. In fact, the conference should embrace it.
The SEC thrives because Alabama has Auburn, Georgia has Florida, and Texas has Texas A&M again. The Big Ten has Michigan-Ohio State. Rivalries are good for television, attendance and the sport itself.
The Big 12 should want West Virginia playing Pitt every season if it can be worked out.
Whether Baker can make it happen before 2029 remains to be seen.
But if Monday’s scheduling move eventually leads to another Backyard Brawl, it won’t just be a win for West Virginia.
It will be a win for college football.
