The West Virginia Mountaineers suffered a setback in their first true test of the 2025 season, falling 17-10 to Ohio in Athens, Ohio. The Bobcats, energized by their home opener, held firm in a defensive battle and handed WVU its first loss of the 2025 season, dropping the Mountaineers to 1-1.
The loss raised concerns about West Virginia’s offense, particularly at quarterback and along the offensive line. Nicco Marchiol, who earned the start, struggled to find spaces, missing reads in both the passing and running game, and couldn’t extend plays with his legs when receivers were covered.
That lack of mobility proved costly in a tight contest where explosive plays were scarce.
Rich Rodriguez Keeps WVU QB Decision Open Ahead of Backyard Brawl
Head coach Rich Rodriguez made a move late in the third quarter, turning to Texas A&M transfer Jaylen Henderson in search of a spark. The experiment was brief, as Henderson saw only a couple of series before Marchiol returned to the game. Henderson’s best play was negated by a penalty, leaving the QB battle unsettled heading into this week’s rivalry showdown with Pitt.
In a recent press conference, Rodriguez declined to name a starting quarterback for the future, making it clear that the competition remains open.
“Nicco Marchiol is still learning, and it’s important to him. He’s a freshman in the system, and it’s still a little bit of a process. He appreciates the way he’s bought in and competing, and Nicco wants to be great, and they have to help him in certain spots,” Rodriguez said.
WVU HC Rich Rodriguez declines to name a starting quarterback and says everyone is "still in the mix." He then did elaborate more on Nicco Marchiol and Jaylen Henderson. https://t.co/QS4L1YVPbn
— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) September 9, 2025
He continued by emphasizing his broader philosophy on the position.
“The quarterback position is very unique here, but you get a lot of answers in games where players are good at some things and they need others to get better. He isn’t a typical just play one quarterback, they want to give everybody opportunities.”
That message suggests Mountaineers fans could see multiple QBs against Pitt again, rather than a firm commitment to Marchiol or Henderson. While some speculated true freshman Scotty Fox or Charlotte transfer Max Brown could also factor into the rotation, Rodriguez has yet to reveal if either will be in play.
Pitt Looms Large as West Virginia Searches for Answers
West Virginia hosts rival Pittsburgh in the 108th edition of the Backyard Brawl, set for Saturday in Morgantown, West Virginia, and the kickoff is scheduled at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Panthers enter looking to spoil West Virginia’s rebound hopes and extend Rodriguez’s QB dilemma into Big 12 play
Rodriguez admitted that the long week of practice and evaluation will determine how the rotation unfolds. The decision is particularly pressing given the loss of running back Jahiem White for the rest of the season due to the knee injury he suffered during the Ohio game. This makes a dual-threat quarterback even more critical to keeping defenses honest.
With Big 12 play looming against Kansas on September 20, the Mountaineers cannot afford to let the starting QB situation drag on unresolved. Whether Marchiol steadies himself or Henderson seizes the opportunity, Rodriguez’s next move under center could define the early arc of West Virginia’s season.
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