Since the introduction of the College Football Playoff (CFP) in 2014, West Virginia football has struggled to achieve significant success. With the CFP expanding to twelve teams in 2024, WVU aims to capitalize on the departure of Oklahoma and Texas from the Big 12 to secure their first-ever CFP bid. However, their performance in the CFP era has been underwhelming.
In the past ten years, the Mountaineers have only twice finished in the final Top 25 poll. Among the 70 current Power Four conference schools, 34 have more Top 25 finishes, including six of the current 16 Big 12 schools and two Group of Five programs, Boise State and Navy. WVU has appeared in the CFP polls for a total of 14 weeks, placing them ninth among the current Big 12 schools.
Both Top 25 finishes occurred under Dana Holgorsen, while current coach Neal Brown has yet to achieve this milestone. Brown’s best season was a 9-4 record last fall, narrowly missing a Top 25 spot. As WVU looks to leverage a restructured Big 12 and a strong returning roster, they hope to change their narrative and secure a Top 25 finish in 2024.
