College football all-time power rankings: The 30 best programs ever
By Dante Pryor
29. West Virginia Mountaineers
- All-Time Record: 744-498- 45 (.599)
- All-Time Bowl Record: 15-22 (.405)
- National Championships: 0
- Conference Championships: 15
- Consensus All-Americans: 11
- Heisman Winners: 0
During the early years of the program, West Virginia had modest success. Clarence Spears led the Mountaineers to an unbeaten (10-0-1) record in 1922. The Mountaineers would not win 10 games again until 1969. Though West Virginia would consistently have winning records, it was not until Don Nehlen arrived in Morgantown that the Mountaineers gained national prominence. In Nehlen’s 20 years at West Virginia, the Mountaineers finished in the top 25 six times and appeared in the top 25 on 15 different occasions.
Perhaps Nehlen’s crowning moment was the 1988-89 season when West Virginia played Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. It was a seminal moment in college football. West Virginia quarterback Major Harris and Notre Dame quarterback Tony Rice were the first black quarterbacks to play for a national title.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez brought his spread power option to Morgantown after coach Nehlen retired. Rodriguez went 3-8 his first season; that would be his only losing season. With players like Pat White and Steve Slaton leading the offense, the Mountaineers would win 10 or more games three consecutive seasons; West Virginia would also win three straight bowl games. His teams finished in the top five twice in his final three seasons and the top-10 in his final three.
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Dana Holgersen ushered West Virginia’s transition to the Big 12. Holgersen’s first season at West Virginia — their last season in the Big East — would be his best in Morgantown. West Virginia won 10 games, the last Big East championship and the Orange Bowl.