West Virginia Mountaineers News

Miami takes No. 1 in the latest AP Top 25 after a week of upsets

College football fans have witnessed a wild week in the AP Top 25 rankings

4 HOURS AGO • Associated Press

Jack Cassidy - Delivers biggest kick of the season Cassidy converted on 1-for-2 field-goal attempts and 6-for-6 point-after tries during Saturday's 45-42 victory versus Cincinnati.

Impact Cassidy capped one of the wildest games of the Big 12 season by drilling a 35-yard field goal as time expired to lift West Virginia to a dramatic win over Cincinnati. Beyond the heroics, Cassidy's consistency continues to stand out from a fantasy perspective. He has now made at least one field goal in six of West Virginia's seven games this season and remains attached to an offense that generates scoring opportunities in bunches.

8 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Josh Sapp - Finds the end zone Sapp hauled in his only target for four yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 45-42 win versus Cincinnati.

Impact Sapp made his lone reception count, hauling in a touchdown for his first score since the 2023 season at Clemson. While Sapp remains a depth option in the passing game, his touchdown served as a reminder that Michael Hawkins is willing to spread the ball around near the goal line.

8 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Prince Strachan - Delivers when it matters most Strachan hauled in all three targets for 84 yards during Saturday's 45-42 win over Cincinnati.

Impact Strachan may not have matched the massive yardage totals posted by DJ Epps, but he played a pivotal role in the dramatic win. His biggest contributions came on the game-winning drive. With West Virginia backed up at its own 1-yard line and needing a score, Michael Hawkins connected with Strachan for gains of 41 and 40 yards, flipping field position and setting up Jack Cassidy's walk-off field goal. While Epps remains the top target in terms of volume, Strachan continues to prove he can impact games with a handful of touches.

8 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

DJ Epps - Bounces back in massive way Epps compiled eight receptions (on 10 targets) for 163 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 45-42 win against Cincinnati.

Impact Epps' performance was a welcome response after a frustrating outing the previous week and highlighted the upside that comes with catching passes from Michael Hawkins. While Prince Strachan generated headlines with his breakout performance, Epps quickly reasserted himself as a focal point of the passing attack with a season-high 10 targets and delivered his most productive game in several weeks. For fantasy managers, the biggest takeaway is that the zero-catch game now looks like an anomaly rather than a trend. In an offense that continues to generate huge passing numbers, Epps remains one of the Big 12's most dangerous receivers and a weekly threat to post game-changing production.

8 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Amari Latimer - Stays productive in supporting role Latimer accrued four rushes for 14 yards and one touchdown and caught all two targets for 38 yards during Saturday's 45-42 victory over Cincinnati.

Impact Latimer continued to make the most of his limited opportunities, punching in a three-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The score gives Latimer touchdowns in back-to-back games, a development for a reserve back who has become a reliable change-of-pace option behind Cam Cook. While the workload remains modest, Latimer's recent touchdown streak has helped him carve out a niche role in one of the Big 12's most explosive offenses. As long as West Virginia continues generating scoring chances at this rate, Latimer has the ability to pop up with fantasy-relevant production despite operating in a complementary role.

8 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Cam Cook - Adds another dimension in fantasy Cook tallied 15 rushes for 40 yards and reeled in 2 of 3 targets for 41 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 45-42 win over Cincinnati.

Impact Cook has already established himself as West Virginia's workhorse on the ground, but he delivered in a new way during the Mountaineers' dramatic win. Cook caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Michael Hawkins in the fourth quarter, making his first receiving touchdown of the season and tying the game during West Virginia's late comeback. While the rushing efficiency wasn't eye-popping against a Cincinnati defense that focused heavily on slowing the run game, Cook's involvement as a receiver highlights the versatility that makes him such a valuable fantasy asset. With defenses forced to account for Hawkins' dual-threat ability, Cook continues to find opportunities both as a traditional runner and as a playmaker in the passing game.

8 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Michael Hawkins Jr. - Breaking college fantasy football Hawkins was 25-for-33 passing for 464 yards and three touchdowns during Saturday's 45-42 victory over Cincinnati. He also had 26 rushes for 77 yards with two touchdowns.

Impact Hawkins is doing things that few quarterbacks in college fantasy football can match. He erupted for a career-high 464 passing yards while leading the Mountaineers to a walk-off victory. What's most remarkable is that Hawkins continues to produce massive fantasy totals regardless of game script. Whether he's piling up rushing yards, carrying the offense through the air, or doing both in the same game, opponents simply haven't found an answer. Against Cincinnati, he completed 25 of 33 passes after struggling with his accuracy in the previous three games, then engineered a game-winning drive from his own 1-yard line in the final two minutes. For fantasy managers, Hawkins has reached the point where expectations need to be adjusted upward. He's no longer just one of the top quarterbacks in the Big 12. He's becoming a week-winning force capable of posting elite passing numbers while still providing the rushing production that separates him from nearly every other quarterback in the country.

8 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Hawkins throws for 464 and Cassidy's FG with no time left lifts West Virginia over Cincinnati 45-42

Jack Cassidy's 35-yard field goal as time expired lifted West Virginia to a wild 45-42 win over Cincinnati

1 DAY AGO • Associated Press

Shakeup Saturday: 5 of the top 7 teams in the Top 25 lost in the regular season for the first time

College football has never experienced a Saturday like this

2 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

A desperate Sunflower Showdown on deck as Kansas and Kansas State fight to save their seasons

Kansas and Kansas State are gearing up for their annual football rivalry, the Sunflower Showdown

2 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

John Neider - Off injury report Neider (undisclosed) is off the injury report for Saturday's game against Cincinnati.

Impact Neider is officially ready to roll for Saturday's action. He has just one catch over his last two contests.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Chris Talley - Out vs. Cincinnati Talley (hamstring) is listed as out for Saturday's matchup against Cincinnati.

Impact After playing in his first game of the season last week, Talley will miss his sixth game Saturday against the Bearcats. The running back has battled a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for a majority of the year.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Cam Ball - Available for Week 7 Ball (undisclosed) is not listed on the injury report for Saturday's game against Cincinnati.

Impact Ball will return to action after a one-game absence due to an undisclosed injury. The tight end will presumably reclaim his backup role behind starter Ryan Ward.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

John Neider - Probable for Saturday Neider (undisclosed) is probable for Saturday's game versus Cincinnati.

Impact Neider is in line to take the field Saturday. Across six games, the wideout has hauled in seven receptions for 104 yards.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

PFF Grades: Prince Strachan Shows Up Big, WVU's Defense Was as Bad as it Looked For the third straight week, the West Virginia faithful saw their week end in disappointment as the Mountaineers lost to Arizona 52-31. It w...

6 DAYS AGO • SI.COM

What Brent Brennan Said About WVU After Beating the Mountaineers in Morgantown On paper, Arizona was certainly the better team coming into Morgantown, but it wasn't like West Virginia was completely void of talent or ab...

6 DAYS AGO • SI.COM

Sunday Morning Thoughts: WVU's Margin for Error Continues to Shrink West Virginia’s 52-31 loss to Arizona on Saturday further proved that the Mountaineers are going to have to outscore teams in shootouts to w...

OCTOBER 11 • SI.COM

Jack Cassidy - Keeps producing depsite the losses Cassidy made his only field goal attempt and all four of his extra-point tries during Saturday's 52-31 loss to Arizona.

Impact Cassidy continues to benefit from one of the Big 12's most productive offenses, converting on all five of his scoring opportunities. With the Mountaineers averaging plenty of points behind Michael Hawkins and Cam Cook, Cassidy remains one of the more reliable kicking options in the conference even when West Virginia isn't winning games.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

DJ Epps - Takes back seat in loss Epps caught 0 of 3 targets for zero yards during Saturday's 52-31 defeat versus Arizona.

Impact Epps was largely held in check as Prince Strachan became the focal point of West Virginia's passing game. The quiet performance is a surprise given Epps' status as the team's most consistent receiver this season, but fantasy managers shouldn't panic after one down week in an offense that continues to generate plenty of opportunities through the air.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Prince Strachan - Steps into the spotlight Strachan gathered in 5 of 8 targets for 121 yards during Saturday's 52-31 defeat to Arizona.

Impact Strachan surprisingly emerged as West Virginia's top receiver against Arizona after spending much of the season behind DJ Epps in the fantasy pecking order. With defenses paying so much attention to the Mountaineers' rushing attack, Strachan showed he can capitalize on favorable coverage when given the opportunity, though it remains to be seen whether this was a one-week outlier or the start of a larger role.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Amari Latimer - Earns more work as back-up Latimer compiled 13 carries for 55 yards and one touchdown and reeled in 3 of 4 targets for 44 yards during Saturday's 52-31 loss against Arizona.

Impact Latimer saw his largest workload of the season against Arizona, finishing with a season-high 13 carries and punching in his second touchdown of the year. Cam Cook remains the clear lead back, but Latimer's increased involvement suggests West Virginia is looking for ways to keep the backfield fresh as conference play intensifies.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Cam Cook - Carries the load again Cook posted 34 rushes for 141 yards and two touchdowns and caught 1 of 2 targets for 18 yards during Saturday's 52-31 defeat to Arizona.

Impact Cook turned in another outstanding fantasy performance on a season-high 34 carries. That's now five 100-yard rushing games on the year, and the workload was just as impressive as the production, as the Mountaineers repeatedly leaned on Cook to keep pace in a high-scoring contest. With defenses focused on containing QB Michael Hawkins, Cook continues to find room to operate and remains one of the safest RB1 options in the Big 12.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Hawkins Jr. - Floor remains championship-caliber Hawkins was 11-for-28 passing for 219 yards during Saturday's 52-31 defeat against Arizona. He also had 25 rushes for 98 yards with one touchdown.

Impact Hawkins once again delivered elite rushing production and has now made that a weekly expectation rather than a bonus. The passing numbers weren't as explosive as they were against Iowa State, but Hawkins continues to pair big-play ability through the air with one of the safest rushing floors at the position. At this point, the Mountaineers' defensive struggles may actually be helping his fantasy outlook by creating high-volume game scripts every week. Looking ahead, a matchup with Cincinnati should keep Hawkins firmly in QB1 territory. As long as he's approaching 100 rushing yards on a weekly basis, he has the type of league-winning upside that can carry fantasy managers through the remainder of the season.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

What Rich Rodriguez Said Following the Loss to Arizona The West Virginia Mountaineers (3-3, 0-3) fell to the Arizona Wildcats (5-1, 2-1) Saturday afternoon 52-31. West Virginia head coach Rich Ro...

OCTOBER 10 • SI.COM

NEWS

SCHEDULE

STANDINGS

ROSTER

VIDEOS

STATS

ODDS

PLAYER NEWS

GAME LOG

Miami takes No. 1 in the latest AP Top 25 after a week of upsets

Hawkins throws for 464 and Cassidy's FG with no time left lifts West Virginia over Cincinnati 45-42

Shakeup Saturday: 5 of the top 7 teams in the Top 25 lost in the regular season for the first time

A desperate Sunflower Showdown on deck as Kansas and Kansas State fight to save their seasons