It's a brand-new start (once again) for Rich Rod at West Virginia in 2026, considering how many new faces populate the roster , and for his sanity (and the fanbase's), it's probably a good thing he and the coaching staff hit the reset button. I've noted several times throughout this spring that this is a much different group compared to the one we saw take the field in 2025 , and that's in just about every area of the game. The physicality, toughness, care level, speed, and pure skill are in a whole other ballpark. Pump the brakes, though. This is still going to have the look of a team in the midst of a rebuild, but one that will compete every week and should have more than enough to get to a bowl game. In fact, I'd be stunned if they didn't make one. So with that being said, I'll pit the Mountaineers against the Michigan State Spartans in the Rate Bowl out in Phoenix, Arizona. WVU has played in this bowl twice — 2015 vs. Arizona State (then known as the Cactus Bowl) and 2021 against Minnesota.…