WVU fans can at least look forward to nonconference games as we await Big 12 divisions, pods

Back on Sept. 10, 2021, the Big 12 announced it was adding four members: Brigham Young, Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston. The release said the schools would be joining no later than the 2024-25 athletic year.

It was the second time in the conference’s 26-year history that new members were added. Of course, WVU and TCU joined in 2011.

Also, of course, the latest expansion was a reaction to losing Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC. According to a report from Horns247 back on Feb. 24, the 2024 school year is starting to emerge as a probable date for the schools to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC.

Besides the fact that thumpers like UT and OU are leaving, the very cool round-robin formats will be dying. Every team playing every other team (and in basketball twice) was great.

Now we’re looking at divisions. Or pods, if you like. Eventually, I’ll speculate, WVU will be grouped with Cincinnati and UCF. From there it’s anyone’s guess.

Thankfully, though, some of the very attractive WVU nonconference football and basketball games already set up will be protected.

“The nonconference opponents will remain because the [Big 12] conference schedule in football will remain at nine,” WVU AD Shane Lyons told me. “In basketball we will remain at 18 conference games.”

That’s really good news for WVU fans, especially in football.

Many are looking forward to this coming season’s Mountaineer visit to Pitt. There’s also a visit to Blacksburg, Va., for a date with Virginia Tech.

In 2023, WVU gets to play both Pitt (in Morgantown) and Penn State (in University Park).

In 2024? Just flip the script. Penn State plays in Morgantown and Pitt hosts WVU.

Pitt is again there (in Morgantown) in 2025.

And, oh yeah, Alabama visits WVU on Sept. 5, 2026. (Can we buy tickets now?) The next year, the Mountaineers go to Tuscaloosa.

Remember the contract with Tennessee? I didn’t, but WVU will indeed play the Vols in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 2 of 2028.

Lyons and company have done a great job putting together nonconference schedules. For WVU fans, those games are something to look forward to while we await the final Big 12 divisions.