Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Countdown to Kickoff: Mountaineers to Face UT Martin Today
September 12, 2026 07:00 AM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia is seeking its first 2-0 start to a season in eight years on Saturday afternoon when it faces UT Martin at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Since 2018, either WVU has been tripped up in its opener or the second game of the year.
The Mountaineers (1-0) are coming off a season-opening 31-24 victory over Coastal Carolina last Saturday that saw them jump out to a 24-0 halftime lead before allowing the Chanticleers to score 24 of the game's next 31 points.
The West Virginia defense was breaking in nine new starters last weekend, so improvement is expected on a weekly basis.
The offense, too, is littered with new names across the board, including quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. and Jacksonville State transfer running back Cam Cook, who shared Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors with Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley.
Cook's first carry resulted in a 72-yard run, and he finished the afternoon rushing 30 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Hawkins contributed 103 yards and a touchdown on the ground while completing 11 of his 14 pass attempts for 142 yards and a touchdown.
The Cook-Hawkins duo was involved in 64 of the team's 75 total offensive plays either running or passing last Saturday.
After dominating Coastal Carolina in the first half, West Virginia finished the game being outgained 425 to 413.
West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez indicated earlier this week that he plans to put more on Hawkins's plate as the two become more comfortable with each other. He also hopes to get some game reps for backup quarterback Scotty Fox Jr., who played in nine games last season and produced the best statistical season by any true freshman quarterback in school history.
Speaking of true freshmen, a handful of them saw action last Saturday, including starting left tackle Kevin Brown – the first true freshman offensive lineman to start a game for the Mountaineers since Zach Frazier did it in 2020.
UT Martin, coached by Jason Simpson, already has two games in the books following its week zero 36-24 loss to Central Arkansas and last weekend's 42-7 victory over Chicago State.
Simpson began the year with senior Julian Calvez at quarterback before using Calvez and redshirt freshman Tate Surber in the Chicago State triumph. Surber is more of a pocket passer, completing 69.6% of his 23 attempts against Chicago State for 222 yards, while Calvez adds a threat in the running game with 57 yards on 13 carries. Calvez has completed just 51.9% of his 27 pass attempts for 186 yards. Neither quarterback has thrown a touchdown pass so far this season.
They are listed as "ors" on this week's depth chart, and West Virginia must prepare to see both today.
UT Martin was the preseason pick to win the OVC, garnering six first-place votes to outpoll Southeast Missouri. Other teams in the conference include Lindenwood, Gardner-Webb, Charleston Southern, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State.
Simpson, in his 20th season at UT Martin, ranks third in OVC history with 130 career victories and is the longest-tenured coach in the conference. He is now 24 wins shy of catching Boots Donnelly for second place with 154 career wins.
Here is today's Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – The Mountaineers own a 69-31 record when rushing for at least 100 yards in games played over the last TEN years. Last Saturday, WVU rushed for 281 yards in its 31-24 triumph over Coastal Carolina.
9 – West Virginia's Cam Cook forced NINE missed tackles on running plays during last weekend's season opener against Coastal Carolina, the most of any Big 12 running back and fourth-best in the country.
8 – WVU's punt return defense ranks EIGHTH among FBS teams in the latest NCAA statistics.
7 – West Virginia is seeking its SEVENTH victory in games played Sept. 12. The last time WVU played on this date was in 2020, a 56-10 home victory over Eastern Kentucky.
6 – Today's game will be WVU's SIXTH-ever meeting against a college football team from the state of Tennessee. The Mountaineers are 3-2 in those games, the last meeting coming against Memphis in the 2024 Frisco Bowl.
5 – West Virginia's FIVE sacks produced last week against Coastal Carolina ranks FIFTH among all FBS teams in the latest NCAA team stats.
4 – The Mountaineer defense has recorded at least nine tackles for loss in three out of their last FOUR games dating back to last season.
3 – Rich Rodriguez ranks THIRD among all active power conference coaches with 195 career victories.
2 – Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.'s 103 rushing yards posted last Saturday against Coastal Carolina were the SECOND-most registered by a quarterback last week.
1 – Today's game marks UT Martin's FIRST-ever appearance in Morgantown.
West Virginia is unbeaten in its 23 prior games against FCS-level competition, including last year's 45-3 win over Robert Morris. WVU has played at least one FCS opponent each year since 2008.
Rodriguez, in his 29th season overall, is just five wins shy of 200 for his collegiate career. He has a 65-34 overall record at West Virginia, broken up into two different periods from 2001-07 and 2025-26.
This afternoon's game will kick off at 1 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN+ (Shawn Kenney and Jeff Woody).
Mountaineer Sports Network radio coverage begins at 10 am with the GoMart Mountaineer Tailgate Show leading into regular network coverage at noon with veteran play-by-play announcer Tony Caridi, analyst Dwight Wallace and sideline reporter Jed Drenning.
Fans can listen to the broadcast on many stations throughout West Virginia, online via WVUsports.com and the popular Varsity Network and WVU Gameday apps.
Since 2018, either WVU has been tripped up in its opener or the second game of the year.
The Mountaineers (1-0) are coming off a season-opening 31-24 victory over Coastal Carolina last Saturday that saw them jump out to a 24-0 halftime lead before allowing the Chanticleers to score 24 of the game's next 31 points.
The West Virginia defense was breaking in nine new starters last weekend, so improvement is expected on a weekly basis.
The offense, too, is littered with new names across the board, including quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. and Jacksonville State transfer running back Cam Cook, who shared Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors with Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley.
Cook's first carry resulted in a 72-yard run, and he finished the afternoon rushing 30 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Hawkins contributed 103 yards and a touchdown on the ground while completing 11 of his 14 pass attempts for 142 yards and a touchdown.
The Cook-Hawkins duo was involved in 64 of the team's 75 total offensive plays either running or passing last Saturday.
After dominating Coastal Carolina in the first half, West Virginia finished the game being outgained 425 to 413.
West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez indicated earlier this week that he plans to put more on Hawkins's plate as the two become more comfortable with each other. He also hopes to get some game reps for backup quarterback Scotty Fox Jr., who played in nine games last season and produced the best statistical season by any true freshman quarterback in school history.
Speaking of true freshmen, a handful of them saw action last Saturday, including starting left tackle Kevin Brown – the first true freshman offensive lineman to start a game for the Mountaineers since Zach Frazier did it in 2020.
UT Martin, coached by Jason Simpson, already has two games in the books following its week zero 36-24 loss to Central Arkansas and last weekend's 42-7 victory over Chicago State.
Simpson began the year with senior Julian Calvez at quarterback before using Calvez and redshirt freshman Tate Surber in the Chicago State triumph. Surber is more of a pocket passer, completing 69.6% of his 23 attempts against Chicago State for 222 yards, while Calvez adds a threat in the running game with 57 yards on 13 carries. Calvez has completed just 51.9% of his 27 pass attempts for 186 yards. Neither quarterback has thrown a touchdown pass so far this season.
They are listed as "ors" on this week's depth chart, and West Virginia must prepare to see both today.
UT Martin was the preseason pick to win the OVC, garnering six first-place votes to outpoll Southeast Missouri. Other teams in the conference include Lindenwood, Gardner-Webb, Charleston Southern, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State.
Simpson, in his 20th season at UT Martin, ranks third in OVC history with 130 career victories and is the longest-tenured coach in the conference. He is now 24 wins shy of catching Boots Donnelly for second place with 154 career wins.
Here is today's Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – The Mountaineers own a 69-31 record when rushing for at least 100 yards in games played over the last TEN years. Last Saturday, WVU rushed for 281 yards in its 31-24 triumph over Coastal Carolina.
9 – West Virginia's Cam Cook forced NINE missed tackles on running plays during last weekend's season opener against Coastal Carolina, the most of any Big 12 running back and fourth-best in the country.
8 – WVU's punt return defense ranks EIGHTH among FBS teams in the latest NCAA statistics.
7 – West Virginia is seeking its SEVENTH victory in games played Sept. 12. The last time WVU played on this date was in 2020, a 56-10 home victory over Eastern Kentucky.
6 – Today's game will be WVU's SIXTH-ever meeting against a college football team from the state of Tennessee. The Mountaineers are 3-2 in those games, the last meeting coming against Memphis in the 2024 Frisco Bowl.
5 – West Virginia's FIVE sacks produced last week against Coastal Carolina ranks FIFTH among all FBS teams in the latest NCAA team stats.
4 – The Mountaineer defense has recorded at least nine tackles for loss in three out of their last FOUR games dating back to last season.
3 – Rich Rodriguez ranks THIRD among all active power conference coaches with 195 career victories.
2 – Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.'s 103 rushing yards posted last Saturday against Coastal Carolina were the SECOND-most registered by a quarterback last week.
1 – Today's game marks UT Martin's FIRST-ever appearance in Morgantown.
West Virginia is unbeaten in its 23 prior games against FCS-level competition, including last year's 45-3 win over Robert Morris. WVU has played at least one FCS opponent each year since 2008.
Rodriguez, in his 29th season overall, is just five wins shy of 200 for his collegiate career. He has a 65-34 overall record at West Virginia, broken up into two different periods from 2001-07 and 2025-26.
This afternoon's game will kick off at 1 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN+ (Shawn Kenney and Jeff Woody).
Mountaineer Sports Network radio coverage begins at 10 am with the GoMart Mountaineer Tailgate Show leading into regular network coverage at noon with veteran play-by-play announcer Tony Caridi, analyst Dwight Wallace and sideline reporter Jed Drenning.
Fans can listen to the broadcast on many stations throughout West Virginia, online via WVUsports.com and the popular Varsity Network and WVU Gameday apps.
| Tale of the Tape | UT Martin | WVU |
| Points Per Game | 33.0 | 31.0 |
| Points Against | 21.5 | 24.0 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | 188.5 | 281.0 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game | 133.0 | 52.0 |
| Passing Yards Per Game | 204.0 | 132.0 |
| Passing Yards Allowed Per Game | 198.0 | 373.0 |
| Total Yards Per Game | 392.5 | 413.0 |
| Total Yards Allowed Per Game | 331.0 | 425.0 |
| First Downs For | 42 | 18 |
| First Downs Against | 32 | 22 |
| Fumbles/Lost | 2/1 | 2/1 |
| Interceptions/Return Yards | 1/55 | 0/0 |
| Net Punting | 36.5 | 38.0 |
| Field Goal/Attempts | 1/2 | 1/1 |
| Time of Possession | 29:30 | 32:56 |
| Penalties/Yards | 10/102 | 7/70 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 8/20 | 9/18 |
| 3rd Down Conversion Defense | 14/30 | 2/10 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 4/5 | 1/1 |
| 4th Down Conversion Defense | 3/5 | 1/2 |
| Sacks By/Yards Lost | 2/4 | 5/35 |
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballSaturday, September 12
Saturday, September 12
Saturday, September 12
Saturday, September 12
