That’s because the Mountaineers are ranked 20th in the initial Amway Coaches Poll released earlier today. It’s just the second time under coach Dana Holgorsen that West Virginia will begin the season ranked by the coaches, the other occasion coming in 2012 when WVU began the year 11th.
It is also just the 10th time in school history West Virginia has started a football season ranked in the coaches poll, all of those coming since 1988.
The other instances were in 2010 (24th), 2007 (sixth), 2006 (seventh), 2004 (11th), 1998 (10th), 1994 (23rd), 1989 (13th) and 1988 (15th).