West Virginia's offseason has one clear centerpiece: Cam Cook, the Jacksonville State transfer running back who arrives as the most productive newcomer in the program's portal class. Scotty Fox Jr. returns as the starting quarterback, giving the offense continuity at the most important spot even as the receiving corps turns over significantly with Cam Vaughn (Miami) and Rodney Gallagher III (Arizona) both gone. John Neider and DJ Epps arrive to help replace that production, but the passing game will need time to gel around Fox. The offense projects as roughly average, and the defense grades as the stronger side of the ball on paper, though it enters the season dealing with real coverage and edge attrition that will need to be managed as new pieces settle into larger roles. Special teams look average as well, meaning this team's identity will likely be shaped by how quickly the defense's replacements stabilize and how fast Cook and the receiving corps mesh with Fox.

JP+ projects West Virginia at 5.5 wins, with a schedule that includes true tests against Texas Tech and Utah on the road and Virginia on a neutral field, balanced by favorable matchups at home against Houston, Coastal Carolina and UT Martin. The gap between that number and outside expectations likely comes down to how the defense's replacements at the edge and in coverage hold up against a schedule that doesn't offer many easy weeks. If Cook proves to be the workhorse his profile suggests and the defense's new faces settle in quickly, this team can push toward the upper end of its projection and challenge for bowl eligibility. If the coverage attrition shows up on Saturdays the way the roster data suggests it might, a season closer to last year's mark isn't out of the question.