The exterior of Milan Puskar Stadium, the home of West Virginia University football, near the North entrance gate in Morgantown, is seen here on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
The exterior of Milan Puskar Stadium, the home of West Virginia University football, near the North entrance gate in Morgantown, is seen here on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
The West Virginia Mountaineers and Alabama Crimson Tide were slated to play a home-and-home football series starting in 2026 in Morgantown.
However, that series has been canceled by mutual agreement, according to a WVU news release on Tuesday.
This comes after the Southeastern Conference has expanded its conference play to nine games for each team per season, starting in 2026.
"This scheduling philosophy has proven to be successful across college football. It aligns our football program with its competition in terms of potential postseason opportunities and advancement," WVU athletic director Wren Baker said in the release. "I am also aware of the importance of a seventh home game in 2027 for our fans and the huge economic impact it brings to our state, city and tourism division.
"Visitors coming to West Virginia are not only critical for state tourism, but also to our local economy."
The Mountaineers will now host Coastal Carolina inside Milan Puskar Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026, which will be the first meeting between the two since 2010.
The 2027 home game turns into a non-conference game against Southern Miss in Morgantown.
The contest against the Golden Eagles -- coached by former Marshall sideline boss Charles Huff -- is scheduled for Sept. 4, 2027.
WVU's 2026 game against Coastal Carolina joins games against UT Martin (Sept. 12) and Virginia in Charlotte, North Carolina (Sept. 19).
The Golden Eagles date in 2027 will be added alongside games against VMI (Sept. 11) and Ohio (Sept. 18).
Taylor Kennedy covers sports. He can be reached at 304-348-7935 or tkennedy@hdmediallc.com. Follow on Twitter.
