Mountaineers Labeled Underdogs at Home in 2025 Backyard Brawl — and That Might Be Just What They Need
One of college football’s most storied rivalries is set to heat up again in 2025 as the Backyard Brawl returns to Morgantown — but this year, West Virginia finds itself in an unfamiliar spot: a home underdog.
The Mountaineers will host longtime rival Pittsburgh at Milan Puskar Stadium, where the crowd will be loud, proud, and dressed in gold and blue. Yet despite the undeniable advantage of playing in front of one of college football’s most passionate fanbases, early betting lines favor Pitt, marking them as slight road favorites heading into this much-anticipated matchup.
For West Virginia fans, the early odds are more than just numbers — they’re a challenge.
Pittsburgh enters the season with solid continuity. The Panthers return a seasoned core of starters on both sides of the ball and made a few notable offseason additions, including in the trenches and at quarterback. That stability has earned the confidence of oddsmakers, who see Pitt as a team that can control the pace, limit mistakes, and capitalize on WVU’s question marks.
Those question marks mostly center around the Mountaineers’ quarterback situation and a secondary that’s still in the process of rebuilding. There’s young talent on the roster, but until it’s proven on the field, skepticism remains. Even so, this WVU team has been trending upward, and many believe the pieces are there for a breakout year — if things click early.
And then there’s the rivalry factor. The Backyard Brawl has never been about who looks better on paper. In fact, recent history proves just how unpredictable this game can be. The teams have split the last two matchups — each one tightly contested, filled with emotional swings, and decided late in the fourth quarter. This rivalry doesn’t follow scripts. It writes its own.
So while Vegas may have given Pitt the early nod, West Virginia thrives in the role of underdog — especially at home. Mountaineer fans are known for creating one of the most intimidating atmospheres in the country, and you can bet that by kickoff, Milan Puskar Stadium will be deafening.
For the players, being underestimated on their own turf is likely to light a fire. Coaches may downplay the odds, but every locker room takes note of who’s being counted out. And for a rivalry fueled by state pride, that chip on the shoulder can be a powerful weapon.
Kickoff is still months away, but the buzz is already building. The early odds may not favor West Virginia, but when the Mountaineers line up across from the Panthers on a fall Saturday in Morgantown, odds won’t matter — pride will.
In the Backyard Brawl, there are no guarantees. Just blood, sweat, and 60 minutes of football fueled by decades of animosity. And in that kind of game, anything can happen — especially when you’re the home underdog with something to prove.
