The 2007 College Football Season: A Rollercoaster Ride
When you ask college football fans about the most unforgettable season, many instantly respond with “2007.” It makes sense, right? That year kicked off with one of the biggest upsets ever—Appalachian State beating Michigan in their own stadium.
In 2007, there were 62 ranked teams that lost to unranked or lower-ranked opponents. Moreover, teams sitting second in major polls lost seven times during the last nine weeks of the season. It was wild.
However, the chaos of the season culminated in a predictable showdown between two powerhouse teams from the SEC and Big Ten for the national championship in New Orleans.
But imagine if there was another jaw-dropping twist to an already crazy season, potentially wrapping everything up with the crowning of the first-ever national champion. Well, that’s where the West Virginia Mountaineers football team from 2007 enters the picture.
Despite not having a national championship banner, the Mountaineers’ close calls and performances make them a memorable part of sports history—a “what if” story that many still talk about.
To appreciate how impressive the Mountaineers were, you need to look back at the program during the mid-2000s. Coach Rich Rodriguez was building a culture in Morgantown, focusing on his spread option offense. By the end of the 2004 season, the Mountaineers had already won two Big East co-champions and were aiming to step up as a dominant force in the conference.
Then came the 2005 season, when they went 11-1 and stunned the SEC champ Georgia in the Sugar Bowl with a spectacular offensive display led by quarterback Pat White. The following year, they matched that success, winning 11 games and finishing in the top 10 in the final AP poll.
This momentum took them into the 2007 season with a top-five ranking, positioning them as serious contenders for the title. Even after an early loss to South Florida, the Mountaineers still had a chance to compete for the championship, especially given the upheaval in the rankings that season.
The Mountaineers boasted a formidable offense, again orchestrated by Pat White, supported by talented running backs like Steve Slaton and Noel Devine. They became one of the most effective rushing teams in the nation, averaging nearly 40 points per game.
As the season came to a close, they were ranked #2 in the BCS poll and even #1 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. All they had to do was win a rivalry game against the Pittsburgh Panthers, who were having a rough season at 4-7, to secure their championship game appearance.
It should have been an easy win, right? The odds were heavily in favor of the Mountaineers. But as we know, that ‘second place curse’ loomed large. In a shocking twist, West Virginia struggled, racking up just 183 yards of offense, leading to a surprising 13-9 loss to Pitt. It was a heartbreaker.
What stings for Mountaineers fans is knowing their team then dominated a top-five Oklahoma Sooners team in the Fiesta Bowl, further complicating the “what if” narrative surrounding that season.
After the disappointing ending, Rodriguez left West Virginia for Michigan, but he never recaptured the same success. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers have not reached those heights again since.
Interestingly, there might be a reunion on the horizon, as both Rodriguez and West Virginia seem to recognize their mutual need for each other, potentially reuniting in 2025.
The 2007 season remains one of the most bizarre in college football history, highlighting a significant missed opportunity for the Mountaineers and their fans. The era before the College Football Playoff was tough, and no one understands that better than those following that infamous West Virginia team.
Ultimately, they should be remembered not just as a footnote but as an almost dynasty cut short in a thrilling period of college football. It’s these kinds of stories that made that era so special.
