The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

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West Virginia11-0Marshall
National Program III#66 of 138–Regional Program I#76 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
7 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

West Virginia leads the all-time series 11-0. They've met 11 times since 1914. West Virginia has won the last 11.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

West Virginia
Win total
5.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+0
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -20
What fans are saying · player role
fans think Cam Cook should be protected from heavy workloads
Can we please not play Cook in the 2nd half?? Save him for the games that matter
Verified verbatim
Marshall
Transfer portal
+6
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +19

Stature & the series, 1914–2012

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeWest VirginiaMarshallevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: West Virginia won, gray: Marshall won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Marshall has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), West Virginia led 9 and Marshall led 14.

more passmore runWest VirginiaMarshall2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262005Marshall 28.5 pts2026Marshall 18.5 pts2019West Virginia 17.6 pts
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

West Virginia once won 11 in a row. The biggest win was West Virginia by 86 in 1915. The biggest crowd, 61,077, was in 2006.

The coaching duels

Rich Rodriguez vs Mark Snyder2-0
Bill Stewart vs Mark Snyder2-0
Dana Holgorsen vs Doc Holliday2-0

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
91-29
West Virginia leads
1st-rounders
8-3
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
West VirginiaMarshall
1960s1-0
1970s6-0
1980s11-3
1990s20-2
2000s17-12
2010s30-5
2020s6-7

Best picks, either side

2005Adam Jones Defensive Back · Tennessee TitansRd 1, pick 6#6 overall
2015Kevin White Wide Receiver · Chicago BearsRd 1, pick 7#7 overall
1986Brian Jozwiak Offensive Guard · Kansas City ChiefsRd 1, pick 7#7 overall
2003Byron Leftwich Quarterback · Jacksonville JaguarsRd 1, pick 7#7 overall
2013Tavon Austin Wide Receiver · St. Louis RamsRd 1, pick 8#8 overall
2016Karl Joseph Safety · Oakland RaidersRd 1, pick 14#14 overall
1990Renaldo Turnbull Defensive End · New Orleans SaintsRd 1, pick 14#14 overall
2012Bruce Irvin Outside Linebacker · Seattle SeahawksRd 1, pick 15#15 overall

Recent meetings

They haven’t met since 2012 — 14 seasons and counting.

2012West Virginia69-34
2011West Virginia34-13
2010West Virginia24-21Marshall — decided by 3
2009West Virginia24-7
2008West Virginia27-3
2007West Virginia48-23
2006West Virginia42-10
1997West Virginia42-31
1923West Virginia81-0
1915West Virginia92-6
1914West Virginia20-0