From the time West Virginia joined the Big 12 Conference in the summer of 2012, the program has been an outlier in the sense that they were the only school situated in the Eastern time zone.
Not anymore.
With the addition of four new members to the league, the Mountaineers are now joined by both Cincinnati and Central Florida as fellow programs located in the east.
And it’s a welcomed change for those in Morgantown who have been looking for partners closer to home.
“It’s huge for us and great for our fans,” West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said.
West Virginia will play both programs this season in football with a trip to Central Florida scheduled for this weekend and a home contest against Cincinnati set for Nov. 18.
West Virginia and Cincinnati have a history together with both being members of the Big East Conference. The schools are located around a little under five hours from each other with the two football teams playing a total of 19 times with the Mountaineers holding a 16-3-1 edge while on the hardwood the 20-games are split evenly between the pair. West Virginia last played the Bearcats in 2011 on the gridiron.
It is likely the only drivable game on the schedule for each fan base and one that given the history and proximity has the potential to develop into a rivalry game in the future.
“It’s got to happen organically. Some contests that gain some attention nationally and make each fan base lock in,” Brown said. “But the makings are there.”
Central Florida doesn’t have the same proximity as Cincinnati, but the school is another welcomed addition according to Brown not only because of it being in the east but the recruiting ties.
Adding a school in the talent-rich state of Florida, which is one of the best areas in the country, can only further increase the efforts down there for West Virginia with a presence on the schedule.
“That’s an area our staff knows really well from our time in the Southeast. That can definitely be a benefit for us,” Brown said.
West Virginia is 2-0 against Central Florida on the football field and 1-0 on the basketball court. The two last played in 2004.
The Mountaineers have been on an island in the east for the last decade, but with the addition of two new members to the Big 12 things aren’t quite as lonely.
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