West Virginia University announced Monday that its 2027 home football game against Ohio has been moved to Week Zero.
Originally slated for Week 3 on Saturday, September 18, the matchup will now kick off on Saturday, August 28, 2027, at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, W.Va. The contest will mark the 19th all‑time meeting between the two programs.
The shift follows the NCAA’s June decision to adopt a standardized 14‑week regular‑season format beginning in fall 2027. Under the new structure, FBS teams can open most seasons in Week Zero—the weekend prior to Labor Day—and conclude play the week after Thanksgiving.
Previously, only Hawaii, teams traveling to Hawaii, and their opponents were permitted to schedule Week Zero games. FCS programs could also participate if the matchup was nationally televised, though that exception has been removed beginning this fall.
The 2027 game is the second leg of a three-game series that began last season, when Ohio defeated West Virginia 17–10 in Athens. The final game of the series is scheduled for Sept. 1, 2029, in Morgantown.
West Virginia’s remaining non‑conference slate for 2027 includes home dates with Southern Miss on Sept. 4 and VMI on Sept. 11.
Ohio’s 2027 non‑conference schedule features Marshall at home on Sept. 11 and a road trip to Texas State on Sept. 25. The Bobcats still have one open slot, which is expected to be filled by an FCS opponent.
FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
With a driving distance of 151 Miles between them, Morgantown,WV & Athens, OH is a very doable match 4 the Fans.
Only Uni. of Pitt Panthers & some MACtion Unis in Northeastern oHIo are closer 4 the Fans of these interstate Nonconference schedules.
Would rather see Ohio State vs WVU
54- 10 Ohio State
They are more likely to meet in the CFP than in the regular season. OSU would rather sign HaHs with much bigger programs than WVU and WVU won’t agree to a buy game in the Horseshoe.
I fully agree with you Richard on CFP would be better than regular season for Ohio State-West Virginia.
I hope at some point they stop referring to it as Week 0. After this season, those days are over. The season should start at Week 1 in 2027 regardless of what date that is.
Week Zero will live on. The NCAA stipulated a 14-week season as standard, but in some seasons there will be 15 weeks between Labor Day weekend and the last Saturday in November due to the calendar. 2030 and 2031 are the next seasons for that anomaly.
??? I counted, and in 2030, there are 14 Saturdays between Labor Day weekend Saturday and Thanksgiving/Black Friday weekend Saturday in 2030.
Correct. Playing in Week Zero that year would mean 15 weeks, but the way the NCAA phrased it was 14-week season.