FIREWORKS- Wren Baker and Jed Drenning make BOLD PREDICTIONS for West Virginia!

Is West Virginia athletics entering a Golden Era? That question has been gaining momentum after comments from Athletic Director Wren Baker and longtime analyst Jed Drenning. While they approached the conversation from different perspectives, both pointed to the same conclusion: for the first time in years, the foundation is finally in place. In today's episode of Locked On West Virginia, we break down why Baker believes WVU has finally built the infrastructure to compete through improved NIL, revenue sharing, fundraising, administrative alignment, and facility investments. Then we examine why Drenning believes "the time is now" for Rich Rodriguez and the Mountaineers after a full offseason of roster evaluation, recruiting, and player development. We also take an in-depth look at the 2026 football roster, discussing why the running game could become one of the Big 12's best, how Michael Hawkins Jr. and Max Brown give WVU stability at quarterback, the depth at wide receiver, the growth of the offensive line, and why Zac Alley's defense may be better than many expect. Finally, we zoom out to the bigger picture, examining how football, basketball, and baseball are all benefiting from the same momentum under Wren Baker's leadership. Has West Virginia already entered a Golden Era? Or is 2026 the year it all begins?