Good morning, Mountaineer Nation, and welcome to today's Shotgun Throwdown—your daily hub for all things WVU sports, Big 12 buzz, and beyond. Whether you're here to celebrate a big win, dissect the latest recruiting news, or just vent about the TV schedule, this is your space. Let's dive into what's happening.
First up, No. 15 WVU Baseball just delivered a statement sweep, taking down No. 7 Kansas on the road in what might be the biggest series win of the Sabins era. Sean Smith powered the offense with a home run and four RBIs, while Reese Bassinger locked things down with five scoreless innings in relief. The Mountaineers now sit at 35-12 overall and 19-8 in Big 12 play—momentum is definitely on their side as they eye the postseason.
Over on the diamond, former Mountaineer standout Alek Manoah made his MLB return with the Angels on Friday, tossing a scoreless inning in his first appearance since May 2024. After missing all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery, Manoah signed a one-year deal with Los Angeles this offseason. It's great to see him back on the mound.
In football news, former WVU cornerback Michael Coats has signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent. Coats started all 12 games for the Mountaineers in 2025 after transferring from Nevada, where he earned All-Mountain West First Team honors as a junior. He's already been putting in work at Cleveland's rookie mini-camp this weekend.
The 2027 recruiting class is also heating up, with WVU Football securing its 10th commit—a dual-threat quarterback from Texas. This signal-caller runs Rich Rodriguez's zone-read offense at Klein Oak and chose the Mountaineers over Iowa State and Missouri State. It's an exciting early pickup for the future.
Mark your calendars: WVU Football's regular season finale at Utah on Nov. 27 will be televised on FOX, kicking off at either 8 or 9 p.m. The Big 12 is set to announce three more game times and networks later this month, so stay tuned.
Finally, WVU Track and Field closed out the home schedule in style, racking up multiple wins as the Mountaineers gear up for the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in Tucson. Lily Haught took the 100m hurdles, Mary Delaney won the 800m in 2:10.62, and Annishka McDonald also contributed to the strong showing. The team is looking sharp heading into championship season.
That's your roundup for now. What's on your mind? Drop your thoughts in the comments—let's talk Mountaineers.