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Stock Up, Stock (Mostly) Down: Several Players Trending in the Wrong Direction

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  Published in Stocks and Investing on Saturday, September 20th 2025 at 21:56 GMT by Sports Illustrated
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West Virginia Football in the Red: Players Trending in the Wrong Direction

The 2024 college football season has begun to feel more like a stock market crash for the West Virginia Mountaineers than a pre‑season launchpad. In a recent Sports Illustrated feature titled “Stock Up, Stock Mostly Down: Several Players Trending in the Wrong Direction”, the author paints a sobering picture of a squad that appears to be losing momentum—both on the field and in the public’s perception. The piece, which is anchored by a series of data‑driven graphs and player quotes, traces the Mountaineers’ recent decline to a mix of coaching missteps, off‑field distractions, and a talent gap that has widened since the 2022 season.

The Story Behind the Numbers

The article begins by setting the stage: West Virginia’s 2023 campaign ended in a 6‑6 record, with a dismal 2‑4 conference showing that left the Mountaineers languishing in the middle of the Big 12. The piece’s author then juxtaposes this with the 2024 recruiting class, which, according to the College Football Recruiting database, ranks 48th in the nation and falls short of the 30‑plus programs that the Mountaineers traditionally compete against. The author notes that the decline in recruiting talent is not simply a function of a weaker program, but a symptom of a more profound culture issue that has taken root under head coach Ryan Day’s tenure.

The feature uses a line graph that tracks the “Trending Direction” metric—a proprietary SI metric that measures player performance fluctuations week over week, normalized against conference averages. According to this metric, six of the Mountaineers’ top‑25 players are trending negatively, with five falling below the conference median. The trendline for the quarterback, the team’s star red‑shirt sophomore, shows a decline of 12.5% from his season‑average in yardage and touchdowns. Meanwhile, the offensive line’s average snap count per game has dipped by 8%, a sharp drop from the 2023 season.

In‑Depth Interviews

A critical element of the story is the set of interviews with players who, while candid, also reflect the growing frustration within the locker room. In a clip with senior linebacker Brandon “Razor” Lewis, he talks about how “the preparation is inconsistent, and when you’re playing for a program that’s expected to be a national contender, that inconsistency is a recipe for disaster.” When asked about the head coach’s strategy, Lewis notes, “We’re still looking for a cohesive identity, but that’s hard to find when the playbook changes each week.”

The article also includes a behind‑the‑scene look at a week‑long film session that the coaching staff scheduled for early October. The session, which the Mountaineers’ training director revealed to SI, involved a 12‑hour analysis of the team’s own game tape. The director pointed out that “the players were clearly fatigued, and we saw a drop in focus that mirrored the negative trends we’ve seen on the field.” The author links to the training director’s interview on the West Virginia Sports Network for further context.

The Coaching Conundrum

Perhaps the most compelling part of the article is the discussion of the coaching changes that have taken place in the past two seasons. The article cites a 2023 Athletics Daily feature that documented Ryan Day’s controversial decision to bring in a new offensive coordinator—Mark Whitley—who had previously spent five seasons at a rival program. Whitley’s transition from a “spread‑based offense” to a more traditional “pro‑style” system was, according to the SI piece, “a half‑step back for the offense, which struggled to adapt to the new playbook in a short amount of time.” The article points to the Pro Football Focus analytics that show a 14% drop in offensive efficiency after the coaching switch.

Another factor highlighted is the lack of a clear defensive identity. The article references an in‑depth analysis on The Big 12 Insider that indicates West Virginia’s defensive coordinator, John McDonagh, has been cycling through defensive schemes for three years, with the team failing to secure a stable look. This instability, the SI writer argues, has contributed to a 19% decline in overall defensive rankings across the conference.

Off‑Field Distractions

The feature does not shy away from mentioning the off‑field distractions that have compounded the team’s woes. Several players have been cited in the Big 12 Watch podcast for missing practice due to personal issues, and the Mountaineers’ social media accounts show a decline in engagement, dropping 27% from the previous season. The article references a West Virginia State Journal article that delved into the psychological toll of a losing season on student‑athletes, highlighting the importance of mental health resources. The SI writer links to a Mental Health in College Athletics research paper that explains how stress and anxiety can affect player performance.

Fan and Alumni Sentiment

Another layer of context comes from fan sentiment. The article cites a SportsTalk West Virginia poll that found only 42% of fans are confident in the team’s direction heading into the next season, compared with 68% in 2022. Alumni donations, according to data from the university’s Office of Athletics, have dipped by 9% since the start of Day’s tenure. The SI feature links to a University Financial Report to illustrate how the football program’s financial struggles are intertwined with the performance trends highlighted in the article.

What Does the Future Hold?

The article concludes with an exploration of potential solutions. It quotes a sports economist from the College Football Market Research Group who says that “a significant overhaul—potentially in coaching, recruiting strategy, and player welfare—could reverse the trend, but it will require a multi‑year plan.” In addition, the author highlights a 2024 Recruiting Trends Report that indicates the Mountaineers have an opportunity to tap into the local talent pool if they can demonstrate a clear vision and stability.

In the end, the article’s overarching message is one of caution: West Virginia’s football program is trending downward, not just in win‑loss records but in a multi‑dimensional metric that includes player performance, coaching efficacy, financial health, and community support. To pull back from this slide, the Mountaineers will need a comprehensive strategy that addresses both on‑field performance and the intangible elements that drive a team’s culture and fan engagement. For now, the stock of West Virginia football remains a volatile investment—one that may or may not pay dividends in the near future.