Here To Prove.

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Fitzpatrick Leads West Virginia Past Washington in Rose Bowl, Mountaineers Headed to National Championship
Rose Bowl (College Football Playoff Semifinal)
By Harold Johnson



Pasadena, CA —Cam Fitzpatrick’s legendary campaign rolled on in historic fashion as the West Virginia Mountaineers punched their ticket to the national championship game with a commanding 38–24 win over Washington in the Rose Bowl.

The junior quarterback accounted for four total touchdowns—three through the air and one on the ground—and passed for 484 yards on 38-of-59 passing, leading WVU to its second College Football Playoff victory in program history.

"That’s a tough team we just beat,” said Fitzpatrick. “But we’ve got bigger goals. We came here to finish the job.”

First Half: Slow Start, Fast Response
The Mountaineers fell behind early after Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. hit Rashid Williams on a 39-yard touchdown pass at the end of the first quarter. WVU had managed only a short field goal from RJ Kocan after a drive stalled due to a pair of dropped passes, a theme that would continue throughout the game with the usually sure-handed Mountaineer receivers dropping seven passes in all.

"I knew those guys would get past it and make some plays," Fitzpatrick said of the drops. "Just have to keep doing my job and getting them good balls."

Washington held a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Washington extended the lead to 14–3 on a 46-yard touchdown from Williams Jr. to LaTroy Combs. But West Virginia responded just before halftime. Fitzpatrick capped off a two-minute drill with a 5-yard touchdown toss to Rodney Gallagher III, cutting the deficit to 14–10.

Third Quarter: Turning Point
With momentum swinging, WVU struck twice in the third. Kocan drilled a 48-yard field goal to make it 14–13. Then, Fitzpatrick dropped a perfect deep ball to Traylon Ray for an 80-yard touchdown—a beauty made even sweeter with a successful two-point conversion pass to Jarel Williams. That 11-point swing gave WVU a 21–14 lead.

Fourth Quarter: Closing Time
The Huskies showed some fight early in the fourth, as Deon Turay knocked through a 29-yard field goal to trim the lead to 21–17. But West Virginia would not be denied.

The Mountaineers answered with another Kocan field goal, followed by two backbreaking touchdowns. First, Fitzpatrick found Dylan Office on a seam route for a 26-yard touchdown to make it 31–17. Then, after a defensive stop, Fitzpatrick powered into the end zone himself on a 3-yard keeper to all but seal the game.

A late 75-yard touchdown from Williams Jr. to Combs made the final score 38–24, but the result was already decided.

Fitzpatrick's Historic Night
Fitzpatrick was brilliant once again, completing 64% of his passes for 484 yards and three passing touchdowns, while also rushing for 52 yards, his second highest rushing total this season, and a score.

"That's not really my game," Fitzpatrick said of his success running the ball. "But our playmakers put so much pressure on a defense that I'll get some good looks from time to time and I owe it to them to make something happen."

The Heisman winner made big throws under pressure, converted key third downs, and continued to build what many are calling the greatest individual season in college football history.

Traylon Ray hauled in 7 catches for 197 yards and a touchdown, while Dylan Office contributed 11 catches for 127 yards and a score. Gallagher added a touchdown grab as well.

Washington's Standouts
Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. passed for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the Mountaineers. Wideout LaTroy Combs had a big day with 8 catches for 181 yards and two long scores, but the West Virginia defense limited Washington’s run game and sacked Williams Jr. twice in the second half to swing momentum.

What’s Next: A Championship Collision Awaits
With the win, West Virginia improves to 15–0, continuing one of the most dominant and explosive seasons in college football history. Standing between the Mountaineers and a national title is an unexpected but dangerous challenger: the Texas A&M Aggies.

A&M (12–3) stunned top-ranked Nebraska, 34–20, in the Sugar Bowl, punching their ticket to the title game and setting up a clash between two teams peaking at the right time. The Aggies will bring a physical defense and battle-tested offense into a game where they'll play the role of underdog—something West Virginia knows not to overlook.

For the Mountaineers, it's one more step. One more game. One last opportunity to finish what they started.

“We’ve been locked in since August,” Fitzpatrick said. “This is the moment we’ve dreamed about. Fifteen down, one to go.”

Scoring Summary
First Quarter
WVU – RJ Kocan 21 yd FG (4:14)
WASH – Rashid Williams 39 yd pass from Demond Williams Jr. (Deon Turay kick) (0:00)
Second Quarter
WASH – LaTroy Combs 46 yd pass from Demond Williams Jr. (Deon Turay kick) (3:13)
WVU – Rodney Gallagher III 5 yd pass from Cam Fitzpatrick (RJ Kocan kick) (0:52)
Third Quarter
WVU – RJ Kocan 48 yd FG (6:03)
WVU – Traylon Ray 80 yd pass from Cam Fitzpatrick (Jarel Williams 2-point conversion) (3:19)
Fourth Quarter
WASH – Deon Turay 29 yd FG (6:56)
WVU – RJ Kocan 35 yd FG (4:54)
WVU – Dylan Office 26 yd pass from Cam Fitzpatrick (RJ Kocan kick) (3:29)
WVU – Cam Fitzpatrick 3 yd run (RJ Kocan kick) (1:30)
WASH – LaTroy Combs 75 yd pass from Demond Williams Jr. (Deon Turay kick) (0:32)

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2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Preview

#3 West Virginia Mountaineers (15–0) vs #5 Texas A&M Aggies (12–3)
Date: Monday January 18, 2027 | Broadcast: ESPN

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WEST VIRGINIA: THE AIR RAID EMPIRE

Record: 15–0 (9–0 Big 12)
PPG: 48.0 | Pass YPG: 491.7 | Rush YPG: 56.4
Offensive Scheme: Air Raid | Defensive Scheme: 3-3-5 Tite

Led by Heisman Trophy winner Cam Fitzpatrick, the Mountaineers have delivered one of the most electrifying offensive seasons in college football history. The junior quarterback has thrown for 7,361 yards and 82 touchdowns, completing 70% of his passes with just 9 interceptions. He’s also added 340 yards and 8 TDs rushing.

Fitzpatrick’s favorite target is Traylon Ray, who has posted 2,419 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns on just 71 catches—an eye-popping 34.1 yards per catch. Paired with do-it-all offensive weapon Dylan Office (1,577 receiving yards, 20 TDs, 487 rushing yards, 5 TDs), WVU’s offense is a vertical juggernaut.

The Mountaineers lead the nation with 8,231 total yards and have scored 82 passing TDs. Their tempo, spacing, and deep ball mastery have overwhelmed even the best defenses.

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TEXAS A&M: THE RESILIENT GIANT

Record: 12–3 (6–2 SEC)
PPG: 35.0 | Pass YPG: 274.2 | Rush YPG: 119.2
Offensive Scheme: Pro Style | Defensive Scheme: 4-2-5

The Aggies shocked the country with a 34–20 upset of #1 Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl, and now ride momentum into the title game. Quarterback Conner Weigman is a veteran star, throwing for 4,114 yards, 36 TDs, and just 2 INTs this season.

RB Rueben Owens has quietly been a force, rushing for 1,018 yards and 16 touchdowns, while A&M’s receiving trio of Jacob Bostick (1,213 yards), Micah Tease, and Kenny Vega stretch defenses both vertically and across the field.

Defensively, the Aggies are loaded:

• DT David Hicks (41 Tkl, 8 TFL, 6.5 Sck) and MLB Taurean York (84 Tkl, 2 Int) control the interior.
• CBs Dezz Ricks (67 Tkl, 5 Int) and Jayvon Thomas (86 Tkl, 2 Int, 11 Defl) can match up with elite receivers.
• The unit ranks among the best in the SEC in red zone defense and third down stops.

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KEY MATCHUPS

Cam Fitzpatrick vs. A&M Secondary
– No defense has truly stopped Fitzpatrick. The Aggies' ball-hawking DBs must stay disciplined or risk getting burned.

Rueben Owens vs. WVU Front
– If A&M can establish the run, they’ll shorten the game and keep WVU’s offense off the field.

Traylon Ray vs. Man Coverage
– Ray is a game-breaker. If he wins one-on-one matchups, the Mountaineers can score in a blink.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

West Virginia is chasing perfection and a third straight playoff win, led by what many are calling the greatest offensive season ever. Texas A&M counters with veteran leadership, SEC-tested talent, and a burning desire to prove their Sugar Bowl win was no fluke.

"It’s everything we’ve worked for," said Cam Fitzpatrick. "All year long, we’ve chased greatness. Now we get to play for it."

Expect fireworks. Expect grit. Expect history.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 45, Texas A&M 38 (OT)

[Agent]

NATTY TIME

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NATTY TIME

LETS GET IT!!

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West Virginia Captures National Championship Behind Fitzpatrick’s Brilliance
By Harold Johnson



INGLEWOOD, CA — The season that started in storybook fashion ended in poetic triumph for Cam Fitzpatrick and the West Virginia Mountaineers.

After falling behind 10–0 early, No. 1 West Virginia stormed back to outscore No. 10 Texas A&M 43–16 over the final three quarters, winning the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship, 43–26, at SoFi Stadium.

The win marks the first national title in school history and caps off a perfect 16–0 season for the Mountaineers, led by Heisman-winning quarterback Cam Fitzpatrick, who threw for 391 yards and three touchdowns and added another score on the ground.

Early Misstep, Furious Response
West Virginia's dream start hit an early snag when Fitzpatrick threw an interception on the Mountaineers second possession.

"We had a miscommunication, had a receiver run the wrong route." Head coach Rich Rodriguez said after the game. "Had some personnel in there that shouldn't have been and just ran the wrong route. Cam took the blame like he always does but that's just the leader he is. Moved on from it and got it done."

The Aggies capitalized quickly when quarterback Conner Weigman found tight end Jaden Platt for a 4-yard touchdown, adding to an opening drive field goal from Adrian Skool and giving the Aggies a 10–0 lead with momentum fully on their side.

But Fitzpatrick didn’t flinch.

On the next drive, a deep shot to star receiver Traylon Ray sparked WVU’s offense. Fitzpatrick then connected with Dylan Office for gains of 16 and 11 yards before hitting Office again for a short touchdown to cut the lead to 10–7.

After another A&M field goal stretched the lead to 13–7, West Virginia struck again. A 55-yard bomb to Ray set up a 14-yard touchdown pass to Rodney Gallagher III. RJ Kocan’s extra point gave the Mountaineers their first lead, 14–13.

They never trailed again for long.

Fitzpatrick, Ray Spark Explosive Second Quarter
With under three minutes left in the half, Fitzpatrick checked into a go-route and hit Ray down the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown. “When you’ve got a guy like Cam that sees the whole field and reads the D as well as he does, you just trust him and he trusts me,” Ray said. “So we do what we do.”

Texas A&M kept it close with Weigman engineering a 7-play scoring drive—throwing or rushing for every yard himself—ending in a touchdown pass to Kenny Vega to make it 21–20 at halftime.

After a Reuben Owens 19-yard touchdown early in the third briefly gave the Aggies a 26–21 lead, Fitzpatrick responded with a 7-yard rushing score and added a two-point conversion pass to Jarel Williams to reclaim the lead, 29–26.

Defense Delivers in the Clutch
With momentum shifting again, WVU linebacker Ben Cutter made one of the game’s pivotal plays—ripping the ball out of Weigman's hands on a designed run and recovering the fumble inside the 30-yard line. That set the stage for West Virginia to seize full control.

Office capped a 9-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to extend the lead to 36–26 with under five minutes to play. The defense forced a turnover on downs on A&M’s final gasp, and Office delivered the dagger with another short rushing touchdown to put the game away.

A Fitting End to a Historic Run
For Fitzpatrick, the win completed a legendary season in which he shattered the single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns while also becoming college football’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes. But more than the numbers, it was the chance to bring home a title with his childhood best friend and backfield mate, Dylan Office, that made it special.

“We’re going to soak in this for a while,” Fitzpatrick said after the game, brushing off questions about the NFL Draft. “I don’t know, I don’t know! Right now, I just want to be with my guys. We did something no one can ever take from us.”

With confetti falling and the trophy in hand, West Virginia finally stood at the mountaintop. After a season of dominance, they finished what they started—and made history doing it.

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
TAMU – Adrian Skool 29-yard FG
TAMU – Jaden Platt 4-yard pass from Conner Weigman
2nd Quarter
WVU – Dylan Office 1-yard pass from Cam Fitzpatrick
TAMU – Adrian Skool 17-yard FG
WVU – Rodney Gallagher III 14-yard pass from Cam Fitzpatrick
WVU – Traylon Ray 61-yard pass from Cam Fitzpatrick
TAMU – Kenny Vega 3-yard pass from Conner Weigman
3rd Quarter
TAMU – Rueben Owens 19-yard run (2pt failed)
WVU – Cam Fitzpatrick 7-yard run (Fitzpatrick pass to Jarel Williams for 2pt)
4th Quarter
WVU – Dylan Office 1-yard run
WVU – Dylan Office 3-yard run
Final: WVU 43, TAMU 26

Stat Leaders
West Virginia
Cam Fitzpatrick: 23/31, 391 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT; 7 rush, 54 YDS, 1 TD
Traylon Ray: 8 REC, 295 YDS, 1 TD
Dylan Office: 7 REC, 52 YDS, 1 TD; 13 rush YDS, 2 TD
Rodney Gallagher III: 3 REC, 31 YDS, 1 TD

Texas A&M
Conner Weigman: 25/42, 324 YDS, 2 TD; 12 rush, 49 YDS
Reuben Owens: 14 rush, 75 YDS, 1 TD
Jacob Bostick: 9 REC, 116 YDS
Kenny Vega: 5 REC, 74 YDS, 1 TD
Jaden Platt: 3 REC, 33 YDS, 1 TD

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[Agent]

QBs were cooking in that one

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Million Eyes

The office was silent except for the low hum of the air conditioner and the rustle of papers shifting on the desk. Cam Fitzpatrick sat straight-backed in his chair, expression unreadable. Across from him, the advisor—unnamed by choice, important by reputation—cleared his throat and leaned in.

“Quite frankly, Cam, we think it would be very unwise to do anything except declare for the draft. We certainly understand that there’s money to be made at the college level, but we’re looking at essentially a guarantee that you’re the first pick in the draft. That’s without a single throw at the combine, no pro day, no individual workouts. You do the interviews, and that’s it.”

Cam nodded slowly, processing. He didn’t argue. Didn’t agree. Just stood and extended his hand.

“Thank you,” he said simply.

The advisor hesitated, surprised. “Cam… you’re leaving without giving an answer?”

Cam’s fingers tightened around the doorknob. “Clock’s ticking,” the advisor reminded him. “You don’t have forever.”

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Cam leaned against his car, hoodie up, sunglasses hiding tired eyes. Dylan Office slid next to him, unwrapping a protein bar and offering half.

“So… how bad did they beg?” Dylan asked, smirking.

Cam cracked a smile. “Not begging. More like stating the obvious.”

Dylan nodded. “They’re not wrong. You’ve done it all, man. Heisman. Records. Natty. You even got me a ring.”

Cam chuckled, but said nothing.

“I’m declaring,” Dylan said after a beat. “My family could use it. I’m not complaining about the ride—this year’s been magic—but I’m not Cam Fitzpatrick. I didn’t get the NIL bag.”

Another silence.

“Look, I get it if you're still torn. But seriously—what do you have left to prove?”

Cam didn’t have an answer. Not yet.

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Cam sat in a too-small chair under too-bright lights, answering question after question. Some were expected—“What are your goals as a rookie?” Others were bizarre. One team asked him what kind of dog he’d be.

“Border Collie,” Cam had said with a smile. “Smart. Loyal. Kind of obsessed with controlling the field.”

Now, he sat quietly, absorbing the latest question—the first one that made him stop and really think.

“What has motivated you throughout your career—and what will motivate you going forward?”

Cam leaned back in the chair and took a breath. No rehearsed line would do.

“My father,” he started. A few interviewers smiled, expecting the typical tribute. He shook his head. “But not in the way you might expect.”

The room stilled.

“He was... not a good person... in a lot of ways. Most people would say the only good thing about him was his talent on the football field." Cam paused, thinking back.

"So when I was little, I told myself I wanted to prove I was better than he ever was. That I could be more than just talent. Over time, it grew. I wanted to be the best for my teammates. For my coaches. Then when I transferred to WVU, it became about winning a championship. Bringing something to that state—our state—that hadn’t been done. And now?” Cam paused. “Now it’s about continuing that. Playing for something bigger than just me. Being the best I can be. For whoever puts their trust in me.”

Silence again. Then one of the team representatives stood, extended a hand, and said what they all were thinking.

“Thank you, Cam.”

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The lights above the draft stage pulsed, soft blue and silver bouncing off the backdrop. Cam adjusted his suit cuff, fingers twitching slightly with nerves he wouldn’t admit out loud. Dylan sat to his left, flipping through a paper draft order, muttering about team needs.

“No way Chicago takes a QB—Williams is getting better. Indy maybe... I’m telling you, Dallas could trade up. Imagine you in a star, bro.”

Cam laughed quietly. “You gonna scout for a living now?”

“Might have to. Someone’s gotta get me paid,” Dylan shot back with a grin.

Cam looked past the crowd, toward the stage, and let the noise fade. In his mind, he saw flashes: his mom at every game. Coach Rodriguez’s fiery speeches. That night in the rain against Georgia. Hugging Dylan after the championship. The moment they did it.

He belonged here. He knew that now.

Then, the music changed. The crowd hushed.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stepped to the podium.

“With the first pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select... Cam Fitzpatrick, quarterback, West Virginia University.”

Cam stood, momentarily frozen. His mother threw her arms around him, and for a moment they stayed like that—timeless, suspended between memory and destiny. He hugged Dylan next, both of them teary-eyed but beaming.

And then Cam walked the stage, arms outstretched, embracing the future.