UC Bearcats Big 12 opponent WVU has fiery, couch-burning football commit

College sports fans have been known to be unruly at times, even in victory. When the Michigan Wolverines won the NCAA men's basketball championship in April, fans took to the streets and couches were burned.

In 2024, when the Wolverines won the College Football Championship 34-13 over Washington, more furniture went down in flames.

The Cincinnati Bearcats will play football in Morgantown Oct. 17 vs. West Virginia, a Big 12 opponent whose fans are known for torching the occasional couch.

West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez even acknowledged the behavior last summer, saying, “Well, they don’t burn couches as much as they used to. I’ve heard there’s a city ordinance against it, but if we win a big game this year, my ass is going to burn a couch, I’ll tell you that much. I’m going to pay the fine ahead of time or something, I don’t care!“

Sure enough, when the Mountaineers took down arch-rival Pitt in the Backyard Brawl in overtime last September, there was no love for love seats and davenports were doomed.

New West Virginia recruit issues fiery commitment video

Following Morgantown's reputation, new Mountaineers offensive line recruit Ethan Lawson, a mountainous man at 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, fired up WVU fans on June 2 with his commitment video.

Lawson, in the video, announces his commitment to West Virginia, revealing a Mountaineers shirt with a full, burning coach in the background.

West Virginia has likely torched many couches celebrating victories over UC Bearcats

West Virginia leads the all-time football series with UC 18-3-1. UC's last two wins came in 2008 and 2009 under Brian Kelly with James P. Kelly UC Athletic Hall of Famer Tony Pike at quarterback. UC won 26-23 in overtime in 2008 at Milan Puskar Field and the following year at Nippert Stadium 24-21. Their only other victory came in 2003 when the Rick Minter Bearcats won in Morgantown, 15-13.

West Virginia has won the last four, including the last two in the Big 12. The teams didn't meet last year but the Bearcats lost 31-24 in 2024. Then UC-quarterback Brendan Sorsby suffered a pick-six, a fumble that led to a field goal, and a fumbled backward pass that was returned by Tyrin Bradley Jr. to give WVU the breathing room in the win.

UC demonstratively outgained the Mountaineers 436-248 and lost. They had 24 first downs to West Virginia's nine and ran 79 plays to West Virginia's 43.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: WVU football commit burns couch, Mountaineers play UC Bearcats this fall