The 1989 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University as an independent during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by tenth-year head coach Don Nehlen, the Mountaineers compiled a record of 8âÂÂ3âÂÂ1 with a loss to Clemson in the Gator Bowl. West Virginia played home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Coming off of its first ever 11-win season and with junior Major Harris returning to lead a potent offense, West Virginia entered the 1989 season ranked 17th in the AP Poll and with high expectations. The Mountaineers started the season accordingly, racing to a 4âÂÂ0 record and to #9 in the AP Poll. In Week 5 against #10 Pitt, however, West Virginia fell victim to another memorable collapse in the Backyard Brawl. Trailing 31âÂÂ9 in the 4th quarter, Pitt scored 22 unanswered points and kicked a game-tying field goal as time expired to force a 31âÂÂ31 tie. The Mountaineers would suffer another heartbreaking result the following week with a 12âÂÂ10 home loss to Virginia Tech, as well as a 19âÂÂ9 loss to #16 Penn State in State College. Despite those disappointing defeats, WVU finished the regular season at 8âÂÂ2âÂÂ1, a #17 ranking in the AP Poll, and a trip to the Gator Bowl to face #14 Clemson. The Mountaineers faltered, however, losing 27âÂÂ7 and finished the season at 8âÂÂ3âÂÂ1 with a #21 ranking in the final AP Poll.
All stats are courtesy of WVUStats.com unless otherwise cited.