WVU QB Nicco Marchiol is expected to start in Arizona

As expected all week, ESPN's Pete Thamel reports that Nicco Marchiol is expected to start for WVU on Saturday night in Arizona. Ironically, Marchiol will now be competing again in his home state.

Marchiol replaced Garrett Greene in the second half of West Virginia's 45-18 loss to Kansas State on Saturday night. Greene did not return to the game with what he believed to be a head injury.

Marchiol completed 6 of 13 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown under center. He also had nine failed rush attempts, resulting in zero yards on the ground.

The 6-foot-2, 223-pound redshirt sophomore was a four-star 2022 recruit out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona.

Marchiol has totaled 388 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions over his career as a Mountaineer. So far, Marchiol's best moments at WVU resulted in the Mountaineers winning the 2023 Backyard Brawl after Greene missed just a few plays in that game with an injury and then winning his first career collegiate start against Texas Tech.

West Virginia enters the game at 3-4 (2-2, Big 12), while Arizona also enters the game at 3-4 (1-3, Big 12).

On Sunday, DraftKings pegged Arizona as the slim favorite in its opening lineup for the schools' first meeting as Big 12 opponents. The line has since shifted more towards Arizona, as it is among the 5.5-point favorites at most sportsbooks.

WVU-Arizona at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona, will be televised at 7:00 p.m. ET on FS1.

Similarly, the West Virginia Mountaineers remain focused and confident despite the record loss.

For more coverage of the WVU football program, visit WV Sports Now.