West Virginia Rivalry Returns to Regional TV as Bluefield State Visits Concord in Division II Opener Slate

A West Virginia college football rivalry heads to regional broadcast on Saturday afternoon, when Bluefield State travels to face Concord in the Battle of the Blue Ridge at 2:00 PM ET. The game will air on WVVA, the NBC affiliate serving the Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill market, with streaming available through Fubo.

The broadcast window highlights the reach of regional NBC affiliates within larger media portfolios. Comcast (CMCSA), whose NBCUniversal operations include the NBC broadcast network and affiliated stations, saw shares trade at $26.49 in recent action, down 0.64% from a prior close of $26.66, valuing the media and telecom conglomerate at roughly $94.4 billion. Local affiliate coverage of college matchups like this one remains a staple of the broadcast model even as streaming platforms expand their college sports offerings.

Mismatched Records, Recent History

Concord enters at 1-0 after a season-opening 41-35 road win over FCS Davidson on Aug. 27. Stanley Horn Jr.’s 33-yard interception return for a touchdown on Davidson’s first drive of the second half put the Mountain Lions ahead for good. Devin Kargman completed 17 of 34 passes for 225 yards and a score, while Dom Collins contributed 75 receiving yards and a touchdown catch plus a 68-yard rushing score. Greg Burrell added 87 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

Bluefield State, meanwhile, dropped its opener 42-7 at Tusculum, undone by a 35-point second quarter. The Big Blue managed just 196 total yards, with Brandon Wiley accounting for both highlights — a one-yard touchdown run as time expired in the game and five catches for 59 yards. Derek Binder added 58 rushing yards on five attempts.

Despite the rough start, Bluefield State holds recent bragging rights in the rivalry. The Big Blue is 2-0 against Concord since the series resumed in 2024, including a 38-31 home win last September. Bluefield State revived its football program in 2021, more than four decades after it was discontinued in 1980.

What to watch

• Whether Bluefield State’s offense — limited to 196 yards in its opener — can sustain drives against a Concord defense that gave up 35 points to Davidson.
• Concord’s follow-up performance after its 41-35 season-opening win, with mountain-lion rushing production led by Burrell and Collins.
• How regional broadcasts like WVVA’s continue to serve Division II matchups amid growing streaming distribution of college sports.

Source: original release