# Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Conference USA · Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, KY
Head coach: Tyson Helton · year 8 · 57-36 career over 8 seasons, all at WKU
Offense: Air Raid · Defense: 3-3-5

## 2026 outlook

- 2025 record: 9-4 (6-2 in conference)
- National title odds: +125000 (#119 on the futures board)
- Season win total: 7.5 (over priced +136)
- Returning starter games: 26%
- Schedule difficulty: 56th-hardest of 138 FBS teams

## Returning production by unit

| Unit | Returning games | Games back | Depth back |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skill offense | 33% | 26/78 | 6/16 |
| Offensive line | 21% | 13/63 | 2/13 |
| Defensive front | 14% | 12/88 | 9/22 |
| Secondary | 41% | 26/63 | 6/15 |

## Roster movement

- Key returning: Jaylen Lewis (DB), Rodney Tisdale Jr. (QB), Karsten Upchurch (OL), K.D. Hutchinson (WR), Elin Jones (DL)
- Key departures (with destination): Maverick McIvor (QB), Jaavan Mack (DB), Avarion Cole (DB), Al-Ma'hi Ali (DB), Dominic Oliver (LB)
- Key arrivals (with previous school): Ajay Allen (RB) – TLSA, Qua'Vez Humphreys (WR) – SHSU, Zion Taylor (WR) – GT, Kalib Hicks (RB) – OKST, Brock Glenn (QB) – FSU

## Depth chart

### Offense

- WR-X: Cameron Flowers, Quincy Burroughs, Nigel Johnson
- WR-Z: Qua'Vez Humphreys, Jyziah Rockwell
- WR-SL: K.D. Hutchinson, Zion Taylor, Jeremiah Carroll
- LT: Zach Clayton, Alex Lopez, Tai Ray
- LG: Nonso Omezi, Tyreek Major
- C: Alec Johnson, Roq Montgomery
- RG: Rhett Larson, Isiah Stoudemire
- RT: Karsten Upchurch, Brody Riffe
- TE: CC Ezirim, Coleson Arends, Griffin Reimer, Lofton Howard
- QB: Rodney Tisdale Jr., Brock Glenn, Caleb McMickle, Cam O'Hara
- RB: Ajay Allen, Kalib Hicks, Jaden McGill, Sincere Baines, Le'Kamren Meadows

### Defense

- LDE: Venson Sneed, Zeiqui Lawton, Darius Hampton
- NT: Kiawan Murphy, Sekou Peters, Eric Etienne
- DT: Jakeem Fletcher, Javin Griffin
- RDE: Elin Jones, Nathan Gonzales
- WLB: Zach Smith, Geajorm Akpaloo, Zsacari Minnis
- MLB: Jordan Donald, Garrison Madden, LaTrevion Thompson
- LCB: Braxton Myers
- SS: Jaylen Lewis
- FS: Dave Herard, BJ Carey
- RCB: Lataj Wright
- NB: Christian White, Canyon Moses

### Special Teams

- PT: Daniel Wall
- PK: Michael Buck, Karl Campbell
- KO: Michael Smith, Jackson Smith
- LS: Carson Perusse, Bailey Sanders
- H: Daniel Wall
- PR: K.D. Hutchinson
- KR: Cameron Flowers

## 2026 schedule

| Week | Opponent | Site | TV | Spread |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Nevada | Away | CBS Sports Network | WKU -2.5 |
| 2 | Georgia | Away | SEC Network | – |
| 3 | Indiana | Away | Peacock | – |
| 4 | Mercyhurst Lakers (FCS) | Home | ESPN+ | – |
| 5 | New Mexico State | Away | CBS Sports Network | – |
| 6 | Missouri State | Home | CBS Sports Network | – |
| 7 | Sam Houston | Away | ESPN2 | – |
| 9 | Delaware | Home | CBS Sports Network | – |
| 10 | Middle Tennessee | Away | ESPN Networks | – |
| 11 | Jacksonville State | Home | ESPN Networks | – |
| 12 | Liberty | Away | ESPN Networks | – |
| 13 | Kennesaw State | Home | ESPN Networks | – |

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Source: SharpData OS – https://www.sharpdataos.com/cfb/teams/western-kentucky
Depth chart updated 2026-08-11. Odds shown are point-in-time snapshots.