The Toppers will start at 6:30 p.m. (CDT) at L.T. Smith Stadium/Jimmy Feix Field on the Western campus against both West Virginia Tech (Thursday, Sept. 1) and instate rival Eastern Kentucky (Saturday, Sept. 10) to kickoff the campaign.
Another pair of home games will begin at 4 p.m. — Homecoming against Missouri State on Oct. 15 and Northern Iowa Nov. 5 — with the UNI contest broadcast regionally on Fox Sports Net as part of the Gateway Football package.
The Hilltoppers will also play host to defending conference champion Southern Illinois at 5 p.m. on Oct. 29.
Following the two home games opening the season, the Hilltoppers will face a string of three consecutive afternoon road contests — at Auburn (1:30 p.m. on Sept. 24), Indiana State (1 p.m. on Oct. 1) and Illinois State (2:30 p.m. on Oct. 8). WKU will visit Western Illinois at 4:05 p.m. on Oct. 22 and conclude league play with a noon start at Youngstown State Nov. 12. The regular season concludes with a 5 p.m. visit to Florida International.
Western has qualified for the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs each of the last five years and is coming off a 9-3 season in which the Hilltoppers were ranked 11th in the final national polls.
