“We are very pleased for our student-athletes and our quickly growing fan base to construct a six-game home schedule. Once again, we have created a very challenging non-conference schedule to accompany an always difficult Gateway Football Conference slate,” Selig said. “I really like the way six of the last nine games will be played at L.T. Smith Stadium, which should allow our program to build substantial momentum leading into the I-AA playoff season.”
Seven of 11 games will come against teams that posted winning records a year ago, beginning with the Sept. 2 opener at Georgia — the Bulldogs finished 10-3 after winning the Southeastern Conference championship and earning a berth in the Sugar Bowl. The Hilltoppers will also take on Eastern Kentucky on the road on Sept. 9 and play host to Chattanooga the following week in their home opener before beginning conference action. Both teams finished above .500 last fall.
After an open weekend, WKU faces Western Illinois Sept. 30 in the first of seven straight league contests. That date will feature Parents Weekend and Focus On Western on the Hill.
The Toppers conclude a three-game homestand against Illinois State on Oct. 7, then visit Missouri State and Southern Illinois on back-to-back weekends in their first league road games. Indiana State will be the opponent on Homecoming Weekend Oct. 28, with conference play concluding Nov. 4 at Northern Iowa and with a home game against Youngstown State on Nov. 11.
The Hilltoppers’ final two road contests in league play will come against a pair of teams that shared the conference title in 2005, as UNI advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA title game.
The regular season concludes at home against Austin Peay on Nov. 18, with the announcement of the 16-team field for the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs the following day.
Four league opponents finished ranked in the final Sports Network top 25 poll, and Georgia was 10th in the final Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today coaches Division I-A polls.
“It is great to have our schedule done this early. I’d like to thank Dr. Selig for all the work that goes into getting the schedule finished,” said WKU head coach David Elson. “We are excited about having six home games for our fans, and look forward to some very challenging road games.”
All game times will be announced later in the year.
The Toppers finished 6-5 in 2005, their 10th straight winning season.
