BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU will host both Cincinnati and Troy in future home games as the programs have both been added in home-and-home agreements in the coming years, Director of Athletics Todd Stewart announced on Wednesday.
"Attractive, regional match-ups are always something we strive for in scheduling, and the addition of Cincinnati and Troy continue that trend for our future football schedules," Stewart said. "Fan bases from each program will be able to easily travel to these games, whether they are here in Houchens-Smith Stadium or on the road, and they will be exciting, competitive match-ups."
WKU will host Troy on Oct. 1, 2022 and return the game the following season on Sept. 23, 2023. Because the Hilltoppers are also scheduled to open the 2022 season at Hawaii, the Troy game becomes WKU's 13th regular season game that year as the NCAA allows for an additional game for teams who travel to Hawaii.
The Hilltoppers and Bearcats get their two-game series underway in 2025 and 2026 with WKU hosting Cincinnati on Sept. 20, 2025 before returning the game to Nippert Stadium on Sept. 26, 2026. It is WKU's first scheduled non-conference game for that season. It will also be the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.
With the additions of these games, WKU's future non-conference schedules are complete through the 2023 season.
Despite the talk of future non-conference games, the 2018 season opener is just around the corner as WKU travels to No. 4 Wisconsin to begin the campaign on Friday, Aug. 31 in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPN. It marks just the second time since at least 1989 WKU has opened the season against a top-5 ranked opponent. WKU opened the 2007 season at No. 5 Florida, a team which featured quarterbacks Tim Tebow and Cam Newton.
Seasons Mentioned:
2022 Non-Conference Schedule
- Sept. 3 – at Hawaii
- Sept. 10 – Austin Peay
- Sept. 17 – at Indiana
- Sept. 24 – at Auburn
- Oct. 1 – Troy
- Sept. 2 – South Florida
- Sept. 9 – Houston Baptist
- Sept. 16 – at Alabama
- Sept. 23 – at Troy
- Sept. 6 – at Liberty
- Sept. 20 – Cincinnati
- Sept. 26 – at Cincinnati
