GAME 5
WKU (2-2 Overall, 0-0 Conference USA) vs. Middle Tennessee (1-3 Overall, 0-0 Conference USA)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 28
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Bowling Green, Ky. (Houchens-Smith Stadium)
Watch: CBSSN
Listen: WKLX (SAM 100.7 FM) and WWKU (ESPN Radio 102.7 FM) in Bowling Green
Social:Â @WKUFootball | @WKUSports
Game Notes:Â WKU Notes | MTSU Notes
Game Day Information:Tickets | Game Day Guide | Live Stats
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NOTES
- WKU is 5-4 in Conference USA openers since joining the league ahead of the 2014 season, including 3-1 under Tyson Helton. The Hilltoppers throttled FIU 73-0 in the opener last year. WKU is 1-1 when opening CUSA play against MTSU, with a 20-17 victory at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in 2020 and a 50-47 triple-overtime loss in 2014 in its first-ever CUSA game, also in Murfreesboro. The league looks different this season after realignment, with five teams remaining from recent years in WKU, MTSU, Louisiana Tech, FIU and UTEP, and four newcomers in Liberty, Jacksonville State, Sam Houston State and New Mexico State.
- From 2014-2022, WKU won more games than any other member of Conference USA. That stretch included CUSA titles in back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016, as well as a CUSA East Division title in 2021. The Hilltoppers were picked first in the league's preseason poll released this summer, and received 18 of a possible 22 first place votes.
- WKU quarterback Austin Reed has thrown for 1,071 yards and nine touchdowns on 101-of-160 passing with one interception through four games this season. Reed, the nation's leader in passing yards in 2022, has also rushed for 44 yards and two scores on 17 attempts. Malachi Corley, the nation's leading returning receiver from 2022, has 250 yards and two touchdowns on 21 receptions in three games this fall. He's coming off a performance at Troy where he posted 107 yards and a score on nine catches.
- The "Takeaway Tops" are back this season after tying for the best marks in the nation with 32 forced turnovers and six defensive touchdowns a season ago. WKU has 11 turnovers gained so far this fall – tied for the second-most in the country – with a defensive touchdown in both wins. JaQues "Donut" Evans stripped the USF quarterback in the season opener, recovered the fumble and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown, and Utpon Sout had a 53-yard pick six against HCU. WKU is one of 19 teams in the country with two defensive scores in 2023.
- WKU Safety Kendrick Simpkins is first in CUSA in sacks per game (1.17) and tackles for loss per game (1.83) – marks that rank fifth and 11th in the country, respectively.
- WKU kicker Lucas Carneiro is perfect so far this season, making all five field goals he's attempted – with a long of 43 – and all 16 PATs he's tried.
- Houchens-Smith Stadium has been home to 300 WKU football games since it opened in 1968. The Hilltoppers own a 198-98-4 record all-time playing at "The Houch," including a 2-0 mark this season with wins over South Florida and Houston Christian. Thursday's game will be a red out.
QUOTES
- "Excited about opening conference play this week with a great opponent. Big rivalry game in Middle Tennessee. Five-day turnaround from our last game. In some ways I kind of like it, to be honest with you. It gets here on you quick, you get to go out there back at home, play fast. Had a tough loss at Try and I can't think of any better way of hurrying up and five days later trying to get back on that field and see if we can go get a big win. Looking forward to playing Middle Tennessee. They're a lot like us. Very competitive football team. They're a gritty football team and it'll take everything we've got to win this game. They'll be very hungry, as are we, to try to go get this conference win." – WKU Head Coach Tyson Helton on opening CUSA play against Middle Tennessee.
- "It's been new. I don't think I've ever been a part of anything like this in terms of a middle of the season Thursday game. I've been a part of Thursday games at the end of the season where it was your last regular-season game. It's a short week. You've got to turn the page quickly with your kids and with your staff and try to move on quickly from whatever happened the week before. Worked ahead a little bit last week getting the base of the game plan in and yesterday was a big work day for us in terms of finishing the game plan, practicing last night and then getting the second practice of the week today. Newer schedule for us and the kids, but like Coach Helton said, I think they were fired up, excited, ready to go for conference play and excited to get out there again today." – WKU Offensive Coordinator Drew Hollingshead on opening CUSA play Thursday against Middle Tennessee.
LAST TIME OUT
- WKU fell to 2-2 with a 27-24 loss to Troy on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama. The Hilltoppers led for much of the first half and saw a late fourth-quarter comeback attempt fall short.
ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE
- Middle Tennessee has started the 2023 season 1-3. The Blue Raiders are coming off a home loss to Colorado State last weekend, and also have losses this year at then-No.4 Alabama and at Missouri. Middle Tennessee's lone win so far came against Murray State in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Rick Stockstill is in his 18th season as the program's head coach and holds a 110-106 record.
SERIES HISTORY
- Thursday's game will mark the 73rd meeting between WKU and Middle Tennessee in the "100 Miles of Hate" rivalry game. The Hilltoppers took a 36-35-1 lead in the series with a 35-17 win over the Blue Raiders last year in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in what was also WKU's 600th win in program history. WKU has won all four meetings between the rivals since Tyson Helton took over as head coach ahead of the 2019 season, and the Hilltoppers have claimed victories seven of the last eight times the two have met. WKU and MTSU have a history of close games – in 10 meetings from 2010-2020, the teams went to double overtime twice and triple overtime twice, and only two games were decided by more than five points.
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