BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Football will host Delaware in a Weekday CUSA matchup on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Houchens-Smith Stadium. Fans are encouraged to wear red for WKU's annual Red Out game. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
Prior to the game, Tyler Hubbard will perform a free pregame concert on South Lawn. The one-hour concert is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. CT.
GAME INFO
- WKU (3-4 overall, 2-1 CUSA) vs. Delaware (3-4 overall, 1-2 CUSA)
- Tuesday, Oct. 27 | 6 p.m. CT | Houchens-Smith Stadium | Bowling Green, Ky.
- Watch: CBS Sports Network (PxP: Justin Kutcher | Analyst: Ben DiNucci)
- Listen: Listen: BG 100.7 FM/Varsity Network (PxP: Randy Lee | Analyst: Terry Obee | Reporter: Jared Holland)
- Social: @WKUFootball | @WKUSports
- Live Stats: wku.statbroadcast.com
- Game Notes: WKU | Delaware | CUSA
AT THE GAME
- TICKETS: Purchase tickets to Tuesday's game HERE. Ticket booths at Houchens-Smith Stadium will open starting at 4:30 p.m. CT. Gates will open 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
- DIGITAL PARKING: WKU Athletics has transitioned to digital gameday parking for the 2026 WKU Football season. Fans will need to download the WKU Hilltoppers app, create an account and load digital parking passes onto their account prior to their arrival to campus on gameday. A full breakdown of digital parking instructions can be found HERE. Gameday parking instructions can be found HERE.
- TYLER HUBBARD PREGAME CONCERT: Country music artist Tyler Hubbard will perform a free pregame concert on South Lawn prior to WKU Football's home game against Delaware. The one-hour concert will begin at 4:30 p.m. CT. South Lawn will open at 1:30 p.m. CT for the concert festivities and space is available on a first-come basis. Pop-up tents for tailgating will be permitted on the perimeter of lower South Lawn, but space in the middle will be reserved and left open for those to enjoy the concert. More information can be found HERE.
- GAMEDAY GUIDE: For the full WKU Football Gameday Guide, click HERE.
- NEW AT THE HOUCH: WKU Athletics will offer several new opportunities for fans this fall at Houchens-Smith Stadium, including expanded alcohol options, the WKU Spirit 50/50 raffle, the Harbaugh Club Raffle and more. For more information on new offerings at Houchens-Smith Stadium, click HERE.
- RED OUT: Tuesday's game will be a Red Out game. Fans are encouraged to wear red to cheer on the Hilltoppers, who will be wearing all-red uniforms featuring the return of the Big Red Eyes logo.
- "DOC E" RECOGNITION: Longtime athletic trainer Bill "Doc E" Edwards will be recognized at halftime for his contributions to WKU Athletics. WKU's athletic training room in Houchens-Smith Stadium will be named in honor of Edwards after the "Doc E Difference" Fundraising Campaign exceeded its goal of raising over $100,000 to support resources in athletic training and sports medicine for WKU student-athletes. For more information about Edwards and the campaign, click HERE.
- CABONI BUCKS: WKU students at the game will receive a $10 voucher that can be redeemed at any WKU Restaurant Group concessions stand, as well as Rita's or Chaney's stations.
- FACULTY/STAFF TICKET DEAL: Faculty and staff members can claim two free game tickets, two free drinks (bottled water or soda) and two free food items (hot dog or popcorn). Additional tickets may be purchased for only $10. Faculty and staff can claim the free tickets, and purchase additional ones, as well as drink and food coupons at the Diddle Arena ticket office (M-F, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. or on game day until 12:00 p.m.). Tickets and coupons must be picked up in advance and will not be available at the Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium Ticket Office.
- BIG RED'S RASCALS TICKET DEAL: Parents of Big Red's Rascals Kids Club members can receive 50% off tickets. Call the WKU Ticket Office at 1-800-5-BIGRED for more information.
- TOPPER WALK: Topper Walk, a tradition where the team arrives at PS1 and walks down Avenue of Champions to Feix Field led by the band and spirit groups, will begin at 3:40 p.m. CT.
- BIG RED RALLY: Big Red Rally is a pep rally-style performance immediately following Topper Walk on South Lawn, highlighting WKU's Spirit Squads. Fans can interact and take pictures with Cheerleaders and Topperettes following the performance.
- PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE: For the full 2026 WKU Football promotional schedule, click HERE.
- HILLTOPPER HIGHLIGHTS: Fans can purchase premium experiences with Hilltopper Highlights. Experiences include videoboard messages, birthday shoutouts, sideline passes, in-game proposals and more. For more information, click HERE.
ABOUT THE TOPS
- LAST TIME OUT: WKU is coming off of a bye week after claiming a 16-3 victory over Sam Houston on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas. WKU posted 276 yards of offense in the win, with 144 rushing and 132 passing. It marked the first time WKU has back-to-back games with more rushing yards than passing yards since Sept. 21, 2013, and Sept. 28, 2013, during wins against Morgan State and Navy, respectively. It was the first time WKU didn't allow a touchdown against a CUSA opponent since facing Louisiana Tech on Nov. 16, 2024, and the first time holding a CUSA opponent without a touchdown in a win since a 73-0 win over FIU on Sept. 24, 2022. WKU allowed 177 yards in the game – 112 passing and 65 rushing. It was the first time WKU held a conference opponent under 200 yards since beating New Mexico State 35-16 on Nov. 1, 2025, and the first time holding a conference opponent to 177 yards or fewer since a 20-3 win at Old Dominion on Oct. 5, 2019.
- DEFENDING THE HOUCH: The Hilltoppers have won 13 of their last 15 games at Houchens-Smith Stadium and are 212-102-4 all-time at "The Houch." WKU is 2-0 at home this season, with wins over Mercyhurst and Missouri State. The Hilltoppers are 31-12 in home games under Head Coach Tyson Helton and have gone 5-1 at home each of the last two seasons leading into 2026. Tuesday's game will be WKU's third at home this season – three of its final five games are at home – after playing a tough schedule that included road trips in five of the first seven weeks. The home opener against Mercyhurst on Sept. 26 marked WKU's latest home opener since 1983, when the Hilltoppers played their first home game on Oct. 1. WKU has gone undefeated at Houchens-Smith Stadium in 10 seasons since it opened in 1968 – the last time in 2015.
- TRUE FRESHMAN STANDOUTS: True freshman receiver Jonathan Stafford Jr. has started his college career strong and enters the week with three Conference USA Freshman of the Week awards to his name. He leads the team with 369 yards on 41 receptions this season. The 41 receptions moved Stafford into third on WKU's freshman receiving list, behind only Malachi Corley (73 receptions, 2021) and Easton Messer (42 receptions, 2023) on WKU's freshman receiving records list. Stafford is tied for 27th nationally in receptions per game with 5.86, and his is third among FBS freshmen in the category. Stafford has five-plus catches in five straight games, the longest streak by a WKU freshman since Corley had five-plus receptions in five consecutive games in 2021, and his five-plus catches in five straight games is the longest streak by a WKU true freshman over the last 30 years. Stafford is the first WKU player to record at least three catches in his first seven games with WKU since Jerreth Sterns in 2021. True freshman linebacker Westen Ard has started the five games for the Hilltoppers and ranks second on the team in total tackles with 41. He is first on the team in tackles for loss with 5.5, and his 2.5 sacks are also a team-best. He's added three pass breakups – tied for second-most on the team. Ard is coming off of a 10-tackle performance at Sam Houston in which he also had 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He ranks ninth in CUSA in tackles per game with 6.83 and ninth in sacks per game with 0.42 – both best among league freshmen. He ranks second nationally among true freshmen in tackles per game.
- SPECIAL EVENTS ON THE HILL: Country music artist Tyler Hubbard will perform a free pregame concert prior to the game against Delaware. The one-hour concert will begin at 4:30 p.m. CT on South Lawn. Hubbard joins an impressive list of recent artists to perform WKU's annual pregame concert, including Blanco Brown in 2025, Flo Rida in 2024, Jordan Davis in 2023 and DJ Diesel in 2022. WKU will also recognize longtime athletic trainer Bill "Doc E" Edwards at halftime, after naming the athletic training room in Houchens-Smith Stadium in his honor as part of the "Doc E Difference" Fundraising Campaign. More information on Edwards and the campaign can be found at WKUSports.com/DocEDifference.
- BIG RED UNIFORMS ARE BACK: WKU will wear its viral Big Red uniforms for the second time ever during Tuesday's game, designed to look like WKU's loveable mascot, Big Red. The uniform features a red helmet with Big Red's eyes, a red jersey top and red pants. The only other time WKU has worn the combination was Oct. 10, 2024, during a 44-17 victory over UTEP. Following the 2024 season, the uniform was featured in the College Football Hall of Fame as one of three outstanding alternate uniforms worn that season.
- CUSA COMPETITION: WKU Football has gone 42-16 in regular-season CUSA games since Tyson Helton took over the program in 2019. The Hilltoppers have gone 6-2 in CUSA play the last two seasons leading into 2026 and have finished with a winning record in conference play in each of the seven seasons under Helton. WKU is 246-152-9 all-time against conference opponents in its history.
QUOTABLE
- "Excited to be back home again. Another nationally televised game. A big Conference USA matchup. We're really looking forward to it. Delaware's a good football team. They had a really good win the other night. It should be a great game and looking forward to getting after it and trying to get a big win." – WKU Football Head Coach Tyson Helton.
SERIES INFORMATION
- Tuesday's meeting will be the fourth all-time between WKU and Delaware, and it will be the first meeting between the two programs in Bowling Green, Kentucky, since the 1981 season. The Fightin' Blue Hens hold a 2-1 lead in the series against the Hilltoppers, but WKU held on to claim a 27-24 victory over Delaware last season in Newark in the most recent meeting between the two.
SCOUTING THE FIGHTIN' BLUE HENS
- Delaware enters Tuesday's game with a 3-4 overall record and a 1-2 record in CUSA play. The Fightin' Blue Hens have wins over Merrimack, Coastal Carolina and Missouri State this season.
- Delaware is coached by Ryan Carty. Carty is in his fifth season leading the Blue Hens and holds a 36-21 record.
- The Blue Hens rank second in CUSA in scoring with 28.3 points per game. Delaware has allowed 28.4 points per game, which ranks eighth in the league.
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