BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Football had five played named to the Conference USA Preseason Watch List.
Quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr., safety Jaylen Lewis, offensive lineman Karsten Upchurch, defensive end LaTrevion Thompson and wide receiver/punt returner K.D. Hutchinson received the preseason recognition.
Tisdale, the 2025 CUSA Freshman of the Year, appeared in nine games during the 2025 season, starting the final six games of the year. He threw for 1,432 yards and nine touchdowns on 139-212-7 passing, and added 108 yards and two scores on 52 rushing attempts. He recorded season highs of 30 completions and four touchdown receptions in the Nov. 1 win over New Mexico State, and had a season-best 371 yards passing in the Nov. 15 win over Middle Tennessee, when he threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another touchdown. He also threw touchdown passes in the Aug. 30 win over North Alabama and the Oct. 21 win at Louisiana Tech, when he also threw the game-winning two-point conversion pass in overtime to defeat the Bulldogs. Tisdale also rushed for a touchdown in the Nov. 29 game at Jax State. Tisdale's 371 yards passing were sixth-most in a single game among Conference USA quarterbacks in 2025, and his two 300-yard passing performances were tied for fourth-most among CUSA quarterbacks. He was one of four CUSA quarterbacks to record multiple 300-yard passing games against CUSA opponents in 2025, and teammate Maverick McIvor was one of the other three. Tisdale's four passing touchdowns against New Mexico State were tied for second-most in a single game by a CUSA quarterback in conference games in 2025.
Following the season, Tisdale was named the CUSA Freshman of the Year – WKU's first Freshman of the Year since joining CUSA ahead of the 2014 season – and was named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team. He was named the CUSA Freshman of the Week twice, following the win at Louisiana Tech and after the victory against New Mexico State, and he was named a Manning Star of the Week following the win over Middle Tennessee.
Lewis transferred to WKU for the 2025 season. He started all 13 games at safety for the Hilltoppers during the 2025 season and finished tied for second on the team in total tackles with 74. Lewis recorded 3.5 tackles for loss, a team-high three interceptions, five pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He finished with multiple tackles in every game, and recorded a season-high 15 in WKU's game at LSU on Nov. 22, with 10 solo tackles and a sack in that game. Lewis finished the season ranked 24th in Conference USA in tackles with 5.69 per game. Lewis was named the CUSA Defensive Player of the Week following the Week 0 win over Sam Houston, and he finished the year as an All-CUSA Honorable Mention selection according to the league's head coaches. He also received 2025 Phil Steele CUSA All-Conference Fourth Team honors.
Upchurch joined the Hilltoppers in 2025 as a transfer from Mississippi State. He appeared in all 13 games, with starts in the final 10 games, during his first season with the Hilltoppers. All 10 of Upchurch's starts came at right tackle. Upchurch helped the Hilltoppers to the best scoring offense in CUSA at 29.54 points per game and the New Orleans Bowl title.
Thompson will be in his first season with the Hilltoppers. He arrived at WKU after spending the last four seasons at SEMO, where he appeared in 35 games and recorded 71 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. His best season came in his final with the Redhawks in 2025, when he posted 44 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, the three passes defended and the one forced fumble.
Hutchinson returns as the most experienced Hilltopper, having appeared in 42 games over the past four seasons at receiver while also serving as a punt returner. He has recorded 136 snaps as WKU's punt returner over the past four seasons, with 20 last year, 57 in 2024 and 58 in 2023. Hutchinson has been one of the most explosive Hilltoppers in recent years, and has recorded 116 receptions for 1,243 yards and eight touchdowns, as well as 161 yards and three scores on 24 rushing attempts.
Hutchinson appeared in every game for the Hilltoppers during the 2025 season with starts in seven games. He led the team in receptions with 66, while finishing second on the team in receiving yards with 618 and receiving touchdowns with three. He also had 13 rushing attempts for 88 yards and a pair of scores. His five total touchdowns were fourth-most on the team. Hutchinson finished third one the team in all-purpose yards with 704. He recorded multiple receptions in every game during the 2025 season, with a season-high nine in the Oct. 3 win at Delaware. In 2025, Hutchinson finished fourth in Conference USA in receptions per game with 5.08, and his 5.38 receptions per game against conference opponents was second-most in the league. Hutchinson was named 2025 All-CUSA Honorable Mention by the league's head coaches, and he received CUSA All-Conference Third Team honors from Phil Steele.
WKU is scheduled to open the 2026 season at Nevada on Sept. 5. Kickoff at Mackay Stadium is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
It is not too late to purchase season tickets for 2026 WKU Football home games. Season tickets start as low as $50, and there are several options for different season ticket levels. For more information or to purchase 2026 WKU Football season tickets, click HERE. Fans can purchase 2026 WKU Football away game tickets HERE.
Are you interested in purchasing 2026 WKU Football tickets but don't know where to start? Fill out this form and a member of the WKU Ticket Office will be in touch soon! All season tickets require an HAF donation.
WKU Athletics also recently announced the return of the Big Red Bundle ticket package. The Big Red Bundle is priced at only $600, but carries a value of over $1,100 – savings of more than $500! The Big Red Bundle includes four tickets to every home football, men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball game during the 2025-26 athletic season – excluding postseason play. Seating locations are specific to certain sections and are not the same for each game. Tickets will be available in your mobile app and ticket account 24 hours before each game. This is not a season ticket and does not require an HAF donation. Click HERE to purchase the Big Red Bundle.
A breakdown of the Big Red Bundle ticket package features is below:
- Four tickets to every to home Football game, four tickets to every home Men's Basketball game, four tickets to every home Women's Basketball game and four tickets to every Volleyball match.
- Seating within specific sections is based on game day availability.
- No HAF donation is required.
- No season ticket commitment.
- Payment plans are available.
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