ARLINGTON, Texas – WKU Football Head Coach Tyson Helton, offensive lineman Karsten Upchurch and defensive back Jaylen Lewis will represent the Hilltoppers at the Conference USA Kickoff & Media Day on Monday and Tuesday at the Texas Live! Arena and the Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center in Arlington, Texas.
CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod, as well as head coaches and players from each of the 10 CUSA programs, will be on hand to discuss and preview the upcoming 2026 football season. This marks the first formal event under the league's 2026 10-team configuration.
In addition to traditional press conferences and media availability, participants will also take part in a live ESPN+ show, hosted by ESPN's Mike Corey. WKU's segment on the show is scheduled to start at 12:20 p.m. CT on Monday, and the show can be streamed HERE. WKU's scheduled press conference time is 10:50 a.m. CT on Tuesday. The press conference will be posted to the WKUSports YouTube Channel following its conclusion.
WKU recently had five players named to the CUSA Preseason Watch list. In addition to Upchurch and Lewis, WKU was represented on the Preseason Watch List by quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr., defensive end LaTrevion Thompson and wide receiver/punt returner K.D. Hutchinson.
The league also released its Bowl Confidence Index voting on Friday. The Bowl Confidence Index ranks teams from one through 10, with voters selecting the teams they believe will qualify for a bowl game. WKU was one of only three programs in CUSA to receive a 100% confidence vote in becoming bowl eligible this fall, and the Hilltoppers are one of only two programs in the league to receive 100% confidence in each of the first two seasons of CUSA's Bowl Confidence Index.
WKU is coming off a 9-4 season in 2025, which included a 27-16 victory over Southern Miss in the 2025 New Orleans Bowl – the fifth bowl win for the Hilltoppers in seven seasons under Helton. This fall, the Hilltoppers will enter their eighth season under Helton, who holds a 57-36 overall record during his first seven seasons, with appearances in bowl games each of those seven seasons, as well as two Conference USA Championship Game appearances. With its 2025 New Orleans Bowl victory, WKU claimed its eighth bowl win in the last 12 seasons. Only Georgia and Minnesota have more bowl wins than WKU during the College Football Playoff Era, and WKU's eight bowl wins are tied for third-most nationally with Alabama, Ohio State and Wisconsin during that period.
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:
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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.
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Seating within specific sections is based on game day availability.
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No HAF donation is required.
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No season ticket commitment.
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Payment plans are available.
Follow the Hilltoppers: For all the latest on WKU Football, follow @WKUFootball on Twitter and Instagram, and like the WKU Football Facebook page.
