BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Football will travel to Reno, Nevada, to open the 2026 season against Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 5. Kickoff at Mackay Stadium is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT and the game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
GAME INFO
- WKU (0-0 overall, 0-0 CUSA) at Nevada (0-0 overall, 0-0 MWC)
- Saturday, Sept. 5 | 9:30 p.m. CT | Mackay Stadium | Reno, Nev.
- Watch: CBS Sports Network (PxP: Rich Waltz | Analyst: Adam Breneman | Reporter: Jordan Giorgio)
- 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 | Nevada | CUSA | MWC
ABOUT THE TOPS
- LAST TIME OUT: WKU capped off a 9-4 2025 season with a 27-16 victory over Southern Miss in the New Orleans Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Maverick McIvor was named the game's MVP after coming off the bench in the second quarter and throwing for 199 yards on 12-of-19 passing and rushing for another 48 yards and one touchdown to lead the Hilltoppers to the victory.
- SEASON OPENERS: WKU is 64-37-6 all-time in season-opening games, including 4-3 in season openers under Head Coach Tyson Helton, with wins in four of the last five season openers. The Hilltoppers downed Sam Houston at home 41-24 in a Week 0 Conference USA matchup to start last season.
- NEW FACES ON THE ROSTER: The Hilltoppers enter the 2026 season with 65 new players on the roster – the new norm for the program. Last season, WKU entered the season with 61 new players. This year's group of newcomers includes 41 transfers and 24 true freshmen, with 24 letterwinners returning from 2025, including seven starters.
- NEW FACES ON THE COACHING STAFF: In addition to a large group of newcomers on the roster, WKU enters the season with plenty of new faces on the coaching staff. The Hilltoppers will have a new Offensive Coordinator in Bodie Reeder – the program's seventh different Offensive Coordinator in the last seven seasons. Joe Bernardi was promoted to Co-Offensive Coordinator during the offseason. Davis Merritt was promoted to Defensive Coordinator after serving as Co-Defensive Coordinator last season. WKU hired Dayton LeBlanc to coach defensive tackles and David Metcalf to lead the safeties.
- BOWL SUCCESS: With the victory over Southern Miss in the 2025 New Orleans Bowl, WKU claimed its eight bowl win since the start of the College Football Playoff Era. WKU's eight bowl wins during that time are tied with Alabama, Ohio State and Wisconsin for third-most during that timeframe, and trail only the nine won by Georgia and Minnesota. The Hilltoppers have also played in a bowl game in each of the last seven seasons – all seven seasons under Head Coach Tyson Helton – and are one of just eight teams in the country, and one of only two non-Power Conference programs, that has played in a bowl game or CFP game in each of the last seven seasons.
- 8-WIN SEASONS: WKU finished the 2025 season with a 9-4 record, marking the fifth consecutive season the Hilltoppers have claimed at least eight wins in a season. The Hilltoppers are one of just 11 programs nationally that has done that, and they are one of just three non-Power Conference programs to accomplish that feat. WKU is the only non-Power Conference program to do that while playing an FBS schedule every year during that stretch.
- ROAD WARRIORS: WKU will kick off the 2026 campaign with three straight road games – at Nevada on Sept. 5, at No. 3 Georgia on Sept. 12 and at No. 6 Indiana on Sept. 19. The Hilltoppers are one of only five programs nationally with three straight road games this season, and are the only school that plays three straight road games without a bye week during that stretch. The Hilltoppers are also the only FBS program scheduled to play multiple nonconference games against teams ranked in the Top 10 of the AP Preseason Poll. The rest of CUSA has one such game combined.
- PRESEASON RECOGNITION: Five Hilltoppers were named to the Conference USA Preseason Watch List during the summer – safety Jaylen Lewis, wide receiver/returner K.D. Hutchinson, offensive lineman Karsten Upchurch, quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. and defensive end LaTrevion Thompson. Lewis, Upchurch and Hutchinson were also named to the 2027 Shriners Children's 1000 Watchlist, and Lewis was included on the 2026 Freaks List by The Athletic. Running back Ajay Allen was a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker Award, and offensive lineman Nonso Omezi was included on the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List.
QUOTABLE
- "Really excited. Game week is here. Really excited to get going. We've got a really good opponent in Nevada. We played them last year and it was a tough, hard-fought game for both football teams. I would expect nothing less in this game as well. I know they'll be prepared as will we. It will be a great Week 1 test. There will be a lot of challenges, but I think we'll be ready for those challenges. I think our team is anxious to get out there and play. We're just ready to go compete and see if we can go and get a big win in Week 1." – WKU Football Head Coach Tyson Helton, on the Week 1 matchup with Nevada.
SERIES INFORMATION
- Saturday's game will mark the second meeting all-time between WKU and Nevada, and the first in Reno, Nevada. The two programs met last season at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, with the Hilltoppers coming away with a 31-16 victory. WKU scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to claim the victory.
SCOUTING THE WOLF PACK
- Nevada is coming off of a 3-9 (2-6 MWC) season in 2025, with wins over Sacramento State, San Jose State and Wyoming.
- The Wolf Pack enters season three under Head Coach Jeff Choate. Nevada has gone 6-19 during the first two seasons under Choate.
- Nevada had four players named to the 2026 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team – offensive lineman Jack Foster, defensive lineman Dylan LaBarbera, defensive back Aiden Walker and kicker Joe McFadden.
Follow the Hilltoppers: For all the latest on WKU Football, follow @WKUFootball on Twitter and Instagram, and like the WKU Football Facebook page.
