The 2024 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers were led by Tyson Helton in his sixth year as the head coach. The Hilltoppers played their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Preseason C-USA media poll The Conference USA preseason media poll was released on July 19. The Hilltoppers were predicted to finish second in the conference.
Schedule
Game summaries at No. 5 Alabama
Statistics WKUALA First downs 10 25 Total yards 67–145 65–600 Rushing yards 27–42 47–334 Passing yards 103 266 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–40–2 12–18–0 Time of possession 29:25 30:35 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing TJ Finley 18/31, 92 yards, 2 INT Rushing Elijah Young 10 carries, 18 yards Receiving Moussa Barry 4 receptions, 27 yardsAlabama Passing Jalen Milroe 7/9, 200 yards, 3 TD Rushing Justice Haynes 4 carries, 102 yards, TD Receiving Ryan Coleman-Williams 4 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TD
vs. Eastern Kentucky (FCS) (Battle of the Bluegrass)
Statistics EKUWKU First downs 13 25 Total yards 266 467 Rushing yards 190 116 Passing yards 76 351 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–20–0 27–39–0 Time of possession 34:10 25:50 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Kentucky Passing Matt Morrissey 9/17, 70 yards Rushing Joshua Carter 19 rushes, 100 yards Receiving Marcus Calwise Jr. 4 receptions, 24 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing TJ Finley 27/39, 351 yards, TD Rushing Elijah Young 13 rushes, 52 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kisean Johnson 6 receptions, 119 yards
at Middle Tennessee (100 Miles of Hate)
Statistics WKUMTSU First downs 30 21 Total yards 631 514 Rushing yards 150 58 Passing yards 481 456 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 31–37–0 24–31–1 Time of possession 31:22 28:38 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 27/30, 398 yds, 5 TD Rushing L.T. Sanders 8 rushes, 54 yds Receiving Kisean Johnson 8 receptions, 129 yds, 2 TDMiddle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 24/31, 456 yds, 3 TD, INT Rushing Nicholas Vattiato 9 rushes, 21 yds Receiving Omari Kelly 9 receptions, 239 yds, 3 TD
vs. Toledo
Statistics TOLWKU First downs 17 16 Total yards 325 313 Rushing yards 125 71 Passing yards 200 242 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–33–2 20–30–2 Time of possession 34:19 26:22 Team Category Player StatisticsToledo Passing Tucker Gleason 19/33, 200 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Tucker Gleason 12 rushes, 46 yds, TD Receiving Jacquez Stuart 3 receptions, 93 ydsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 20/30, 242 yds, TD, 2 INT Rushing Elijah Young 9 rushes, 36 yds Receiving Kisean Johnson 6 receptions, 73 yds, TD
at Boston College
Statistics WKUBC First downs 20 19 Total yards 355 279 Rushing yards 123 111 Passing yards 232 168 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–39–2 19–32–1 Time of possession 30:40 29:20 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 25/39, 232 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Elijah Young 21 rushes, 85 yds Receiving River Helms 4 receptions, 72 ydsBoston College Passing Grayson James 19/32, 168 yds, TD, INT Rushing Kye Robichaux 18 rushes, 81 yds, TD Receiving Jaeden Skeete 4 receptions, 55 yds
vs. UTEP
Statistics UTEPWKU First downs 18 20 Total yards 330 482 Rushing yards 152 218 Passing yards 178 264 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–24–1 18–27–1 Time of possession 30:23 29:37 Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Cade McConnell 3/7, 96 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ezell Jolly 27 carries, 119 yards Receiving Kenny Odom 1 reception, 76 yards, TDWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 18/27, 264 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Elijah Young 16 carries, 60 yards Receiving Easton Messer 6 receptions, 106 yards
at Sam Houston
Statistics WKUSHSU First downs 23 22 Total yards 411 400 Rushing yards 130 165 Passing yards 281 235 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 29:45 30:15
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 20/29, 281 yards, 3 TD Rushing Elijah Young 23 carries, 97 yards Receiving K. D. Hutchinson 3 receptions, 88 yards, TDSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson 6/9, 128 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jase Bauer 11 carries, 41 yards Receiving Simeon Evans 5 receptions, 59 yards, TD
Kennesaw State
Statistics KENNWKU First downs 18 24 Total yards 272 467 Rushing yards 176 191 Passing yards 96 276 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–26–1 17–22–0 Time of possession 32:54 27:06 Team Category Player StatisticsKennesaw State Passing Davis Bryson 13/26, 96 yards, 1 INT Rushing Michael Benefield 16 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD Receiving Carson Kent 3 receptions, 34 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 17/22, 276 yards, 3 TD Rushing Elijah Young 15 carries, 114 yards Receiving Easton Messer 2 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD
at New Mexico State
Statistics WKUNMSU First downs 17 14 Total yards 413 460 Rushing yards 116 331 Passing yards 297 129 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–28–2 10–22–2 Time of possession 30:30 29:30 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 18/27, 246 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Elijah Young 16 carries, 74 yards Receiving Kisean Johnson 5 receptions, 88 yards, TDNew Mexico State Passing Santino Marucci 10/20, 129 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Mike Washington 19 carries, 152 yards, 2 TD Receiving Seth McGowan 3 receptions, 47 yards
Louisiana Tech
Statistics LTWKU First downs 18 12 Total yards 275 215 Rushing yards 209 63 Passing yards 66 152 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–15–0 18–26–0 Time of possession 39:38 20:22 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Evan Bullock 12/15, 66 yards Rushing Amani Givens 17 carries, 103 yards Receiving Tru Edwards 7 receptions, 52 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 18/26, 152 yards Rushing Caden Veltkamp 8 carries, 17 yards Receiving Kisean Johnson 4 receptions, 40 yards
at Liberty
Statistics WKULIB First downs 19 29 Total yards 368 556 Rushing yards 106 419 Passing yards 262 137 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–34–3 7–12–0 Time of possession 25:17 34:43 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 20/34, 262 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Elijah Young 9 carries, 60 yards Receiving Kisean Johnson 7 receptions, 94 yards, TDLiberty Passing Kaidon Salter 6/11, 108 yards, TD Rushing Quinton Cooley 24 carries, 166 yards, 2 TD Receiving Julian Gray 2 receptions, 47 yards, TD
Jacksonville State
Statistics JVSTWKU First downs 13 23 Total yards 328 426 Rushing yards 229 105 Passing yards 99 321 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 7–17–1 29–49–0 Time of possession 23:33 36:27 Team Category Player StatisticsJacksonville State Passing Logan Smothers 4/6, 62 yards Rushing Tyler Huff 13 carries, 97 yards Receiving Michael Pettway 1 reception, 47 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 28/47, 301 yards, TD Rushing Elijah Young 19 carries, 91 yards Receiving Easton Messer 5 receptions, 84 yards
at Jacksonville State (C-USA Championship)
Statistics WKU JVST First downs 17 26 Total yards 229 562 Rushing yards 88 386 Passing yards 141 176 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–30–0 11–15–0 Time of possession 24:42 35:18 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 18/30, 141 yards, TD Rushing Elijah Young 19 carries, 108 yards Receiving Easton Messer 7 receptions, 83 yardsJacksonville State Passing Tyler Huff 11/15, 176 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tre Stewart 27 carries, 201 yards, 3 TD Receiving Cam Vaughn 4 receptions, 91 yards, TD
James Madison (Boca Raton Bowl)
Statistics WKU JMU First downs 14 19 Total yards 318 394 Rushing yards 16 212 Passing yards 302 182 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–39–0 17–24–0 Time of possession 23:28 36:32 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 25/39, 302 yards, 2 TD Rushing Elijah Young 11 carries, 37 yards Receiving Dalvin Smith 2 receptions, 76 yards, TDJames Madison Passing Billy Atkins 16/23, 181 yards, TD Rushing George Pettiway 14 carries, 100 yards Receiving Omarion Dollison 6 receptions, 82 yards
Roster
References