The 2026 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represents Western Kentucky University as a member of Conference USA (CUSA) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers are led by Tyson Helton in his eighth year as the head coach and play their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Offseason Departures WR Matthew Henry DB Avarion Cole DB Jaylen Wester DB Kent Robinson DB Demarko Williams DL Jayden Gray DL Jaden Hardy DE Dominic Oliver
Outgoing transfers Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown New school 3 WR 6'2" 194 Rs-JR Norcross, GA Withdrew/remained at WKU 5 DB 5'10" 185 Rs-SR Pearland, TX 6 DB 6'0" 185 Rs-SO Miami, FL Syracuse 8 LB 6'2" 216 SO Mont Belvieu, TX Houston 10 DB 5'10" 178 Rs-SR Playa Del Rey, CA Duke 11 QB 6'2" 202 Rs-FR Spring, TX Abilene Christian 11 RB 6'0" 222 GS Louisville, KY Pitt 12 WR 5'9" 175 Rs-FR Louisville, KY 12 DB 5'10" 188 SR Athens, GA 13 DL 6'4" 320 Rs-JR Greenwood, SC Colorado State 18 WR 5'11" 180 Rs-JR Miami, FL Austin Peay 21 RB 5'11" 196 FR Valdosta, GA Michigan State 23 DB 5'11" 176 Rs-JR Tulsa, OK Tulsa 26 DB 6'1" 202 Rs-SO Destrehan, LA Syracuse 26 RB 5'10" 208 Rs-FR Dacula, GA 27 RB 5'8" 195 Rs-SO Montgomery, AL Houston Christian 28 RB 5'9" 210 Rs-FR Chattanooga, TN 33 LB 6'1" 236 Rs-JR Knoxville, TN Austin Peay 34 LB 6'5" 248 Rs-SO Jacksonville, FL TCU 38 LB 6'2" 228 JR Laurel, MS Nicholls 42 K 6'6" 230 Rs-JR Maghera, Northern Ireland West Virginia 44 DE 6'2" 255 SO Atlanta, GA West Virginia 49 K 6'0" 210 GR Gilbert, AZ New Mexico 50 OL 6'2" 320 Rs-SR Miami Gardens, FL Texas 60 OL 6'2" 302 SR Leesburg, VA Oklahoma 71 OL 6'8" 376 FR Dundalk, MD East Texas A&M 77 OL 6'4" 320 Rs-JR Terry, MS Jackson State 80 WR 6'4" 188 Rs-JR Cincinnati, OH Missouri State 81 TE 6'5" 240 Rs-SO Louisville, KY Syracuse 90 DL 6'4" 305 SO Mableton, GA JMU DB 5'11" SR Cocoa, FL Jackson State DL 6'2" 350 SR Westlake Village, CA WR 6'1" 210 FR Miami, FL Alabama State
Retirements
Coaching departures Name Previous Position New Position
Acquisitions Incoming transfers Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Prev. School 18 LB 6'1" 230 Junior Warrenton, VA Coastal Carolina 12 DB 6'0" 200 Rs-Senior Downey, CA Weber State 14 TE 6'7" 250 Rs-Senior Dublin, OH Toledo 70 OL 6'4" 315 Rs-Senior College Station, TX Sam Houston 78 OL 6'5" 325 Rs-Senior Tampa, FL USF 55 OL 6'3" 365 Rs-Junior Anniston, AL Alabama 67 OL 6'7" 330 Rs-Junior Apopka, FL Pitt 17 WR 6'0" 210 Rs-Junior Norcross, GA Georgia Tech
Recruiting class
Walk-ons
Coaches acquisitions Name Previous Position New Position
Preseason
Pro Day WKU held its annual Pro Day on March 10, 2026, at the Harold and Juanita Koon Football Complex, Tim and Sarah Ford Fieldhouse, and Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium.
Participants included: LB Anthony Breckenridge K John Cannon DB Avarion Cole DB Jalen Emery TE Elvin Fofonah DL Jayden Gray RB George Hart III WR Matthew Henry OL Marshall Jackson OL Quincy Jenkins DB Jaavan Mack WR Jairus Mack DL Malotumau Mackavelli P Cole Maynard QB Maverick McIvor LB Dominic Oliver LS Rex Robich DB Kent Robinson DL Rylan Su'a-Filo WR Jaleel Walker TE Jackson West LB Jaylen Wester DB Demarko Williams WR Kelby Williams TE Justin Wolf
Spring game WKU held its Red and White Spring Showcase game on April 11, 2026. The offense faced the defense in what ended with a 33–33 tie.
CUSA media days
Schedule
Game summaries at Nevada
Statistics WKU NEV First downs 23 20 Plays–yards 82–367 58–486 Rushes–yards 42–164 42–323 Passing yards 203 163 Passing: comp–att–int 24–40–0 9–16–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:33 27:27 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Rodney Tisdale Jr. 24/40, 203 yards Rushing Ajay Allen 21 carries, 102 yards, 2 TD Receiving Cameron Flowers 7 receptions, 60 yardsNevada Passing Carter Jones 9/15, 163 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Dominic Kelley 11 carries, 152 yards, 2 TD Receiving Gary Givens III 2 receptions, 83 yards
at No. 2 Georgia
Statistics WKU UGA First downs 17 18 Plays–yards 74–225 60–493 Rushes–yards 37–110 35–234 Passing yards 115 259 Passing: –– 18–37–2 16–25–0 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 31:06 28:54
Team Category Player Statistics Western Kentucky Passing Brock Glenn 12/23, 84 yards, TD, INT Rushing Brock Glenn 13 carries, 70 yards, 2 TD Receiving Quincy Burroughs 2 receptions, 29 yards Georgia Passing Gunner Stockton 13/16, 234 yards, 5 TD Rushing Ryan Puglisi 2 carries, 79 yards, TD Receiving Sacovie White-Helton 1 reception, 70 yards, TD
The University of Georgia paid WKU $1.9million for the matchup. Georgia defeated the Hilltoppers 70–20.
at No. 4 Indiana
Statistics WKU IU First downs 10 24 Total yards 186 513 Rushes–yards 29–66 41–233 Passing yards 120 280 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–31–1 19–25–0 Time of possession 25:09 34:51
Team Category Player Statistics Western Kentucky Passing Brock Glenn 17/32, 120 yards, INT Rushing Brock Glenn 11 carries, 30 yards Receiving CC Ezirim 2 receptions, 30 yards Indiana Passing Josh Hoover 18/24, 273 yards, 2 TD Rushing Turbo Richard 15 carries, 149 yards, TD Receiving Charlie Becker 5 receptions, 127 yards, TD
Mercyhurst (FCS)
Statistics MERC WKU First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Mercyhurst Passing Rushing Receiving Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving
at New Mexico State
Statistics WKU NMSU First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Turnovers Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving New Mexico State Passing Rushing Receiving
Missouri State
Statistics MOST WKU First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Turnovers Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Missouri State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving
at Sam Houston
Statistics WKU SHSU First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving Sam Houston Passing Rushing Receiving
Delaware
Statistics DEL WKU First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Delaware Passing Rushing Receiving Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving
at Middle Tennessee (100 Miles of Hate)
Statistics WKU MTSU First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Turnovers Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving Middle Tennessee Passing Rushing Receiving
Jacksonville State
Statistics JVST WKU First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Jacksonville State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving
at Liberty
Statistics WKU LIB First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving Liberty Passing Rushing Receiving
Kennesaw State
Statistics KENN WKU First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics Kennesaw State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving
Roster
References