2025 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

2025 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
Conference	Conference USA
Record	2–1 (1–0 CUSA)
Head coach	Tyson Helton (7th season)
Offensive coordinator	Rick Bowie (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Air raid
Defensive coordinator	Da'Von Brown (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Davis Merritt (1st season)
Base defense	3–3–5
Home stadium	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Conference USA football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Western Kentucky		1	–	0					2	–	1
Jacksonville State		1	–	0					1	–	1
New Mexico State		0	–	0					2	–	0
Delaware*		0	–	0					1	–	1
FIU		0	–	0					1	–	1
Louisiana Tech		0	–	0					1	–	1
Missouri State*		0	–	0					1	–	1
UTEP		0	–	0					1	–	1
Middle Tennessee		0	–	0					0	–	2
Kennesaw State		0	–	0					0	–	2
Liberty		0	–	1					1	–	1
Sam Houston		0	–	1					0	–	3
Championship: December 5, 2025
* – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules As of September 7, 2025

The 2025 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represents Western Kentucky University as a member of Conference USA (CUSA) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers are led by Tyson Helton in his seventh year as the head coach. The Hilltoppers play home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Offseason

Transfers

Outgoing

Player	Position	Destination
Darrell Johnson Jr.	OL	Akron
Dallas Walker IV	DL	Auburn
Al Sandifer	DL	Austin Peay
Montreze Smith	LB	Austin Peay
Reginald Allen Jr.	LB	Bryant
Jaylen Hampton	WR	Charlotte
Ki'Shawn Harvey	DL	East Tennessee State
Wesley Horton	DL	East Tennessee State
Jalen Hand	DL	Eastern Kentucky
Gabriel Arnold	OL	Eastern Michigan
Easton Messer	WR	Florida Atlantic
Caden Veltkamp	QB	Florida Atlantic
Deante McCray	DE	Florida State
Elvin Fofanah	TE	Gardner–Webb
River Helms	TE	Georgia Southern
Turner Helton	QB	Georgia Southern
Trent Zappe	LB	Houston Christian
Hosea Wheeler	DL	Indiana
Alex Ford	DB	Kennesaw State
Marcus Patterson	DE	Kennesaw State
Evan Wibberley	OL	Kentucky
Brandon Buckhaulter	WR	Louisiana–Monroe
Darius Thomas	LB	Louisville
Jalil Rivera-Harvey	DL	Marshall
Reid Jamerson	DE	Minot State
LT Sanders	RB	North Alabama
Jaymar Mundy	DB	Ohio
Lucas Carneiro	K	Ole Miss
Leavy Johnson	OL	South Alabama
Rodney Newsom Jr.	OL	South Carolina
T. J. Finley	QB	Tulane
Dallen Ponder	WR	Tulsa
Koy Moore	WR	UNLV
Mike Moment	OL	UT Martin
Demick Starling	WR	Utah State
Jayden Loving	DL	Wake Forest
Dave Herard	DB	Unknown
Jarvis Hayes	WR	Unknown
Ely George	LB	Unknown
Bryce Childress	WR	Unknown
Trace Patterson	TE	Unknown
Marshall Jackson	OL	Withdrawn
Moussa Berry	WR	Withdrawn
Kylan Guidry	DL	Withdrawn
Demarko Williams	DB	Withdrawn

Incoming

Player	Position	Previous school
Maverick McIvor	QB	Abilene Christian
Laurance Seymore	OL	Akron
Jakeem Fletcher	DL	Alabama State
Avarion Cole	DB	Appalachian State
La'Vell Wright	RB	Austin Peay
Nick Reimer	OL	Bowling Green
Kody Epps	WR	BYU
Jemeil Jackson	OL	Central Michigan
Jaavan Mack	CB	Charlotte
Jairus Mack	WR	Charlotte
Al-Ma'hi Ali	DB	Charlotte
Jaylen Wester	LB	Colorado
Montreze Smith	LB	Duke
Jackson West	TE	Florida State
Weston Wallace	OL	Georgia Southern
Jaden Hardy	DL	Grambling State
Jalen Emery	DB	Houston
Caleb McMickle	QB	Houston
Venson Sneed Jr.	DE	Indiana
Robby Harrison	DL	Indiana
Quincy Jenkins	OL	James Madison
Elin Jones	DL	Johnson C. Smith
Justin Wolf	TE	Kansas State
Elijah Williams	OL	Kent State
Devon Smith	OL	Louisiana–Monroe
Jayden Gray	DE	Louisiana Tech
Karsten Upchurch	OL	Mississippi State
Josaiah Knight	DE	Mississippi State
Mackavelli Malotumau	DL	Nevada
Eric Etienne	DL	Norfolk State
Kelby Williams	WR	Old Dominion
Markus Knight	DB	Old Dominion
Isaiah Myers	WR	Purdue
Dominic Oliver	DE	San Diego State
Zach Smith	LB	SMU
Braxton Myers	DB	Southern Miss
Rylen Su'a-Filo	DL	Southern Utah
Jaylen Lewis	DB	Temple
Jaden McGill	RB	Tennessee State
Brandon Buckhaulter	WR	UAB
Jack Cassidy	K	Ulster
John Cannon	K	USF
Caleb Nitta	OL	Virginia Tech
Matthew Henry	WR	Western Illinois
Quincy Burroughs	WR	Wisconsin

^{[1] [2] [3]}

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 23	6:00 p.m.	Sam Houston	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	CBSSN	W 41–24	15,312
August 30	6:00 p.m.	North Alabama *	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPN+	W 55–6	12,226
September 6	6:00 p.m.	at Toledo *	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	ESPN+	L 21-45	24,138
September 20	6:00 p.m.	Nevada *	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPN Networks
September 27	6:00 p.m.	at Missouri State	Robert W. Plaster Stadium Springfield, MO	ESPN Networks
October 3	6:00 p.m.	at Delaware	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE	CBSSN
October 14	7:00 p.m.	FIU	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPNU
October 21	6:30 p.m.	at Louisiana Tech	Joe Aillet Stadium Ruston, LA	CBSSN
November 1	2:30 p.m.	New Mexico State	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPN Networks
November 15	2:30 p.m.	Middle Tennessee	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY (100 Miles of Hate)	ESPN Networks
November 22		at LSU *	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA
November 29	1:00 p.m.	at Jacksonville State	AmFirst Stadium Jacksonville, AL	ESPN Networks
*Non-conference game All times are in Central time

^[4]

Game summaries

vs. Sam Houston

See also: 2025 Sam Houston Bearkats football team

Game One – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearkats	3	7	14	0	24
Hilltoppers	7	13	14	7	41

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY

• Date: Saturday August 23, 2025
• Game time: 6:00 PM CDT
• Game weather: Sunny, 84 °F (29 °C)
• Game attendance: 15,312
• Referee: Ron Hudson
• TV announcers (CBSSN): Chris Lewis (play-by-play), Robert Turbin (analyst), and Lauren Green (sideline reporter)

Game information

First quarter (8:31) WKU - Matthew Henry 26-yd pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 87 yards, 2:31; Western Kentucky 7–0) (4:32) SHSU - RJ Lopez 40-yd field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 3 yards, 1:56; Western Kentucky 7–3) Second quarter (12:24) SHSU - Hunter Watson 55-yd run (RJ Lopez kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 62 yards, 0:31; Sam Houston 10–7) (7:06) WKU - La'Vell Wright 1-yd run (John Cannon kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 5:18; Western Kentucky 14–10) (4:57) WKU - John Cannon 49-yd field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 0:56; Western Kentucky 17–10) (0:24) WKU - John Cannon 42-yd field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 38 yards, 2:26; Western Kentucky 20–10) Third quarter (13:29) SHSU - Alton McCaskill 2-yd run (RJ Lopez kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:31; Western Kentucky 20–17) (11:58) SHSU - JaMair Diaz 43-yd fumble return (RJ Lopez kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 8 yards, 1:26; Sam Houston 24–20) (8:10) WKU - K.D. Hutchinson 9-yd pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 87 yards, 3:41; Western Kentucky 27–24) (4:47) WKU - Marvis Parrish 22-yd pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 87 yards, 1:20; Western Kentucky 34–24) Fourth quarter (10:17) WKU - Maverick McIvor 4-yd run (John Cannon kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 81 yards, 2:17; Western Kentucky 41–24)

Statistics	SHSU	WKU
First downs	14	26
Total yards	382	506
Rushing yards	173	105
Passing yards	209	401
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19-30-1	33-51-0
Time of possession	27:04	32:56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sam Houston	Passing	Hunter Watson	19/30, 209 yards, INT
	Rushing	Hunter Watson	14 carries, 91 yards, TD
	Receiving	Elijah Green	7 receptions, 61 yards
Western Kentucky	Passing	Maverick McIvor	33/51, 401 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Marvis Parrish	12 carries, 52 yards
	Receiving	Matthew Henry	7 receptions, 148 yards, TD

vs. North Alabama (FCS)

See also: 2025 North Alabama Lions football team

Game Two – North Alabama Lions (FCS) (0–0) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (1–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	6	0	0	0	6
Hilltoppers (FBS)	14	28	3	10	55

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY

• Date: Saturday August 30, 2025
• Game time: 6:00 PM CDT
• Game weather: Weather: Sunny • Temp: 78 °F (26 °C)
• Game attendance: 12,226
• Referee: Douglas Mercer
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Jesse Ough (play-by-play) and Terry Obee (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter (11:58) WKU – George Hart III 1-yard run (John Cannon kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 13 yards, 1:55; WKU 7–0) (5:58) UNA – Ian Vachon 25-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 70 yards, 5:54; WKU 7–3) (5:58) UNA – Ian Vachon 47-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 51 yards, 2:50; WKU 7–6) (11:58) WKU – Quincy Burroughs 9-yard pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:00; WKU 14–6) Second Quarter (8:24) WKU – Jairus Mack 20-yard pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 3:01; WKU 21–6) (5:34) WKU – K.D. Hutchinson 78-yard pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick) (Drive: 1 play, 78 yards, 0:12; WKU 28–6) (2:25) WKU – K.D. Hutchinson 12-yard pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 64 yards, 1:46; WKU 35–6) (0:48) WKU – Matthew Henry 14-yard pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards, 0:59; WKU 42–6) Third Quarter (0:48) WKU – John Cannon 46-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 32 yards, 3:58; WKU 45–6) Fourth Quarter (14:50) WKU – Marvin Sims 14-yard pass from Rodney Tisdale Jr (John Cannon kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 67 yards, 0:18; WKU 52–6) (6:30) WKU – John Cannon 43-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 47 yards, 5:18; WKU 55–6)

Statistics	UNA	WKU
First downs	17	26
Total yards	258	563
Rushing yards	153	164
Passing yards	105	399
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	16–37–0	30–39–0
Time of possession	32:21	27:39

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Alabama	Passing	Ari Patu	11/20, 86 yards
	Rushing	Destin Wade	5 carries, 34 yards
	Receiving	Justin Pegues	5 receptions, 52 yards
Western Kentucky	Passing	Maverick McIvor	24/31, 305 yards, 5 TD
	Rushing	Jaden McGill	9 carries, 46 yards
	Receiving	K.D. Hutchinson	5 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TD

at Toledo

See also: 2025 Toledo Rockets football team

Game Three – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (2–0) at Toledo Rockets (0–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0
Rockets	0	0	0	0	0

at Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH

• Date: Saturday September 6, 2025
• Game time: 6:00 PM CDT
• TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WKU	TOL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Toledo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Nevada

See also: 2025 Nevada Wolf Pack football team

Game Four – Nevada Wolf Pack (0–0) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolf Pack	0	0	0	0	0
Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY

• Date: Saturday September 20, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NEV	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nevada	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Missouri State

See also: 2025 Missouri State Bears football team

Game Five – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) at Missouri State Bears (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0
Bears	0	0	0	0	0

at Robert W. Plaster Stadium • Springfield, MO

• Date: Saturday September 27, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WKU	MOST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Missouri State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Delaware

See also: 2025 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

Game Six – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) at Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0
Fightin' Blue Hens	0	0	0	0	0

at Delaware Stadium • Newark, DE

• Date: Friday October 3, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WKU	DEL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Delaware	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. FIU

See also: 2025 FIU Panthers football team

Game Seven – FIU Panthers (0–0) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY

• Date: Tuesday October 14, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FIU	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Louisiana Tech

See also: 2025 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team

Game Eight – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0

at Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA

• Date: Tuesday October 21, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WKU	LT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Louisiana Tech	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. New Mexico State

See also: 2025 New Mexico State Aggies football team

Game Nine – New Mexico State Aggies (0–0) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Aggies	0	0	0	0	0
Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY

• Date: Saturday November 1, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NMSU	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Middle Tennessee (100 Miles of Hate)

See also: 2025 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team and 100 Miles of Hate

Game Ten – Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (0–0) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	0	0	0	0	0
Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY

• Date: Saturday November 15, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MTSU	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Middle Tennessee	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at LSU

See also: 2025 LSU Tigers football team

Game Eleven – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) at LSU Tigers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0

at Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA

• Date: Saturday November 22, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WKU	LSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
LSU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Jacksonville State

See also: 2025 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team

Game Twelve – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) at Jacksonville State Gamecocks (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0
Gamecocks	0	0	0	0	0

at AmFirst Stadium • Jacksonville, AL

• Date: Saturday November 29, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WKU	JVST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Jacksonville State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

1. "Western Kentucky Football Transfer Portal". ON3.
2. "Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports.
3. "Hilltoppers Add 16 For 2025 Roster". ksuowls. May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
4. "2025 WKU Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 28, 2024.