2024 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

2024 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
2024 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
Conference	Conference USA
Record	3–2 (1–0 C-USA)
Head coach	Tyson Helton (6th season);
Offensive coordinator	Will Friend (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Drew Hollingshead (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Air raid
Defensive coordinator	Tyson Summers (3rd season)
Base defense	3–3–5
Home stadium	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

The 2024 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team will represent Western Kentucky University in Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers are led by Tyson Helton in his sixth year as the head coach. The Hilltoppers will play home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.^[1]

2024 Conference USA football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Liberty	2	–	0	4	–	0
Sam Houston	1	–	0	4	–	1
Western Kentucky	1	–	0	3	–	2
FIU	1	–	0	2	–	3
Jacksonville State	0	–	0	1	–	3
Kennesaw State*	0	–	0	0	–	4
Louisiana Tech	0	–	1	1	–	3
Middle Tennessee	0	–	1	1	–	4
UTEP	0	–	1	0	–	4
New Mexico State	0	–	2	1	–	4
Championship: December 6, 2024
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules As of September 30, 2024 Rankings from AP Poll

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.^[2]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
Media poll
1	Liberty	197 (18)
2	Western Kentucky	173 (2)
3	Jacksonville State	166
4	Middle Tennessee	98
5	New Mexico State	97
5	Sam Houston	97
7	Louisiana Tech	88
8	FIU	81
9	UTEP	76
10	Kennesaw State	27

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	6:00 p.m.	at No. 5 Alabama*	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	ESPN	L 0–63	100,077
September 7	6:00 p.m.	Eastern Kentucky*	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY (Battle of the Bluegrass)	ESPN+	W 31–0	16,712
September 14	6:00 p.m.	at Middle Tennessee	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN (100 Miles of Hate)	ESPN+	W 49–21	12,227
September 21	6:00 p.m.	Toledo*	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPN+	W 26–21	19,127
September 28	11:00 a.m.	at Boston College*	Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA	ACCN	L 20–21	41,403
October 10	7:00 p.m.	UTEP	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPNU
October 16	7:00 p.m.	at Sam Houston	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	ESPN2
October 30	6:30 p.m.	Kennesaw State	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPN2
November 9	5:00 p.m.	at New Mexico State	Aggie Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, NM	ESPN Networks
November 16	11:00 a.m.	Louisiana Tech	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	CBSSN
November 23	12:00 p.m.	at Liberty	Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA	ESPN Networks
November 30	2:30 p.m.	Jacksonville State	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPN Networks
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

^[3]

Game summaries

at No. 5 Alabama

Game One – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0-0) at No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Kentucky	0	0	0	0	0
No. 5 Alabama	21	21	14	7	63

at Bryant-Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL

Date: Saturday August 31st, 2024
Game time: 7:00 PM EST
Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C), Wind SE @ 3 mph
Game attendance: 100,077
Referee: Matt Loeffler
TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline)

Game information

First quarter

(10:07) ALA – Jalen Milroe 12-yard run (Graham Nicholson kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 16 yards, 0:41; Alabama 7-0)
(5:01) ALA – Kendrick Law 22-yard pass from Jalen Milroe (Graham Nicholson kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 26 yards, 1:31; Alabama 14-0)
(2:27) ALA – Ryan Williams 84-yard pass from Jalen Milroe (Graham Nicholson kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 81 yards, 1:19; Alabama 21-0)

Second quarter

(12:35) ALA – Jam Miller 39-yard run (Graham Nicholson kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 80 yards, 1:14; Alabama 28-0)
(2:53) ALA – Justice Haynes 85-yard run (Graham Nicholson kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 96 yards, 0:33; Alabama 35-0)
(1:30) ALA – Ryan Williams 55-yard pass from Jalen Milroe (Graham Nicholson kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 55 yards, 0:15; Alabama 42-0)

Third quarter

(6:30) ALA – Jalen Milroe 21-yard run (Graham Nicholson kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 4:10; Alabama 49-0)
(2:51) ALA – Daniel Hill 2-yard run (Conor Talty kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 53 yards, 2:47; Alabama 56-0)

Fourth quarter

(10:04) ALA – Ty Simpson 15-yard run (Conor Talty kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 79 yards, 3:58; Alabama 63-0)

Statistics	WKU	ALA
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	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing	TJ Finley	18/31, 92 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Elijah Young	10 carries, 18 yards
	Receiving	Moussa Barry	4 receptions, 27 yards
Alabama	Passing	Jalen Milroe	7/9, 200 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Justice Haynes	4 carries, 102 yards, TD
	Receiving	Ryan Williams	4 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TD

vs. Eastern Kentucky (FCS) (rivalry)

Game Two – Eastern Kentucky Colonels (FCS) (0–1) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eastern Kentucky (FCS)	0	0	0	0	0
Western Kentucky	10	7	0	14	31

at Houchens Industries-L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky

Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
Game time: 7:00 p.m.
Game attendance: 16,712
Referee: Reed Brotherton
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information

First quarter

WKU – Lucas Carniero 29-yard field goal, 12:11. Western Kentucky 3–0. Drive: 10 plays, 64 yards, 2:49.
WKU – Elijah Young 1-yard run (Lucas Carniero kick), 0:22. Western Kentucky 10–0. Drive: 4 plays, 22 yards, 1:00.

Second quarter

WKU – L.T. Sanders 2-yard run (Lucas Carniero kick), 3:41. Western Kentucky 17–0. Drive: 9 plays, 84 yards, 3:29.

Third quarter

No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

WKU – Elijah Young 9-yard run (Lucas Carniero kick), 7:07. Western Kentucky 24–0. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:20.
WKU – Dalvin Smith 12-yard pass from TJ Finley (Lucas Carniero kick), 2:38. Western Kentucky 31–0. Drive: 7 plays, 77 yards, 2:19.

Statistics	EKU	WKU
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	Statistics
Eastern Kentucky	Passing	Matt Morrissey	9/17, 70 yards
	Rushing	Joshua Carter	19 rushes, 100 yards
	Receiving	Marcus Calwise Jr.	4 receptions, 24 yards
Western 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 (rivalry)

Game Three – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (1–1) at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Kentucky	14	7	21	7	49
Middle Tennessee	0	0	14	7	21

at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, TN

Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
Game time: 6:00 p.m.
Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 84 °F (29 °C)
Game attendance: 12,227
Referee: Douglas Mercer
TV: ESPN+
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

WKU – River Helms 4-yard pass from Caden Veltcamp (Lucas Carniero kick), 4:37. Western Kentucky 7–0. Drive: 12 plays, 60 yards, 5:17.
WKU – Kisean Johnson 6-yard pass from Caden Veltcamp (Lucas Carniero kick), 1:05. Western Kentucky 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 1:58.

Second quarter

WKU – Easton Messer 10-yard pass from Caden Veltcamp (Lucas Carniero kick), 0:18. Western Kentucky 21–0. Drive: 11 plays, 99 yards, 2:54.

Third quarter

WKU – K.D. Hutchinson 72-yard pass from Caden Veltcamp (Lucas Carniero kick), 14:07. Western Kentucky 28–0. Drive: 2 plays, 69 yards, 0:47.
MTSU – Omari Kelly 37-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick), 10:12. Western Kentucky 28–7. Drive: 7 plays, 82 yards, 3:51.
WKU – Caden Veltcamp 1-yard run (Lucas Carniero kick), 6:38. Western Kentucky 35–7. Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 3:24.
MTSU – Omari Kelly 71-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick), 6:17. Western Kentucky 35–14. Drive: 1 play, 71 yards, 0:13.
WKU – Kisean Johnson 36-yard pass from Dalvin Smith (Lucas Carniero kick), 3:28. Western Kentucky 42–14. Drive: 6 plays, 85 yards, 2:46.

Fourth quarter

WKU – Trevor Borland 3-yard pass from Caden Veltcamp (Lucas Carniero kick), 9:01. Western Kentucky 49–14. Drive: 7 plays, 64 yards, 3:53.
MTSU – Omari Kelly 7-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick), 5:47. Western Kentucky 49–21. Drive: 6 plays, 64 yards, 3:06.

Statistics	WKU	MTSU
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	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing	Caden Veltcamp	27/30, 398 yds, 5 TD
	Rushing	L.T. Sanders	8 rushes, 54 yds
	Receiving	Kisean Johnson	8 receptions, 129 yds, 2 TD
Middle 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

Game Four – Toledo Rockets (3–0) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (2–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Toledo	0	14	7	0	21
Western Kentucky	0	7	5	14	26

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

Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
Game time: 6:00 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny
Game attendance: 19,127
Referee: Rodney Burnette
TV: ESPN+
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

No scoring plays. Second quarter

TOL – Tucker Gleason 1-yard run (Dylan Cunanan kick), 13:18. Toledo 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 63 yards, 5:33.
TOL – Anthony Torres 14-yard pass from Tucker Gleason (Dylan Cunanan kick), 2:30. Toledo 14–0. Drive: 9 plays, 43 yards, 4:55.
WKU – Kisean Johnson 44-yard pass from Caden Veltcamp (Lucas Carniero kick), 1:53. Toledo 14–7. Drive: 2 plays, 63 yards, 0:29.

Third quarter

WKU – Lucas Carniero 39-yard field goal, 13:12. Toledo 14–10. Drive: 4 plays, 1 yard, 1:53.
TOL – Anthorny Torres 7-yard pass from Tucker Gleason (Dylan Cunanan kick), 8:13. Toledo 21–10. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 4:42.
WKU – Devon Lynch 0-yard safety, 0:39. Toledo 21–12.

Fourth quarter

WKU – Caden Veltcamp 7-yard run (Lucas Carniero kick), 10:43. Toledo 21–19. Drive: 3 plays, 49 yards, 0:47.
WKU – Caden Veltcamp 3-yard run (Lucas Carniero kick), 5:16. Western Kentucky 26–21. Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 4:25.

Statistics	TOL	WKU
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	Statistics
Toledo	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 yds
Western Kentucky	Passing	Caden Veltcamp	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

Game Five – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (3–1) at Boston College Eagles (3–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Kentucky	0	0	0	0	0
Boston College	0	0	0	0	0

at Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA

Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
Game time: 11:00 a.m.
TV announcers (ACCN): Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Orlando Franklin (analyst) and Morgan Uber (sideline)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

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

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Boston College	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. UTEP

Game Six – UTEP Miners (0–0) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (3–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
UTEP	0	0	0	0	0
Western Kentucky	0	0	0	0	0

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

Date: Thursday October 10, 2024
Game time: 7:00 p.m.
TV: ESPNU

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

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

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

at Sam Houston

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Kentucky	0	0	0	0	0
Sam Houston	0	0	0	0	0

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, TX

Date: Wednesday October 16, 2024
Game time: 7:00 p.m.
TV: ESPN2

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WKU	SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "2023 Football Coaching Staff". Western Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
^ "FB: CUSA Announces Media's Predicted Order of Finish". conferenceUSA.com. Conference USA. July 19, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
^ "2024 WKU Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

[1] "2023 Football Coaching Staff". Western Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

[2] "FB: CUSA Announces Media's Predicted Order of Finish". conferenceUSA.com. Conference USA. July 19, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.

[3] "2024 WKU Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

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[3]