2023 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

American college football season

2023 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football

Famous Toastery Bowl champion

Famous Toastery Bowl, W 38–35 OT vs. Old Dominion

Conference| Conference USA
Record| 8–5 (5–3 C-USA)
Head coach|

* Tyson Helton (5th season)

Offensive coordinator| Drew Hollingshead (1st season)
Offensive scheme| Air raid
Defensive coordinator| Tyson Summers (2nd season)
Base defense| 3–3–5
Home stadium| Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium

Seasons

← 2022

2024 →

2023 Conference USA football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

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|
|
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Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
No. 25 Liberty y$  |   | 8  | – | 0  |   |  |  |   | 13  | – | 1  |
New Mexico State y  |   | 7  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 10  | – | 5  |
Jacksonville State*  |   | 6  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 9  | – | 4  |
Western Kentucky |   | 5  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 8  | – | 5  |
Middle Tennessee |   | 3  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 4  | – | 8  |
UTEP |   | 2  | – | 6  |   |  |  |   | 3  | – | 9  |
Sam Houston*  |   | 2  | – | 6  |   |  |  |   | 3  | – | 9  |
Louisiana Tech |   | 2  | – | 6  |   |  |  |   | 3  | – | 9  |
FIU |   | 1  | – | 7  |   |  |  |   | 4  | – | 8  |
Championship: Liberty 49, New Mexico State 35

* $ – Conference champion
* y – Championship game participant
* * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules

Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers played their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and competed members of Conference USA. They were led by fifth-year head coach Tyson Helton. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team drew an average home attendance of 15,710 in 2023.

## Schedule

[edit]

Western Kentucky and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.[1][2]

Date| Time| Opponent| Site| TV| Result| Attendance

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September 2| 11:00 a.m.| South Florida*|

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

| CBSSN| W 41–24| 15,438
September 9| 6:00 p.m.| Houston Christian*|

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

| ESPN+| W 52–22| 20,712
September 16| 3:00 p.m.| at No. 6 Ohio State*|

* Ohio Stadium
* Columbus, OH

| FOX| L 10–63| 100,217
September 23| 11:00 a.m.| at Troy*|

* Veterans Memorial Stadium
* Troy, AL

| ESPNU| L 24–27| 26,124
September 28| 6:30 p.m.| Middle Tennessee|

* Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
* Bowling Green, KY (100 Miles of Hate)

| CBSSN| W 31–10| 14,712
October 5| 7:00 p.m.| at Louisiana Tech|

* Joe Aillet Stadium
* Ruston, LA

| ESPN| W 35–28| 13,014
October 17| 6:30 p.m.| at Jacksonville State|

* Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium
* Jacksonville, AL

| ESPNU| L 17–20| 17,977
October 24| 6:30 p.m.| Liberty|

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

| ESPNU| L 29–42[3]| 16,036
November 4| 8:00 p.m.| at UTEP|

* Sun Bowl
* El Paso, TX

| ESPN+| W 21–13| 11,111
November 11| 2:30 p.m.| New Mexico State|

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

| ESPN+| L 29–38| 16,319
November 18| 2:30 p.m.| Sam Houston|

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

| ESPN+| W 28–23| 11,041
November 25| 2:00 p.m.| at FIU|

* Riccardo Silva Stadium
* Westchester, FL

| ESPN+| W 41–28| 12,724
December 18| 1:30 p.m.| vs. Old Dominion*|

* Jerry Richardson Stadium
* Charlotte, NC (Famous Toastery Bowl)

| ESPN| W 38–35 OT| 5,632

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 1) - Released prior to game
* All times are in Central time

## Game summaries

[edit]

### at No. 6 Ohio State

[edit]

See also: 2023 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (2–0) at No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (2–0) – Game summary

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Hilltoppers | 3 | 7 | 0| 0| 10
No. 6 Buckeyes | 7 | 35 | 7| 14| 63

at Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio

* Date: September 16
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C) • Wind: N at 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)
* Game attendance: 100,217
* Referee: Jeffrey Servinski
* TV announcers (FOX): Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst), and Allison Williams (sideline reporter)
* Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

* (11:32) OSU – TreVeyon Henderson 21-yard run, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:20; Ohio State 7–0)
* (1:07) WKU – Lucas Carneiro 43-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 31 yards, 4:32; Ohio State 7–3)

Second quarter

* (10:53) OSU – TreVeyon Henderson 7-yard run, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 12 plays, 82 yards, 5:07; Ohio State 14–3)
* (8:10) WKU – Malachi Corley 2-yard pass from Austin Reed, Lucas Carneiro kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:43; Ohio State 14–10)
* (8:00) OSU – Marvin Harrison Jr. 75-yard pass from Kyle McCord, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:10; Ohio State 21–10)
* (4:13) OSU – Chip Trayanum 40-yard run, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 1 play, 40 yards, 0:07; Ohio State 28–10)
* (1:55) OSU – Emeka Egbuka 15-yard pass from Kyle McCord, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 4 plays, 48 yards, 1:25; Ohio State 35–10)
* (0:08) OSU – Emeka Egbuka 14-yard pass from Kyle McCord, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 3 plays, 58 yards, 0:20; Ohio State 42–10)

Third quarter

* (4:38) OSU – Tyleik Williams 0-yard fumble return, Jayden Fielding kick (Ohio State 49–10)

Fourth quarter

* (12:37) OSU – Carnell Tate 28-yard pass from Devin Brown, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 7 plays, 55 yards, 3:23; Ohio State 56–10)
* (5:26) OSU – Jermaine Mathews Jr. 58-yard interception return, Jayden Fielding kick (Ohio State 63–10)

Statistics | WKU | OSU

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First downs | 15 | 24
Plays–yards | 72–284 | 60–562
Rushes–yards | 33–80 | 33–204
Passing yards | 204 | 358
Passing: comp–att–int | 22–39–2 | 22–27–1
Time of possession | 32:34 | 27:26
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

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Western Kentucky  | Passing  | Austin Reed | 21/37, 207 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing  | L. T. Sanders  | 7 carries, 26 yards
Receiving  | Malachi Corley | 8 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
Ohio State  | Passing  | Kyle McCord | 19/23, 318 yards, 3 TD
Rushing  | TreVeyon Henderson | 13 carries, 88 yards, 2 TD
Receiving  | Marvin Harrison Jr. | 5 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD

### at Jacksonville State

[edit]

See also: 2023 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (4–2) at Jacksonville State Gamecocks (5–2) – Game summary

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Hilltoppers | 10 | 7 | 0| 0| 17
Gamecocks | 0 | 10 | 0| 10| 20

at Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, Alabama

* Date: October 17
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Clear, 62 °F (17 °C)
* Game attendance: 17,977
* Referee: Ed Ardito
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Derek Mason (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

* (8:52) WKU – Dalvin Smith 10-yard pass from Austin Reed, Lucas Carneiro kick (Drive: 8 plays, 53 yards, 2:20; Western Kentucky 7–0)
* (1:55) WKU – Lucas Carneiro 28-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 79 yards, 5:01; Western Kentucky 10–10)

Second quarter

* (12:45) JVST – Zion Webb 10-yard run, Alen Karajic kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:14; Western Kentucky 10–7)
* (8:36) WKU – River Helms 3-yard pass from Austin Reed, Lucas Carneiro kick (Drive: 5 plays, 40 yards, 2:09; Western Kentucky 17–7)
* (5:35) JVST – Alen Karajic 23-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 3:01; Western Kentucky 17–10)

Third quarter

* No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

* (4:40) JVST – Anwar Lewis 26-yard run, Alen Karajic kick (Drive: 11 plays, 91 yards, 3:39; Tied 17–17)
* (0:00) JVST – Alen Karajic 41-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards, 2:32; Jacksonville State 20–17)

Statistics | WKU | JVST

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First downs | 16 | 27
Plays–yards | 72–339 | 95–484
Rushes–yards | 24–89 | 55–262
Passing yards | 250 | 222
Passing: comp–att–int | 24–48–1 | 23–40–1
Time of possession | 26:56 | 33:04
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

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Western Kentucky  | Passing  | Austin Reed  | 24/48, 250 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing  | Elijah Young  | 10 carries, 39 yards
Receiving  | K. D. Hutchinson  | 4 receptions, 52 yards
Jacksonville State  | Passing  | Zion Webb | 22/39, 218 yards, 1 INT
Rushing  | Zion Webb  | 28 carries, 146 yards, 1 TD
Receiving  | P. J. Wells  | 5 receptions, 53 yards

## Roster

[edit]

2023 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team roster

Players  | Coaches
Offense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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RB | `2` | Davion Ervin-Poindexter |  Sr
RB | `3` | Elijah Young | Jr
WR | `4` | Michael Mathison | Sr
WR | `5` | Blue Smith |  Sr
WR | `6` | Jimmy Holiday | So
RB | `7` | L.T. Sanders | So
WR | `8` | Easton Messer |  Fr
WR | `9` | Josh Sterns |  So
QB | `10` | Caden Veltkamp |  Fr
Defense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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LB | `3` | JaQues Evans | Jr
DB | `4` | Anthony Johnson Jr. | Jr
DB | `5` | Rome Weber |  Sr
DB | `6` | T.J. Springer |  Jr
DB | `7` | Takulve Williams |  Sr
LB | `10` | Desmyn Baker |  Jr
Special teams | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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Head coach

Coordinators/assistant coaches

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (S) Suspended
* (I) Ineligible

* Injured
* Redshirt

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Tops announce 2023 football schedule". The Daily News. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
2. ^ Whaley, Will (January 10, 2023). "WKU announces 2023 football schedule". WBKO. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
3. ^ Nations, Jeff (October 26, 2023). "Liberty's punishing ground game helps Flames pull away in second half". Bowling Green Daily News. pp. 1B, 3B.

* v
* t
* e

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football

Venues|

* Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium (1968–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Eastern Kentucky: Battle of the Bluegrass
* Middle Tennessee: 100 Miles of Hate
* Murray State: Battle for the Red Belt

Culture & lore|

* Big Red
* "Stand Up and Cheer"

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917–1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943–1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

National championship seasons in bold

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*[v]: View this template
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*[Conf.]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[comp]: Completions
*[att]: Attempts
*[int]: Interceptions