Tops out to regroup at home vs. Bears
Published 11:18 am Wednesday, October 7, 2026
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Western Kentucky wide receiver Nigel Johnson (21) makes a catch and runs for a touchdown during an NCAA college football game between Western Kentucky University and Mercyhurst in Bowling Green, Ky., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. WKU beat Mercyhurst 52-7.
(JAMES KENNEY/AP)
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Western Kentucky’s Jaylen Wester (21) tackles MercyHurst’s Ethen Knox (24) during Western Kentucky’s 52-7 over MercyHurst on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Houchens Industries–L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky. (Caleb Lowndes/Daily News
(Caleb Lowndes)
Western Kentucky opened Conference USA play with a thud last week, losing 34-13 at New Mexico State to drop to 1-4 this season.
That lone win came the week before – the only time during that brutal stretch that the Hilltoppers got to host a game at Houchens-Smith Stadium after playing four of the first five games on the road.
The Tops get their second chance to play in front of a home crowd Thursday night with a 6 p.m. matchup against CUSA rival Missouri State. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
“We’ve got a football team that’s hungry to win and that wants to play well for our fanbase and get another big home win,” WKU coach Tyson Helton said. “So it’s important that we do that.”
Last week’s loss to the Aggies was just the latest lopsided defeat for the Hilltoppers, who started with a road trip out west to play Nevada, then faced No. 2 Georgia and No. 4 Indiana in back-to-back weeks. The loss at New Mexico State more resembled the Tops’ season-opening 49-14 loss at Nevada – costly penalties and protection problems had the offense struggling for most of the night.
“The penalties piece killed us,” Helton said. “Four holding calls – a couple of them were questionable, but don’t put the officials in those positions. If your hand placement is good and all those kind of things then the official’s not forced to make a judgement call. When you have 11 penalties, it’s going to be hard to win a football game.”
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Redshirt sophomore Rodney Tisdale Jr. posted solid numbers (29 of 40 passing for 314 yards), but threw a pick-six interceptions and was sacked six times by the Aggies.
“The interception for the touchdown obviously was a costly interception,” Helton said. “He had one more bad throw. Other than that, the man battled his butt off. I mean, completely battled his butt off – stood in the pocket, made contested throws, took shots, ran the ball aggressive. It was not, ‘Oh, Rodney needed to do this better or do that better.’ We needed to play better as a team for Rodney is what we needed to do. There’s a lot of things that (we’re) trying to help that situation. But moving forward it doesn’t matter who’s out there playing quarterback – if you’re going to give up pressure, you’re going to have a long day at the park.”
Missouri State (1-3 overall, 0-0 CUSA) enters Thursday’s game last in CUSA in total defense allowing 439.75 yards per game (WKU is just one spot above, surrendering 421.6 yards per game), but the Bears have largely been competitive outside a season-opening 50-0 loss at Texas A&M – a six-point loss at home against Marshall, then a 34-24 loss on the road at No. 22 SMU on Sept. 26. After a bye week, Missouri State is well rested for its conference opener.
“They’ve created a lot of explosives with their quarterback (Skyler Locklear),” Helton said. “He’s athletic. He can run around, make plays. He’s got good vision. They do good things with him schematically. They run the ball effectively. They have receivers that can make plays down the field. They’re doing some really good things.
“Defensively, bend-don’t-break defense. They do a good job of playing their scheme well. You don’t see a ton of explosive plays down the field.”
WKU (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) last opened the season 1-4 under Helton in 2021 – that team regrouped to finish 9-5 overall and played in the CUSA championship before wrapping up with a 59-38 win against Appalachian State in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Helton thinks his team is capable of a similar turnaround this season.
“We talk about as a team having blinders on,” Helton said. “It’s like horse in a race – you’ve got to have blinders on. You’ve got to keep your eyes forward. You’re not worried about the past or what’s to the side of you or what outside perceptions are. It is constantly looking forward, trying to get better. One good thing about our team is I really, truly believe that’s how they think.”
QUESTION MARKS ON D
WKU entered the week still uncertain about the eligibility status of three solid contributors on the defensive side.
Linebacker Jaylen Wester and defensive linemen Mackavelli Malotumau and Rylen Su’a-Filo regained the opportunity to play a fifth season after as part of a group that won a temporary injunction against the NCAA – the Kentucky Court of Appeals dissolved that temporary injunction on Friday. Helton was hopeful the players would gain another court hearing before Thursday’s home game to try and get the temporary injunction reinstated.
“You’ve got to prepare for them to play and not be there,” Helton said. “So that’s the game plan for us. Those guys are going to get reps. I’d say it’s 50/50 whether that comes about or not. I think it should, if you want to ask my personal opinion. I think it should. I don’t think it’s fair to any student-athlete or any athlete in the 2022 class that didn’t go pro. I believe they have equal right to play. I don’t care what sport it is. The men and women before them had that opportunity and the men and women after them have that opportunity.”
Wester ranks second on the team with 29 tackles and has forced three fumbles and as tallied an interception in five games. Malotumau has also played in all five games and totaled seven tackles (three tackles for loss). Sua’Filo has five tackles in five games this season.
STILL WAITING ON K.D.
The Hilltoppers have played all season without redshirt senior wide receiver K.D. Hutchinson, who led the team in receptions last season with 66 for 618 yards and three touchdowns.
Hutchinson has been bothered by a knee issue that continues to keep the Valley, Alabama, native on the sideline.
Helton said he still hopes Hutchinson’s knee will improve enough to allow him to play at some point this season, but said it remains “kind of an unknown” when that might happen.
“KD is still trying to get back,” Helton said. “The knee has really been a hindrance to him. It continues to bother him. He’s had a lot of wear and tear in the knee and it’s really flaring up. It’s unfortunate because he’s working really hard to try to get back. He’s brought a lot of leadership to our offense. He’s out there every single day bringing motivation and high energy for our guys.”
About Jeff Nations
Sports Editor, Bowling Green Daily News
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