2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

The 2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team (WKU) represented Western Kentucky University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers played their home games at the Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as members of the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by second-year head coach Tyson Helton.

2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionEast Division
2020 record5–7 (4–3 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBryan Ellis (2nd season)
Co-offensive coordinatorRyan Aplin (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorClayton White (4th season)
Co-defensive coordinatorMaurice Crum Jr. (1st season)
Home stadiumHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
(Capacity: 22,113)
2020 Conference USA football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
Marshall xy  4 –1     7 –3  
Florida Atlantic  4 –2     5 –4  
Western Kentucky  4 –3     5 –7  
Charlotte  2 –2     2 –4  
Middle Tennessee  2 –4     3 –6  
FIU  0 –3     0 –5  
Old Dominion†   –      –  
West Division
UAB xy$  3 –1     6 –3  
UTSA  5 –2     7 –5  
Louisiana Tech  4 –2     5 –4  
North Texas  3 –4     4 –6  
Rice  2 –3     2 –3  
Southern Miss  2 –4     3 –7  
UTEP  0 –4     3 –5  
Championship: UAB 22, Marshall 13
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Note: † Due to COVID-19, Old Dominion has suspended the 2020 football season.
Rankings from AP Poll.

Previous season

The Hilltoppers finished the 2019 regular season 9–4, 6–2 in CUSA which they tied for second in the East Division with Marshall. The team was invited to play in the First Responder Bowl against Western Michigan, where the Hilltoppers took their ninth win of the season.[1]

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
TBD

CUSA media days

The CUSA Media Days will be held virtually for the first time in conference history.[2]

Preseason All-CUSA teams

To be released

Schedule

Western Kentucky announced its 2020 football schedule on January 8, 2020.[3] The 2020 schedule consists of 6 home and 5 away games in the regular season.

The Hilltoppers had games scheduled against Indiana and Old Dominion, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][5][6]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 127:00 p.m.at Louisville*
ACCNL 21–3511,179
September 1911:00 a.m.Liberty*
ESPNUL 24–304,276
October 34:00 p.m.at Middle Tennessee
ESPN3W 20–176,500
October 106:30 p.m.Marshall
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
StadiumL 14–384,428
October 1712:30 p.m.at UAB
StadiumL 14–3711,098
October 243:00 p.m.Chattanooga*
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
ESPN3W 13–103,905
October 319:15 p.m.at No. 11 BYU*
ESPNL 10–416,843
November 75:00 p.m.at Florida Atlantic
StadiumL 6–105,292
November 142:30 p.m.Southern Miss
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
CBSSNW 10–73,815
November 211:00 p.m.FIU
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
ESPN3W 38–213,823
December 611:00 a.m.Charlotte
ESPN3W 37–19714
December 262:30 p.m.vs. Georgia State*
ESPNL 21–395,128
Schedule Source:[7][8]

Game summaries

at Louisville
Western Kentucky at Louisville
1 234Total
Hilltoppers 7 077 21
• Cardinals 7 2170 35
  • Date: September 12, 2020
  • Location: Cardinal Stadium
    Louisville, KY
  • Game start: 7:05 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 3 minutes
  • Game attendance: 11,179
  • Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C) • Weather: Rainy • Wind: SSW 5 MPH
  • Referee: J. Flanagan
  • TV announcers (ACC Network): Roy Philpott (play–by–play), Tim Hasselbeck (analyst), Eric Wood (sideline reporter)
    
See also: 2020 Louisville Cardinals football team
Pregame lineOver/under
LOU –1355[9]
StatisticsWestern KentuckyLouisville
First downs1222
Total yards248487
Rushing yards119144
Passing yards129343
Turnovers12
Time of possession27:2732:33
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome10/23, 129 yards, 1 TD
RushingTyrrell Pigrome17 carries, 68 yards
ReceivingJahcour Pearson5 receptions, 67 yards
LouisvillePassingMicale Cunningham19/34, 343 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
RushingJavian Hawkins19 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDez Fitzpatrick4 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD

Liberty
Liberty at Western Kentucky
1 234Total
• Flames 10 776 30
Hilltoppers 0 1077 24
     
See also: 2020 Liberty Flames football team
Pregame lineOver/under
WKU –14.551.5[10]
StatisticsLibertyWestern Kentucky
First downs2719
Total yards487291
Rushing yards354110
Passing yards133181
Turnovers00
Time of possession34:5925:01
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LibertyPassingMalik Willis13/21, 133 yards
RushingMalik Willis21 carries, 168 yards, 3 TDs
ReceivingCJ Yarbrough2 receptions, 53 yards
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome18/25, 181 yards, 3 TDs
RushingTyrrell Pigrome14 carries, 74 yards
ReceivingMitchell Tinsley6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD

at Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee at Western Kentucky
1 234Total
• Hilltoppers 0 1037 20
Blue Raiders 0 1007 17
  • Date: October 3, 2020
  • Location: Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
    Murfreesboro, TN
  • Game start: 4:05 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 3 minutes
  • Game attendance: 6,500
  • Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Sunny & Nice • Wind: ESE 1 MPH
  • Referee: Rodney Burnette
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Jake Rose (play–by–play) and Jeremy Kellem (analyst)
    
See also: 2020 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team and 100 Miles of Hate
Pregame lineOver/under
WKU –752.5[11]
StatisticsWestern KentuckyMiddle Tennessee
First downs2118
Total yards326319
Rushing yards138102
Passing yards188217
Turnovers10
Time of possession31:3528:25
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome21/36, 188 yards, 2 TDs
RushingTyrrell Pigrome16 carries, 55 yards
ReceivingXavier Lane7 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD
Middle TennesseePassingAsher O'Hara23/33, 217 yards, 1 TD
RushingAsher O'Hara25 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJarrin Pierce9 receptions, 65 yards

Marshall
Marshall at Western Kentucky
1 234Total
• Thundering Herd 14 141010 48
Hilltoppers 0 077 14
    
See also: 2020 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
Pregame lineOver/under
MARSH –6.543[12]
StatisticsMarshallWestern Kentucky
First downs1715
Total yards343294
Rushing yards18185
Passing yards162209
Turnovers03
Time of possession34:4125:19
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MarshallPassingGrant Wells16/22, 162 yards
RushingBrenden Knox15 carries, 107 yards, 3 TDs
ReceivingBroc Thompson4 receptions, 94 yards
Western KentuckyPassingKevaris Thomas9/18, 148 yards, 1 TD
RushingKevaris Thomas7 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingXavier Lane4 receptions, 74 yards

at UAB
Western Kentucky at Alabama–Birmingham
1 234Total
Hilltoppers 7 700 14
• RV Blazers 10 14103 37
  • Date: October 17, 2020
  • Location: Legion Field
    Birmingham, AL
  • Game start: 12:36 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 55 minutes
  • Game attendance: 11,098
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: E 3 MPH
  • Referee: Joe Lehring
  • TV announcers (FOX Sports): Chris Hassel (play–by–play) and AJ Hawk (anaylst)
      
See also: 2020 UAB Blazers football team
Pregame lineOver/under
UAB –11.544[13]
StatisticsWestern KentuckyUAB
First downs1517
Total yards250358
Rushing yards88217
Passing yards162141
Turnovers42
Time of possession28:3331:27
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western KentuckyPassingKevaris Thomas16/35, 162 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
RushingJakairi Moses6 carries, 41 yards
ReceivingJoshua Simon6 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD
UABPassingBryson Lucero15/31, 141 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingDeWayne McBride10 carries, 131 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingAustin Watkins Jr.7 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD

Chattanooga
Chattanooga at Western Kentucky
1 234Total
Mocs 7 030 10
• Hilltoppers 3 037 13
  
See also: 2020 Chattanooga Mocs football team
Pregame lineOver/under
WKU –1453.5[14]
StatisticsChattanoogaWestern Kentucky
First downs1314
Total yards225254
Rushing yards135122
Passing yards90132
Turnovers02
Time of possession32:2127:39
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ChattanoogaPassingDrayton Arnold9/23, 90 yards
RushingAilym Ford25 carries, 92 yards
ReceivingTyron Arnett2 receptions, 30 yards
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome4/8, 73 yards, 1 TD
RushingGaej Walker17 carries, 88 yards
ReceivingMitchell Tinsley4 receptions, 46 yards

at BYU
Western Kentucky at Brigham Young
1 234Total
Hilltoppers 3 070 10
• No. 11 Cougars 14 2133 41
  • Date: October 31, 2020
  • Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium
    Provo, UT
  • Game start: 8:20 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 9:20 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 6,843
  • Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NW 0 MPH
  • Referee: Kevin Hassell
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Beth Mowins (play–by–play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline reporter)
     
See also: 2020 BYU Cougars football team
Pregame lineOver/under
BYU –3152.5[15]
StatisticsWestern KentuckyBYU
First downs1222
Total yards248487
Rushing yards119144
Passing yards129343
Turnovers12
Time of possession27:2732:33
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome19/30, 106 yards, 1 TD
RushingGaej Walker17 carries, 75 yards
ReceivingXavier Lane3 receptions, 31 yards
BYUPassingZach Wilson18/22, 224 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
RushingTyler Allgeier16 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDax Milne5 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD

at Florida Atlantic
Western Kentucky at Florida Atlantic
1 234Total
Hilltoppers 0 033 6
• Owls 0 037 10
  • Date: November 7, 2020
  • Location: FAU Stadium
    Boca Raton, FL
  • Game start: 5:35 p.m. CST
  • Elapsed time: 2 hours and 53 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,292
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Rainy and Windy • Wind: E 20 MPH
  • Referee: Jon Noli
  • TV announcers (FOX Sports): Chris Hassel (play–by–play) and A. J. Hawk (analyst)
  
See also: 2020 Florida Atlantic Owls football team
Pregame lineOver/under
FAU –738[16]
StatisticsWestern KentuckyFlorida Atlantic
First downs1618
Total yards257273
Rushing yards94165
Passing yards163108
Turnovers01
Time of possession33:4926:11
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome19/39, 163 yards
RushingGaej Walker17 carries, 78 yards
ReceivingXavier Lane7 receptions, 60 yards
Florida AtlanticPassingNick Tronti7/16, 108 yards
RushingJavion Posey9 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingTJ Chase3 receptions, 47 yards

Southern Miss
Southern Miss at Western Kentucky
1 234Total
Golden Eagles 0 007 7
• Hilltoppers 7 30 10
See also: 2020 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team
Pregame lineOver/under
WKU –7.545[17]
StatisticsSouthern MissWestern Kentucky
First downs1319
Total yards221304
Rushing yards154121
Passing yards67183
Turnovers00
Time of possession25:1834:42
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Southern MissPassingTrey Lowe6/14, 67 yards
RushingKevin Perkins8 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingAntoine Robinson2 receptions, 25 yards
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome19/30, 183 yards
RushingJakairi Moses12 carries, 40 yards
ReceivingXavier Lane5 receptions, 90 yards

FIU
Florida International at Western Kentucky
1 234Total
Panthers 7 608 21
• Hilltoppers 0 101414 38
     
See also: 2020 FIU Panthers football team
Pregame lineOver/under
WKU –742[18]
StatisticsFIUWestern Kentucky
First downs1713
Total yards268278
Rushing yards121157
Passing yards147121
Turnovers20
Time of possession33:5126:09
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
FIUPassingMax Bortenschlager8/18, 106 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingD'Vonte Price24 carries, 100 yards
ReceivingJJ Holloman2 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome14/25, 121 yards
RushingGaej Walker17 carries, 127 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingMitchell Tinsley3 receptions, 28 yards

at Charlotte
Western Kentucky at Charlotte
1 234Total
• Hilltoppers 3 141010 37
49ers 0 0712 19
  • Date: December 6, 2020
  • Location: Jerry Richardson Stadium
    Charlotte, NC
  • Game start: 11:05 a.m. CST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 13 minutes
  • Game attendance: 714
  • Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C) • Weather: Sunny and Clear • Wind: 0 MPH
  • Referee: Jonathan Noli
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Bobby Rosinski (play–by–play) and Reggie Walker (analyst)
      
See also: 2020 Charlotte 49ers football team
Pregame lineOver/under
CHAR –246[19]
StatisticsWestern KentuckyCharlotte
First downs2118
Total yards436308
Rushing yards21889
Passing yards218219
Turnovers01
Time of possession29:5930:01
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome18/27, 218 yards, 1 TD
RushingGaej Walker19 carries, 98 yards
ReceivingDakota Thomas5 receptions, 78 yards
CharlottePassingChris Reynolds14/34, 205 yards, 2 TDs
RushingTre Harbinson III16 carries, 80 yards
ReceivingVictor Tucker8 receptions, 111 yards

vs. Georgia State (LendingTree Bowl)
Georgia State vs. Western Kentucky
1 234Total
• Panthers 7 2039 39
Hilltoppers 7 077 21
  • Date: December 26, 2020
  • Location: Ladd–Peebles Stadium
    Mobile, AL
  • Game start: 2:30 p.m. CST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 26 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,128
  • Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SE 4 MPH
  • Referee: Mike Cuttone
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Couzens (play–by–play), Jay Walker (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline reporter)
      
See also: 2020 Georgia State Panthers football team and 2020 LendingTree Bowl (December)
Pregame lineOver/under
GSU –350[20]
StatisticsGeorgia StateWestern Kentucky
First downs2714
Total yards484284
Rushing yards227104
Passing yards257180
Turnovers13
Time of possession35:0224:58
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia StatePassingCornelious Brown IV16/30, 232 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
RushingDestin Coates23 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingCornelius McCoy5 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome17/33, 180 yards, 2 INTs
RushingC. J. Jones5 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJoshua Simon4 receptions, 84 yards

References
  1. "Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  2. "Conference USA to hold virtual football media days due to COVID-19". ktsm.com. May 5, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  3. "Hilltopper Football 2020 Schedule Features 6 Home Games, 9 Bowl Teams". Western Kentucky University Department of Athletics. January 8, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  4. Myerberg, Paul. "Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to follow". USA TODAY. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  5. "ACC Announces Plans for Football and Fall Olympic Sports". TheACC.com. July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  6. "Old Dominion postponing football and fall sports". The Virginian Pilot. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  7. "2020 Football Schedule". Western Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  8. "2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  9. "WKU Hilltoppers vs Louisville Cardinals". Odds Shark. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  10. "Liberty Flames vs WKU Hilltoppers". Odds Shark. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  11. "WKU Hilltoppers vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders". Odds Shark. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  12. "Marshall Thundering Herd vs WKU Hilltoppers". Odds Shark. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  13. "WKU Hilltoppers vs UAB Blazers". Odds Shark. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  14. "Chattanooga Mocs vs WKU Hilltoppers". Odds Shark. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  15. "WKU Hilltoppers vs BYU Cougars". Odds Shark. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  16. "WKU Hilltoppers vs Florida Atlantic Owls". Odds Shark. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  17. "Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs WKU Hilltoppers". Odds Shark. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  18. "FIU Panthers vs WKU Hilltoppers". Odds Shark. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  19. "Western Kentucky vs. Charlotte odds, line: 2020 college football picks, Week 14 predictions from proven model". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  20. "WKU Hilltoppers vs Georgia State Panthers". Odds Shark. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
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