2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team explained
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.
Preseason
| Media poll (East Division) |
| 1 | Charlotte | |
| 2 | FIU | |
| 3 | Florida Atlantic | |
| 4 | Marshall | |
| 5 | Middle Tennessee | |
| 6 | Old Dominion | |
| 7 | Western Kentucky | | |
| Media poll (CUSA Championship) |
| TBD | |
Preseason All-CUSA teams
To be released
Schedule
Western Kentucky announced its 2020 football schedule on January 8, 2020.[1] 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.[2] [3] [4]
Schedule Source:[5] [6]
Game summaries
At Louisville
See also: 2020 Louisville Cardinals football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| LOU –13 | 55[7] | |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | Louisville |
|---|
| First downs | 12 | 22 |
| Total yards | 248 | 487 |
| Rushing yards | 119 | 144 |
| Passing yards | 129 | 343 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:27 | 32:33 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Western Kentucky | Passing | | 10/23, 129 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 17 carries, 68 yards |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 67 yards |
| Louisville | Passing | | 19/34, 343 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 19 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD | |
Liberty
See also: 2020 Liberty Flames football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| WKU –14.5 | 51.5[8] | |
| Statistics | Liberty | Western Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 27 | 19 |
| Total yards | 487 | 291 |
| Rushing yards | 354 | 110 |
| Passing yards | 133 | 181 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 34:59 | 25:01 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Liberty | Passing | | 13/21, 133 yards |
| Rushing | Malik Willis | 21 carries, 168 yards, 3 TDs |
| Receiving | CJ Yarbrough | 2 receptions, 53 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 18/25, 181 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 14 carries, 74 yards |
| Receiving | | 6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD | |
At Middle Tennessee
See also: 2020 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team and 100 Miles of Hate.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| WKU –7 | 52.5[9] | |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | Middle Tennessee |
|---|
| First downs | 21 | 18 |
| Total yards | 326 | 319 |
| Rushing yards | 138 | 102 |
| Passing yards | 188 | 217 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 31:35 | 28:25 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 21/36, 188 yards, 2 TDs |
| Rushing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 16 carries, 55 yards |
| Receiving | Xavier Lane | 7 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Asher O'Hara | 23/33, 217 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Asher O'Hara | 25 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Jarrin Pierce | 9 receptions, 65 yards | |
Marshall
See also: 2020 Marshall Thundering Herd football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| MARSH –6.5 | 43[10] | |
| Statistics | Marshall | Western Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 15 |
| Total yards | 343 | 294 |
| Rushing yards | 181 | 85 |
| Passing yards | 162 | 209 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 34:41 | 25:19 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Marshall | Passing | | 16/22, 162 yards |
| Rushing | Brenden Knox | 15 carries, 107 yards, 3 TDs |
| Receiving | Broc Thompson | 4 receptions, 94 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Kevaris Thomas | 9/18, 148 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Kevaris Thomas | 7 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Xavier Lane | 4 receptions, 74 yards | |
At UAB
See also: 2020 UAB Blazers football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| UAB –11.5 | 44[11] | |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | UAB |
|---|
| First downs | 15 | 17 |
| Total yards | 250 | 358 |
| Rushing yards | 88 | 217 |
| Passing yards | 162 | 141 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:33 | 31:27 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Kevaris Thomas | 16/35, 162 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Rushing | Jakairi Moses | 6 carries, 41 yards |
| Receiving | Joshua Simon | 6 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD |
| UAB | Passing | Bryson Lucero | 15/31, 141 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 10 carries, 131 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD | |
Chattanooga
See also: 2020 Chattanooga Mocs football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| WKU –14 | 53.5[12] | |
| Statistics | Chattanooga | Western Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 13 | 14 |
| Total yards | 225 | 254 |
| Rushing yards | 135 | 122 |
| Passing yards | 90 | 132 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:21 | 27:39 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Chattanooga | Passing | Drayton Arnold | 9/23, 90 yards |
| Rushing | Ailym Ford | 25 carries, 92 yards |
| Receiving | Tyron Arnett | 2 receptions, 30 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 4/8, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Gaej Walker | 17 carries, 88 yards |
| Receiving | Mitchell Tinsley | 4 receptions, 46 yards | |
At BYU
See also: 2020 BYU Cougars football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| BYU –31 | 52.5[13] | |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | BYU |
|---|
| First downs | 12 | 22 |
| Total yards | 248 | 487 |
| Rushing yards | 119 | 144 |
| Passing yards | 129 | 343 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:27 | 32:33 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 19/30, 106 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Gaej Walker | 17 carries, 75 yards |
| Receiving | Xavier Lane | 3 receptions, 31 yards |
| BYU | Passing | | 18/22, 224 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 16 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD | |
At Florida Atlantic
See also: 2020 Florida Atlantic Owls football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| FAU –7 | 38[14] | |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | Florida Atlantic |
|---|
| First downs | 16 | 18 |
| Total yards | 257 | 273 |
| Rushing yards | 94 | 165 |
| Passing yards | 163 | 108 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:49 | 26:11 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 19/39, 163 yards |
| Rushing | Gaej Walker | 17 carries, 78 yards |
| Receiving | Xavier Lane | 7 receptions, 60 yards |
| Florida Atlantic | Passing | Nick Tronti | 7/16, 108 yards |
| Rushing | Javion Posey | 9 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | TJ Chase | 3 receptions, 47 yards | |
Southern Miss
See also: 2020 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| WKU –7.5 | 45[15] | |
| Statistics | Southern Miss | Western Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 13 | 19 |
| Total yards | 221 | 304 |
| Rushing yards | 154 | 121 |
| Passing yards | 67 | 183 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:18 | 34:42 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Southern Miss | Passing | Trey Lowe | 6/14, 67 yards |
| Rushing | Kevin Perkins | 8 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Antoine Robinson | 2 receptions, 25 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 19/30, 183 yards |
| Rushing | Jakairi Moses | 12 carries, 40 yards |
| Receiving | Xavier Lane | 5 receptions, 90 yards | |
FIU
See also: 2020 FIU Panthers football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| WKU –7 | 42[16] | |
| Statistics | FIU | Western Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 13 |
| Total yards | 268 | 278 |
| Rushing yards | 121 | 157 |
| Passing yards | 147 | 121 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 33:51 | 26:09 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| FIU | Passing | Max Bortenschlager | 8/18, 106 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 24 carries, 100 yards |
| Receiving | JJ Holloman | 2 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 14/25, 121 yards |
| Rushing | Gaej Walker | 17 carries, 127 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Mitchell Tinsley | 3 receptions, 28 yards | |
At Charlotte
See also: 2020 Charlotte 49ers football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| CHAR –2 | 46[17] | |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | Charlotte |
|---|
| First downs | 21 | 18 |
| Total yards | 436 | 308 |
| Rushing yards | 218 | 89 |
| Passing yards | 218 | 219 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:59 | 30:01 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 18/27, 218 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Gaej Walker | 19 carries, 98 yards |
| Receiving | Dakota Thomas | 5 receptions, 78 yards |
| Charlotte | Passing | | 14/34, 205 yards, 2 TDs |
| Rushing | | 16 carries, 80 yards |
| Receiving | Victor Tucker | 8 receptions, 111 yards | |
Vs. Georgia State (LendingTree Bowl)
See also: 2020 Georgia State Panthers football team and 2020 LendingTree Bowl (December).
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| GSU –3 | 50[18] | |
| Statistics | Georgia State | Western Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 27 | 14 |
| Total yards | 484 | 284 |
| Rushing yards | 227 | 104 |
| Passing yards | 257 | 180 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 35:02 | 24:58 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 16/30, 232 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Destin Coates | 23 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Cornelius McCoy | 5 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 17/33, 180 yards, 2 INTs |
| Rushing | C. J. Jones | 5 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Joshua Simon | 4 receptions, 84 yards | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Hilltopper Football 2020 Schedule Features 6 Home Games, 9 Bowl Teams. Western Kentucky University Department of Athletics. January 8, 2020. June 11, 2020.
- Web site: Myerberg . Paul . Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to follow . USA TODAY . 10 July 2020.
- Web site: ACC Announces Plans for Football and Fall Olympic Sports . TheACC.com . July 29, 2020 . en . July 29, 2020.
- Web site: Old Dominion postponing football and fall sports. 2020-08-10. The Virginian Pilot. en-US.
- Web site: 2020 Football Schedule . Western Kentucky University Athletics . 14 October 2020 . en.
- Web site: 2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Schedule . ESPN . 14 October 2020 . en.
- Web site: WKU Hilltoppers vs Louisville Cardinals . Odds Shark . 15 October 2020 . en.
- Web site: Liberty Flames vs WKU Hilltoppers . Odds Shark . 8 October 2020 . en.
- Web site: WKU Hilltoppers vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders . Odds Shark . 15 October 2020 . en.
- Web site: Marshall Thundering Herd vs WKU Hilltoppers . Odds Shark . 15 October 2020 . en.
- Web site: WKU Hilltoppers vs UAB Blazers . Odds Shark . 19 October 2020 . en.
- Web site: Chattanooga Mocs vs WKU Hilltoppers . Odds Shark . 27 December 2020 . en.
- Web site: WKU Hilltoppers vs BYU Cougars . Odds Shark . 29 December 2020 . en.
- Web site: WKU Hilltoppers vs Florida Atlantic Owls . Odds Shark . 29 December 2020 . en.
- Web site: Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs WKU Hilltoppers . Odds Shark . 29 December 2020 . en.
- Web site: FIU Panthers vs WKU Hilltoppers . Odds Shark . 29 December 2020 . en.
- Web site: Western Kentucky vs. Charlotte odds, line: 2020 college football picks, Week 14 predictions from proven model . CBSSports.com . 29 December 2020 . en.
- Web site: WKU Hilltoppers vs Georgia State Panthers . Odds Shark . 29 December 2020 . en.
