Western Kentucky at Georgia - 2026 Matchup Preview

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Georgia Bulldogs

Saturday, September 12th 2026 (12:00 PM EDT)
Sanford Stadium - Athens, GA

Hilltoppers (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Tyson Helton (58 - 35)
Avg Score : 30 - 23 (25 - 28 on Road)
Record Prediction: 0.9 - 2.1 (#122)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: 2) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 1)

WKU 2nd straight Road Game
UGA 2nd straight Home Game
Our Line: Georgia -31 (SP+ UGA -31)
Projected Score: WKU: 11 - UGA: 42 (52)
UGA Win prob: 97% | Cover: 52%
WKU Travel: 272 miles, 1 hrs behind

Bulldogs (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Kirby Smart (117 - 21)
Avg Score : 32 - 18 (35 - 14 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 11.1 - 0.9 (#3)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: 3) (Good: 5) (Avg: 2) (Bad: 1)

Matchup
Schedules
WKU Players
UGA Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Western Kentucky's 2026 Schedule

Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/5	Western Kentucky at Nevada	-9	—	—	—	—
Sat 9/12	Western Kentucky at Georgia	+31	—	—	—	—
Sat 9/19	Western Kentucky at Indiana	+30	—	—	—	—

Total: Elite: 2, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 1
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 2, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 1
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for Western Kentucky's Schedule

Georgia's 2026 Schedule

Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/5	Georgia vs Tennessee State	-37	—	—	—	—
Sat 9/12	Georgia vs Western Kentucky	-31	—	—	—	—
Sat 9/19	Georgia at Arkansas	-22.5	—	—	—	—
Sat 9/26	Georgia vs Oklahoma	-11.5	—	—	—	—
Sat 10/3	Georgia vs Vanderbilt	-22.5	—	—	—	—
Sat 10/10	Georgia at Alabama	-7	—	—	—	—
Sat 10/17	Georgia vs Auburn	-21	—	—	—	—
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/31	Georgia vs Florida	-17	—	—	—	—
Sat 11/7	Georgia at Ole Miss	-8.5	—	—	—	—
Sat 11/14	Georgia vs Missouri	-16	—	—	—	—
Sat 11/21	Georgia at South Carolina	-16	—	—	—	—
Sat 11/28	Georgia vs Georgia Tech	-26	—	—	—	—

Total: Elite: 3, Good: 5, Avg 2, Bad 1, Poor 0
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 3, Good: 5, Avg 2, Bad 1, Poor 0
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for Georgia's Schedule

Important Stats (2025)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
WKU	#76 (.16)	43% (58)	29.5	45% (50)	2.99 (62)	135	42% (63)	272	4.21 (30)	#43 (.11)	37% (19)	22.8	39% (28)	36% (17)	2.72 (10)	61.3	1.6	1.1
UGA	#23 (.26)	48% (14)	32.1	47% (27)	3.08 (44)	182	48% (17)	220	4.79 (7)	#34 (.1)	39% (34)	17.6	38% (16)	41% (66)	3.67 (68)	43.5	0.9	0.9

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
WKU		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
UGA		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2025

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
WKU Offense	13	29.5	24.5	43.1%	4.21	1.6	21	407	135	272	4.2	42%	57%	45%	42%	15%	.16
UGA Defense	14	17.6	14.1	39.1%	3.67	0.9	-	-	-	-	-	44%	54%	38%	41%	15%	.1

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
WKU Defense	13	22.8	28	37.1%	2.72	1.1	-	-	-	-	-	46%	52%	39%	36%	16%	.11
UGA Offense	14	32.1	34.6	47.8%	4.79	0.9	24	403	182	220	4.4	55%	44%	47%	48%	13%	.26

Additional Stats 2025

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Western Kentucky	13	29:35	21.4	46%	33%	6.2	61.3	1.6	1.1	5.5	1.4	2	28.2
Georgia	14	33:40	24.2	43%	75%	4.6	43.5	0.9	0.9	4.1	1.4	0	29.3

Run Game Stats (2026)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
WKU Offense	13	42% (125)	45% (50)	31.8	134.6	4.2	23 (78)	.08 (86)	2.99 (62)	81% (11)	9% (47)	0.91 (93)
UGA Defense	14	44% (9)	38% (16)	-	-	-	-	-.01 (12)	2.53 (12)	71% (65)	8% (113)	0.74 (1)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
WKU Defense	13	46% (24)	39% (28)	-	-	-	-	.09 (62)	2.79 (52)	55% (2)	9% (97)	1.13 (130)
UGA Offense	14	55% (30)	47% (27)	41.1	182.4	4.4	31 (16)	.16 (45)	3.08 (44)	75% (52)	9% (42)	0.92 (85)

Pass Game Stats (2026)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
WKU Offense	13	57% (12)	42% (63)	25	38.1	272.2	7.2	10.9	21 (42)	13 (60)	.24 (75)	1.5 (90)	33% (100)	34% (26)	.36 (45)	6% (90)	1.9 (105)
UGA Defense	14	54% (127)	41% (66)	-	-	-	-	-	-	9 (75)	.23 (59)	1.4 (14)	30% (95)	24% (11)	.17 (19)	7% (28)	2 (50)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
WKU Defense	13	52% (110)	36% (17)	-	-	-	-	-	-	9 (55)	.16 (29)	1.5 (61)	34% (32)	27% (27)	.23 (42)	7% (15)	2 (66)
UGA Offense	14	44% (106)	48% (17)	20.5	29.8	220.2	7.4	10.7	25 (61)	7 (20)	.36 (34)	1.4 (127)	29% (33)	32% (42)	.35 (51)	5% (28)	1.9 (109)

Western Kentucky's Power Ratings
Western Kentucky's Power Rating: -5.45 #102
Western Kentucky's Offense Rating: 11.85 #101
Western Kentucky's Defense Rating: 17.30 #93
2026 Talent Rating: 574.00 #86
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% #104
Western Kentucky's 2026 Expected Record: 0.9 - 2.1
Western Kentucky's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: -5.3 #85
Western Kentucky's Offense SP+ Rating: 25.2 #72
Western Kentucky's Defense SP+ Rating: 31.0 #101

Average Talent
Average Conference USA Talent Rating is 435.82
Average Power Five Talent: 872.28
Average FBS Talent: 677.28

Power Ratings Matchup
Western Kentucky: -5.45 Georgia: 29.54

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Western Kentucky: -5.3 Georgia: 25.5

Georgia's Power Ratings
Georgia's Power Rating: 29.54 #1
Georgia's Offense Rating: 30.00 #1
Georgia's Defense Rating: 0.00 #1
2026 Talent Rating: 1303.00 #1
Blue Chip Ratio: 85 #1
Georgia's 2026 Expected Record: 11.1 - 0.9
Georgia's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: 25.5 #4
Georgia's Offense SP+ Rating: 38.2 #5
Georgia's Defense SP+ Rating: 13.3 #5

Average Talent
Average SEC Talent Rating is 985.31
Average Power Five Talent: 872.28
Average FBS Talent: 677.28

Western Kentucky Scoring
Offense: 29.5 PPG
Offense on Road: 24.5
Defense: 22.8 PPG
Defense on Road: 28

Western Kentucky's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 0 - 0

Projected Score
Georgia 42
Western Kentucky 11

Projected Total Points: 52

Georgia Scoring
Offense: 32.1 PPG
Offense at Home: 34.6
Defense: 17.6 PPG
Defense at Home: 14.1

Georgia's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record at home: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 0 - 0 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2006	09/02	Georgia	48	Western Kentucky	12

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Georgia	1	0	0 Overs
Western Kentucky	0	0	0 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	1 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0
Road Teams	0 - 1	0 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0

(#102) WKU at (#1) UGA

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	WKU	UGA
Game ControlGC	#74	#6
Momentum ControlMC	#57	#13
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#102	#1
SP+SP+	#85	#4
Perf GradeGrade	NR	NR
OffenseOff	NR	NR
DefenseDef	NR	NR
Spec TeamsST	NR	NR
TalentTal	#86	#1
Blue ChipsBC%	#104	#1

Western Kentucky Notes(3/26) New OC Reader runs air raid, fired LY @ MTSU
(3/3) Sneaky good portal class, some P4, #2 in CUSA
Western Kentucky Injury Report

Georgia Notes(2/17) Vibes: High, B2B SEC titles but want CFP wins
(1/28) QB Stockton grew into a great QB & leader
(1/28) RBs Frazier w Dowdell (UK) great duo w depth
(1/28) WR has been an issue, I Cannon (GT) only add?
(1/28) OL very big, nasty but were inconsistent LY
(1/28) 4 DB portal adds. CBs good not great, but deep
(1/28) LBs very exp'd and productive. R Wilson a force
(1/28) DTs really good, DEs are ?, Soph depth must hit
Georgia Injury Report

Western Kentucky on Offense

Pass heavy Offense 57%, Run: 42%
CategoryCat	WKU Off	UGA Def
Game ControlGC	#75	#16
Momentum ControlMC	#59	#26
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	NR	NR
SuccessSuc	#58	#34
ExplosiveExp	#74	#7
PPAPPA	#76	#34
PowerPwr	#101	#1
SP+SP+	#72	#5
Pts POPPO	#30	#68
HavocHav	#59	#80

Western Kentucky Run Game

Pass heavy Offense 57%, Run: 42%
CategoryCat	WKU Off	UGA Def
Run GameRun	NR	NR
Run SuccessRSuc	#50	#16
Run ExplRExp	#93	#1
PPAExp	#86	#12
Run BlockR Blk	NR	-
OL YdsOLY	#62	#12
Stuff RateStuff	#98	#48
TackleTak	-	NR

Western Kentucky Pass Game

Pass heavy Offense 57%, Run: 42%
CategoryCat	WKU Off	UGA Def
Pass GamePass	NR	NR
Pass SuccessPSuc	#63	#66
Pass ExplPExl	#90	#14
PPAExp	#75	#59
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	NR	NR
F7 HavocF7	#47	#113
DB HavocDB	#90	#28

Georgia on Offense

Run heavy Offense 56%, Pass: 43%
CategoryCat	UGA Off	WKU Def
Game ControlGC	#4	#66
Momentum ControlMC	#14	#52
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	NR	NR
SuccessSuc	#14	#19
ExplosiveExp	#129	#118
PPAPPA	#23	#43
PowerPwr	#1	#93
SP+SP+	#5	#101
Pts POPPO	#7	#10
HavocHav	#36	#59

Georgia Run Game

Run heavy Offense 56%, Pass: 43%
CategoryCat	UGA Off	WKU Def
Run GameRun	NR	NR
Run SuccessRSuc	#27	#28
Run ExplRExp	#85	#130
PPAExp	#45	#62
Run BlockR Blk	NR	-
OL YdsOLY	#44	#52
Stuff RateStuff	#95	#29
TackleTak	-	NR

Georgia Pass Game

Run heavy Offense 56%, Pass: 43%
CategoryCat	UGA Off	WKU Def
Pass GamePass	NR	NR
Pass SuccessPSuc	#17	#17
Pass ExplPExl	#127	#61
PPAExp	#34	#29
Pass Block/RushP Blk	NR	NR
F7 HavocF7	#42	#97
DB HavocDB	#28	#15

Program Comparison
UGA 5 Year Profile: Consistent CFB Elites
'26 Profile: Remains CFB Elites

WKU 5 Year Profile: Consistent Top G5
'26 Profile: Down to Average G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Sanford Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

No Matchups Past 4 Years

WKU's OC Brodie Reeder (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Rodney Tisdale Jr.	139	212	66%	1432	9	7	6.8
Brock Glenn (Tr)	6	10	60%	69	2	0	6.9

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Sincere Baines (Tr)	123	711	3	5.8	77
Ajay Allen	97	497	5	5.1	40
Kalib Hicks	44	128	0	2.9	14
Rodney Tisdale Jr.	52	108	2	2.1	15

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Jay Rockwell	72	1132	7	15.7	70
K.D. Hutchinson	66	618	3	9.4	78
Nigel Johnson	11	295	3	26.8	67
Cameron Flowers	19	204	1	10.7	30

View Western Kentucky's Full Roster

WKU's DC Davis Merritt (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	PRESS	PD
Jaylen Lewis	74	4	0	5
Dave Herard	58	3	0	4
Jakeem Fletcher	15	2	0	0
Venson Sneed	14	1	1	2

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Zeiqui Lawton	13	3	2	2	0
Jaylen Lewis	74	4	0	0	5
Javin Griffin	3	0	0	0	0
Nigel Johnson	1	0	0	0	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PRESS	PD
Jaylen Lewis	74	4	0	5
Dave Herard	58	3	0	4
Venson Sneed	14	1	1	2

UGA's OC Mike Bobo (been OC for 3 years)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Gunner Stockton	269	386	70%	2894	24	5	7.5
Ryan Puglisi	16	27	59%	161	1	2	6.0

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Nate Frazier	173	947	6	5.5	59
Dante Dowdell (Tr)	112	560	3	5.0	79
Chauncey Bowens	103	526	6	5.1	43
Gunner Stockton	129	462	10	3.6	22

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Isiah Canion (Tr)	32	467	4	14.6	42
London Humphreys	18	276	3	15.3	36
Lawson Luckie	15	158	4	10.5	29
Elyiss Williams	7	117	1	16.7	27

View Georgia's Full Roster

UGA's DC Glenn Schumann (been DC for 3 years)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
KJ Bolden	77	3	0	0	5
Raylen Wilson	74	7	2	3	1
Ja'Marley Riddle (Tr)	70	4	0	0	6
Chris Cole	61	7	5	0	2

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Chris Cole	61	7	5	0	2
Zayden Walker	6	2	2	0	0
Amaris Williams (Tr)	14	6	2	0	0
Quintavius Johnson	34	6	2	3	5

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Ellis Robinson IV	20	1	0	0	7
Ja'Marley Riddle (Tr)	70	4	0	0	6
Quintavius Johnson	34	6	2	3	5