Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Team Profile

Preview
Schedule
Stats
Roster
Records
Recruiting
Bowls
Notes

Western Kentucky's 2025 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Fri 8/22	Western Kentucky vs Sam Houston	-8.5
Fri 8/29	Western Kentucky vs North Alabama	-11
Fri 9/5	Western Kentucky at Toledo	+13.5
	BYE WEEK
Fri 9/19	Western Kentucky vs Nevada	-9
Fri 9/26	Western Kentucky at Missouri State	-6.5
Thu 10/2	Western Kentucky at Delaware	-4.5
	BYE WEEK
Mon 10/13	Western Kentucky vs Florida International	-3.5
Mon 10/20	Western Kentucky at Louisiana Tech	-1.5
Fri 10/31	Western Kentucky vs New Mexico State	-8
	BYE WEEK
Fri 11/14	Western Kentucky vs Middle Tennessee	-8
Fri 11/21	Western Kentucky at LSU	+39.5
Fri 11/28	Western Kentucky at Jacksonville State	+1

Record Prediction: 6.5 - 5.5 #66
Schedule Rating: #129
Future 2026 Schedule

Western Kentucky's 2024 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/31	Western Kentucky at Alabama	+31.0	60.0	L 0 - 63	O	N
Sat 9/7	Western Kentucky vs Eastern Kentucky	-18.5	59.5	W 31 - 0	U	Y
Sat 9/14	Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee	-10.5	53.5	W 49 - 21	O	Y
Sat 9/21	Western Kentucky vs Toledo	+2.0	60.5	W 26 - 21	U	Y
Sat 9/28	Western Kentucky at Boston College	+7.5	48.0	L 20 - 21	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Thu 10/10	Western Kentucky vs UTEP	-19.0	55.5	W 44 - 17	O	Y
Wed 10/16	Western Kentucky at Sam Houston	+1.5	55.0	W 31 - 14	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Wed 10/30	Western Kentucky vs Kennesaw State	-24.0	49.0	W 31 - 14	U	N
Sat 11/9	Western Kentucky at New Mexico State	-18.0	53.5	W 41 - 28	O	N
Sat 11/16	Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech	-11.5	52.5	L 7 - 12	U	N
Sat 11/23	Western Kentucky at Liberty	+1.0	56.5	L 21 - 38	O	N
Sat 11/30	Western Kentucky vs Jacksonville State	+0.5	62.5	W 19 - 17	U	Y
Fri 12/6	Western Kentucky at Jacksonville State	+4.5	58.5	L 12 - 52	O	N
Wed 12/18	Western Kentucky vs James Madison	+7.5	50.5	L 17 - 27	U	N

2024 Schedule Rating: #126
2024 Record: 8 - 6 (CUSA: 6 - 3)
Spread Record 7 - 7 - 0 | O/U 6 - 8

Opponents: 1 Elite, 0 Good, 1 Avg, 0 Bad, 10 Poor

Reg Season Opponents: 1 Elite, 0 Good, 2 Avg, 3 Bad, 6 Poor

Show Past Schedules

Western Kentucky's 2023 Schedule
Sat 9/2	Western Kentucky vs South Florida	-13.5	71.5	W 41 - 24	U	Y
Sat 9/9	Western Kentucky vs Houston Christian	-41.5	64.5	W 52 - 22	O	N
Sat 9/16	Western Kentucky at Ohio State	+29.5	65.0	L 10 - 63	O	N
Sat 9/23	Western Kentucky at Troy	+3.5	57.0	L 24 - 27	U	Y
Thu 9/28	Western Kentucky vs Middle Tennessee	-6.5	61.0	W 31 - 10	U	Y
Thu 10/5	Western Kentucky at Louisiana Tech	-6.0	59.0	W 35 - 28	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Tue 10/17	Western Kentucky at Jacksonville State	-7.5	60.5	L 17 - 20	U	N
Tue 10/24	Western Kentucky vs Liberty	+4.0	61.5	L 29 - 42	O	N
Sat 11/4	Western Kentucky at UTEP	-9.5	54.5	W 21 - 13	U	N
Sat 11/11	Western Kentucky vs New Mexico State	-4.5	55.5	L 29 - 38	O	N
Sat 11/18	Western Kentucky vs Sam Houston	-12.5	52.0	W 28 - 23	U	N
Sat 11/25	Western Kentucky at Florida International	-11.5	54.0	W 41 - 28	O	Y
Mon 12/18	Western Kentucky vs Old Dominion	+4.0	49.0	W 38 - 35	O	Y

Western Kentucky's 2022 Schedule
Sat 8/27	Western Kentucky vs Austin Peay	-32.5	72.0	W 38 - 27	U	N
Sat 9/3	Western Kentucky at Hawai'i	-16.5	67.5	W 49 - 17	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/17	Western Kentucky at Indiana	+7.0	61.0	L 30 - 33	O	Y
Sat 9/24	Western Kentucky vs Florida International	-31.0	65.0	W 73 - 0	O	Y
Sat 10/1	Western Kentucky vs Troy	-5.0	55.0	L 27 - 34	O	N
Sat 10/8	Western Kentucky at UTSA	+6.5	72.5	L 28 - 31	U	Y
Sat 10/15	Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee	-7.5	67.5	W 35 - 17	U	Y
Fri 10/21	Western Kentucky vs UAB	-1.5	60.5	W 20 - 17	U	Y
Sat 10/29	Western Kentucky vs North Texas	-10.0	70.0	L 13 - 40	U	N
Sat 11/5	Western Kentucky at Charlotte	-14.5	72.5	W 59 - 7	U	Y
Sat 11/12	Western Kentucky vs Rice	-13.5	61.0	W 45 - 10	U	Y
Sat 11/19	Western Kentucky at Auburn	+5.0	54.0	L 17 - 41	O	N
Sat 11/26	Western Kentucky at Florida Atlantic	-7.5	62.5	W 32 - 31	O	N
Wed 12/21	Western Kentucky vs South Alabama	+4.0	58.0	W 44 - 23	O	Y

Western Kentucky's 2021 Schedule
Thu 9/2	Western Kentucky vs UT Martin	-24.0	58.5	W 59 - 21	O	Y
Sat 9/11	Western Kentucky at Army	+6.0	52.0	L 35 - 38	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/25	Western Kentucky vs Indiana	+9.5	62.5	L 31 - 33	O	Y
Sat 10/2	Western Kentucky at Michigan State	+10.5	66.5	L 31 - 48	O	N
Sat 10/9	Western Kentucky vs UTSA	-3.5	71.0	L 46 - 52	O	N
Sat 10/16	Western Kentucky at Old Dominion	-13.5	66.5	W 43 - 20	U	Y
Sat 10/23	Western Kentucky at Florida International	-16.5	78.0	W 34 - 19	U	N
Sat 10/30	Western Kentucky vs Charlotte	-19.5	71.5	W 45 - 13	U	Y
Sat 11/6	Western Kentucky vs Middle Tennessee	-17.5	66.5	W 48 - 21	O	Y
Sat 11/13	Western Kentucky at Rice	-19.0	61.0	W 42 - 21	O	Y
Sat 11/20	Western Kentucky vs Florida Atlantic	-11.5	64.0	W 52 - 17	O	Y
Sat 11/27	Western Kentucky at Marshall	-1.0	75.5	W 53 - 21	U	Y
Fri 12/3	Western Kentucky at UTSA	-3.0	74.5	L 41 - 49	O	N
Sat 12/18	Western Kentucky vs App State	+3.0	67.0	W 59 - 38	O	Y

Western Kentucky's 2020 Schedule
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/12	Western Kentucky at Louisville	+13.0	55.0	L 21 - 35	O	N
Sat 9/19	Western Kentucky vs Liberty	-15.5	52.0	L 24 - 30	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/3	Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee	-7.0	52.5	W 20 - 17	U	N
Sat 10/10	Western Kentucky vs Marshall	+7.0	43.0	L 14 - 38	O	N
Sat 10/17	Western Kentucky at UAB	+11.0	44.0	L 14 - 37	O	N
Sat 10/24	Western Kentucky vs Chattanooga	-14.0	53.5	W 13 - 10	U	N
Sat 10/31	Western Kentucky at BYU	+28.5		L 10 - 41		N
Sat 11/7	Western Kentucky at Florida Atlantic	+6.5	38.5	L 6 - 10	U	Y
Sat 11/14	Western Kentucky vs Southern Miss	-8.0	45.0	W 10 - 7	U	N
Sat 11/21	Western Kentucky vs Florida International	-6.5	41.5	W 38 - 21	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sun 12/6	Western Kentucky at Charlotte	+3.0	47.0	W 37 - 19	O	Y
Sat 12/26	Western Kentucky vs Georgia State	+3.5	50.5	L 21 - 39	O	N

2025 class: 153 points #95
2024 class: 140 points #110
2023 class: 54 points #130
2022 class: 130 points #94
2021 class: 50 points #136

Average Class Ranking: #113
Average Recruiting Points: 105

Class Averages
Conference USA Class: 114 #113
Group of 5 Class: 135 #102
FBS Class: 179 #69

2020 class: 157 points #80
2019 class: 154 points #86
2018 class: 155 points #84
2017 class: 138 points #82
2016 class: 124 points #101

Average Class Ranking: #87
Average Recruiting Points: 146

Offensive Coordinator Rick Bowie

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Maverick McIvor (Tr)	312	496	63%	3847	30	7	7.8

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
George Hart III	44	204	2	4.6	30
Jalen Hampton	11	57	0	5.2	14
K.D. Hutchinson	8	51	0	6.4	42
John Cannon (Tr)	1	17	0	17.0	17

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Jairus Mack (Tr)	19	418	0	22.0	59
K.D. Hutchinson	26	392	3	15.1	74
Isaiah Myers (Tr)	13	237	3	18.2	37
Noah Meyers	7	123	1	17.6	24

(Tr) - new transfer in 2025

Defensive Coordinator DaVon Brown

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PD
Jaylen Lewis (Tr)	43	2	0	5
Demarko Williams	37	2	0	1
Kent Robinson	33	4	2	4
Braxton Myers (Tr)	31	2	0	2

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Kent Robinson	33	4	2	0	4
Jayden Gray (Tr)	14	3	2	1	1
Dominic Oliver (Tr)	15	2	1	1	0
Jaylen Lewis (Tr)	43	2	0	0	5

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PD
Jaylen Lewis (Tr)	43	2	0	5
Kent Robinson	33	4	2	4
Braxton Myers (Tr)	31	2	0	2

Returning Production
Overall Returning Production: 34% #125
Offense Returning Production: 36% #116
Defense Returning Production: 33% #121

Transfer Portal
2025 Portal Class #72
31 Commits, 83.5 Avg Rating
45% of 2025 Roster from Portal, 50% TY

Team Talent
2025 Talent Rating: 504.00 #105
Offense Talent #104 | Defense Talent #105
2024 #116 | 2023 #125 | 2022 #81 | 2021 #74

2025 - 2022 Records
2025 Record: 0 - 0
2025 Conf Record: 0 - 0
Spread: 0 - 0 - 0 | Totals: 0 - 0

2024 Record: 8 - 6
2024 Conf Record: 6 - 3
Spread: 7 - 7 - 0 | Totals: 6 - 8

2023 Record: 8 - 5
2023 Conf Record: 5 - 3
Spread: 6 - 7 - 0 | Totals: 7 - 6

2022 Record: 9 - 5
2022 Conf Record: 6 - 2
Spread: 9 - 5 - 0 | Totals: 6 - 8

Four Year Record: 25 - 16
Four Year Record vs. Spread: 22 - 19 - 0
Four Year Conference Record: 17 - 8

2021 - 2018 Records
2021 Record: 9 - 5
2021 Conf Record: 7 - 2
Spread: 10 - 4 - 0 | Totals: 10 - 4

2020 Record: 5 - 7
2020 Conf Record: 4 - 3
Spread: 3 - 9 - 0 | Totals: 7 - 5

2019 Record: 9 - 4
2019 Conf Record: 6 - 2
Spread: 8 - 4 - 1 | Totals: 6 - 7

2018 Record: 3 - 9
2018 Conf Record: 2 - 6
Spread: 6 - 6 - 0 | Totals: 5 - 7

Eight Year Record: 51 - 41
Eight Year Record vs. Spread: 49 - 42 - 1
Eight Year Conference Record: 42 - 21

Western Kentucky Recent Bowl History
Date	Bowl	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result
2024	Raton Bowl	Western Kentucky vs James Madison	+7.5	50.5	L 17 - 27
2023	Toastery Bowl	Western Kentucky vs Old Dominion	+4.0	49.0	W 38 - 35
2022	Orleans Bowl	Western Kentucky vs South Alabama	+4.0	58.0	W 44 - 23
2021	Raton Bowl	Western Kentucky vs App State	+3.0	67.0	W 59 - 38
2020	Lendingtree Bowl	Western Kentucky vs Georgia State	+3.5	50.5	L 21 - 39
2019	Responder Bowl	Western Kentucky vs Western Michigan	-3.0	56.0	W 23 - 20
2017	Cure Bowl	Western Kentucky vs Georgia State	+5.0	54.5	L 17 - 27
2016	Raton Bowl	Western Kentucky vs Memphis	-6.5	79.0	W 51 - 31
2015	Beach Bowl	Western Kentucky vs South Florida	-3.0		W 45 - 35

Power Ranking Stats (2024)

Teams	Offense PPA	Offense Success	Offense Pts Per Opp	Avg Start FP	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Defense PPA	Defense Success	Defense Pts Per Opp	Opponent FP
2024	.19 (66)	42% (83)	3.83 (78)	29.7 (55)	41%	59%	.21 (95)	45% (102)	3.66 (54)	28.6 (58)

Teams	Offense PPA	Offense Success	Offense Pts Per Opp	Avg Start FP	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Defense PPA	Defense Success	Defense Pts Per Opp	Opponent FP
2023	.22 (47)	40% (92)	4.95 (6)	28.2 (102)	43%	62%	.2 (81)	44% (98)	4 (87)	28.9 (68)

More Stats (2024)

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
2024	14	27:52 (31)	19.3 (39)	41%	59%	4.1 (16)	41.3 (44)	1.7 (126)	1.5	4.9 (54)	1.6 (75)	0

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
2023	13	29:32 (58)	20.2 (61)	43%	62%	4.5 (17)	36.8 (12)	1.8 (119)	1.8	4.4 (105)	2 (56)	1

Overall Stats (2024)

Teams	Games	PPG	Home	Road	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
2024 Offense	14	24.9	26.3	24.9	41.8% (83)	3.83 (78)	1.7	19	374	110	265	3.5	45% (105)	55% (26)	38% (117)	45% (33)	16% (73)	.19 (66)
2024 Defense	14	24.6	13.5	33.9	44.7% (102)	3.66 (54)	1.5	-	-	-	-	-	63% (134)	36% (1)	48% (113)	40% (60)	13% (122)	.21 (95)

Teams	Games	PPG	Home	Road	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
2023 Offense	13	30.5	35	24.7	40% (92)	4.95 (6)	1.8	20	402	107	295	3.9	38% (128)	61% (6)	38% (119)	41% (70)	16% (74)	.22 (47)
2023 Defense	13	28.7	26.5	29.8	44% (98)	4 (87)	1.8	-	-	-	-	-	52% (94)	47% (37)	48% (121)	41% (53)	14% (114)	.2 (81)

Run Game Stats (2024)

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
2024 Offense	14	45% (105)	38% (117)	31.1	109.7	3.5	14 (98)	.01 (121)	2.78 (108)	69% (100)	11% (87)	0.95 (75)
2024 Defense	14	63% (134)	48% (113)	-	-	-	-	.19 (103)	3.36 (116)	77% (93)	9% (88)	0.9 (35)

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
2023 Offense	13	38% (128)	38% (119)	27.5	106.6	3.9	12 (116)	.06 (117)	3.07 (78)	76% (45)	8% (23)	0.93 (99)
2023 Defense	13	52% (94)	48% (121)	-	-	-	-	.19 (98)	3.47 (125)	73% (65)	9% (109)	0.96 (45)

Pass Game Stats (2024)

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
2024 Offense	14	55% (26)	45% (33)	22.1	33.5	264.6	7.9	12	28 (15)	12 (85)	.36 (28)	1.6 (59)	33% (91)	30% (91)	.29 (89)	6% (56)	1.9 (100)
2024 Defense	14	36% (1)	40% (60)	-	-	-	-	-	-	10 (66)	.29 (99)	1.8 (128)	28% (116)	29% (47)	.23 (37)	3% (132)	2.1 (92)

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
2023 Offense	13	61% (6)	41% (70)	26.4	41.5	295.2	7.1	11.2	38 (3)	14 (107)	.35 (42)	1.7 (29)	33% (90)	31% (69)	.39 (46)	9% (128)	2.4 (4)
2023 Defense	13	47% (37)	41% (53)	-	-	-	-	-	-	15 (15)	.27 (64)	1.6 (69)	31% (80)	32% (99)	.37 (97)	6% (81)	1.9 (26)

Team Notes (5/2) WR Henry (FCS W Ill) 1,179 yds, 6 TD LY ❌
(3/22) Def avg CUSA, but must rebuild most ❌
(3/22) Def portals 7 DL, 1 LB, 5 DBs. ❌
(3/22) QB McIvor (3k yds/30 TD) a big find for '25 ❌
(3/22) RB rebuild. Hart has exp, Hampton some ❌
(3/22) WR complete rebuild. Took 5 portals + 2 TEs ❌
(3/22) OL rebuild. 5 portal adds. Very ? ❌

Injury Notes

Staff/Schedule Notes (3/22) Almost 60% new roster, new OC/DC. ❌
(3/22) New OC Bowie (Alb. Chr.) brought QB McIvor ❌

Power Ratings Overall: -17.79 #117
Offense: 5.91 #118
Defense: 23.70 #115
SP+ Overall: -7.6 #94
SP+ Offense: 20.7 #108
SP+ Defense: 28.3 #70

Returning Prod WKU lost their '24 starting QB (63%) #77
Returning Production: 34% #125
Offense: 36% #116 | Defense: 33% #121
OL Prod: 40% #106, 2 clear starters
OL Snaps: 2774 #76 | From Portal: 1084 #36
Rush Prod: 19% #128 | Rec Prod: 27% #110
Def Front Seven: 18% - Secondary: 58%

Roster Team Talent #105 Blue Chips: 1% #83
Offense Talent #104 Defense Talent #105
Crootin Class #95 - 4 YR Rank #113
Portal Class #72 - 31 players, 84 Avg
45% of Roster from Portal, 50% TY
51 New Players, 67% of '25 Roster #120

2025 Schedule Record Prediction: 6.5 - 5.5 #66
Schedule Rating: -139 #129
View Schedule & Predicted Results
Opps: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg: 1, Bad: 0, Poor: 10

Scoring Scoring: 24.9 - 24.6 (31 - 29) in '24
Scoring at Home: 26 - 14 | Road: 25 - 34
OC: Rick Bowie - in his first season
DC: DaVon Brown - in his first season

Records 2024 Record: 8 - 6 (7 - 7 - 0) (CUSA: 6 - 3)
2023 Record: 8 - 5 (6 - 7 - 0) (CUSA: 5 - 3)
2022 Record: 9 - 5 (9 - 5 - 0) (CUSA: 6 - 2)
4 Yr Record: (25 - 16) | 8 Yr Record: (51 - 41)

'24 OffensePass heavy Offense 55%, Run: 45%
Bad Offense Success Rate of 42%
Avg Offensive Explosiveness
Bad in Scoring Position 3.83 PPO
Awful Run Success 38%
Good Pass Success 45%
Poor Offensive Turnovers
Avg OL Grades, Poor OL Yds Per Rush
Poor 1st/2nd Down Success 67%
Poor when off Schedule 30%

'24 DefenseGood DL Grades, Bad Sacks/Turnovers
Poor Defense Success Rate of 45%
Avg in Scoring Position 3.66 PPO
Awful Run Def Success 48%
Avg Pass Def Success 40%
Awful Pressure/Havoc/Forcing TOs
Good at Forcing Turnovers
Good Penalty Team, Avg Field Position
Awful 1st/2nd Down Success 72%
Avg when Opp is off Schedule 29%

Team NotesWR Henry (FCS W Ill) 1,179 yds, 6 TD LY
Def avg CUSA, but must rebuild most
Def portals 7 DL, 1 LB, 5 DBs.
Almost 60% new roster, new OC/DC.
New OC Bowie (Alb. Chr.) brought QB McIvor
QB McIvor (3k yds/30 TD) a big find for '25
RB rebuild. Hart has exp, Hampton some
WR complete rebuild. Took 5 portals + 2 TEs
OL rebuild. 5 portal adds. Very ?