A pair of Conference USA programs take the field in search of a conference win in the Volunteer State. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are on the road as they make the trip to take on the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Saturday afternoon. Western Kentucky comes in off a 31-28 road loss to UTSA in their previous contest last Saturday. Middle Tennessee was clobbered 41-14 on the road by UAB in their most recent contest last Saturday. In the all-time series between the programs, the Hilltoppers own an 8-6 advantage, including winning the last three meetings. That includes a 48-21 home victory in the most recent matchup on November 6, 2021.
Western Kentucky started the year 2-0 but limp into this one losers of three of their previous four, including two straight, as they fell short to UTSA on the road. The Hilltoppers fell to 3-3 on the season overall and are 1-1 in Conference USA action so they look to get back in the win column here. Against UTSA, Western Kentucky led 14-7 midway through the second quarter before giving up 17 unanswered points to trail 24-14 early in the third quarter. The Hilltoppers couldn’t get closer than three the rest of the way. In an evenly matched game, Western Kentucky was outgained 486-481 in total offense, gave up 30 first downs while allowing 26 and edged 30:02 to 29:58 in time of possession. The Hilltoppers forced the game’s lone turnover but ended up unable to procure the victory.
The Hilltoppers enter this contest 3rd in the nation with 356.2 yards per game through the air whi le they are tied for 85th in rushing with 141.2 yards per contest. Western Kentucky is 13th in the FBS in scoring offense as they put up an average of 40.8 points per contest while they are 53rd in scoring defense by allowing 23.7 points a game. Austin Reed has hit on 179 of 248 passes for 2,040 yards with 19 touchdowns against four interceptions while adding 112 yards plus three scores on the ground. Darius Ocean (three of six, 72 yards, TD, INT) and Caden Veltkamp (four of four, 25 yards) have seen limited work in mop-up duty. Kye Robichaux leads the team on the ground with 60 carries for 380 yards plus two scores. Davion Ervin-Poindexter (40 carries, 140 yards, three TD), Jakairi Moses (16 carries, 96 yards) and L.T. Sanders (five carries, 73 yards, TD) have made the most of their limited opportunities this season. Daewood Davis leads the team with 42 receptions for 596 yards plus five scores. Malachi Corley (35 receptions, 427 yards, five TD), Ja ylen Hall (24 receptions, 225 yards, TD), Michael Mathison (31 grabs, 300 yards, two TD) and Joshua Simon (nine grabs, 140 yards, two TD) have each gone over the 100-yard mark in receiving yards this season. Brayden Narveson has drilled all 32 extra point attempts and seven of 10 field goal attempts with a long of 47 this season.