WKU football has entered into a home-and-home agreement for future games with both Cincinnati and Troy University.

The Trojans will be in Bowling Green on Oct. 1, 2022, and the Hilltoppers will return the game in 2023. The series against the Bearcats will get underway with a matchup in Houchens-Smith Stadium scheduled for 2025, followed by UC hosting in 2026 in Nippert Stadium.

“Attractive, regional match-ups are always something we strive for in scheduling, and the addition of Cincinnati and Troy continue that trend for our future football schedules,” athletics director Todd Stewart said in a press release. “Fan bases from each program will be able to easily travel to these games, whether they are here in Houchens-Smith Stadium or on the road, and they will be exciting, competitive match-ups.”

The Hilltoppers now have five games on the 2022 non-conference schedule: at Hawaii, Austin Peay, at Indiana, at Auburn and Troy. 

The 2023 season currently features non-conference games against South Florida, Houston Baptist, at Alabama and at Troy. 

The 2025 game against UC is one of two non-conference games on the schedule for that year. The other is at Liberty. The 2026 game at Cincinnati is the first non-conference game on the schedule. 

The Hilltoppers open the 2018 season Aug. 31 at No. 4 Wisconsin.

Reporter Matt Stahl can be reached at 270-745-6291 and [email protected] Follow him on Twitter at @mattstahl97.