Here’s a list of top-3 Heisman finalists from Group of 5 schools in the last decade:
QB, Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois University (MAC), 3rd place finish in 2013.
Done. That’s the list. One.
Group of 5 talent has a tendency to go unnoticed year in and year out. However, WKU quarterback Austin Reed garnered national attention for his fantastic 2022 campaign. Reed threw for an FBS best 4,746 yards and was third in the FBS for passing touchdowns with 40, just behind Heisman finalist C.J. Stroud and the awards winner Caleb WIlliams.
Reed wasn’t the only reason the 2022 Hilltoppers ranked seventh among all FBS schools in total offense. Receiver Malachi Corley returns to the 2023 squad as Reed’s No.1 target. Corley was fourth among all FBS receivers in receiving yards with 1,295 during the 2022 campaign.
WKU also returns key talent on defense. A unit that, in 2022, led college football in takeaways and defensive touchdowns returns junior Jacques Evans. Evans is coming off an impressive 2022 season where he led the Hilltoppers in tackles with 106, including 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
WKU will have a chance to showcase its talent to a national audience quite often this year. The Hilltoppers will have six games aired on national networks, including a week three road matchup against a college football powerhouse, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Among these six games to be broadcast nationally, four will take place on weekdays rather than the usual Saturday kickoff. These games will be played through the month of October.
“We’re going to be on an ESPN linear channel without competition from any other league.” said WKU President Timothy Caboni, who also is chair of Conference-USA, regarding the weeknight games. “That is a tremendous advantage in recruiting and our coaches love it.”
With conference realignment ravaging Power 5 football as we once knew it, the shakeup of the C-USA has somewhat flown under the radar. Conference USA welcomed four new schools to the league as Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA all packed up and left for the American Athletic Conference.
“My perspective is that you can grow and gain even through loss.” Caboni said, “The uncertainty that we faced as a conference when six schools went to the American gave us a chance to think differently about our strategy.”
Liberty University headlines the newcomers as one of the biggest challenges to this year’s Hilltopper squad. Since joining the FBS in 2018, the Flames have a 40-22 record and are 7-2 against current C-USA teams, including a 30-24 victory over the Hilltoppers to open the 2020 season. Liberty will make its way to Bowling Green on Tuesday, Oct. 24, and take on the Hilltoppers for the first time as conference foes.
Liberty is not the only former FBS independent to join the conference, as New Mexico State will also make its league debut in 2023. NMSU joins the conference coming off its best season since 2017. The Aggies finished with a 7-6 record and qualified for their first bowl game since the ‘17 season. WKU will face the Aggies for the first time in program history Saturday, Nov. 11, at Houchens-Smith Stadium.
Conference-USA also welcomes two newcomers to the FBS. Sam Houston State and Jacksonville State decided to take the step up from the FCS level and will both compete on a Conference USA schedule in their first year as Bowl Subdivision schools. WKU will travel to Jacksonville, Alabama, to play the Gamecocks on Tuesday, October 17 and will host the Bearkats on Saturday, Nov. 18.
WKU was picked by media members who cover the conference to finish the regular season at the top of the league and meet Liberty in the C-USA championship game. The highly anticipated 2023 Hilltopper season is set to kickoff against South Florida on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Smith Stadium.
