WKU Football will head to Lynchburg, Virginia Saturday to take on Liberty University in a crucial Conference USA matchup.
Following their first C-USA loss of the season to Louisiana Tech, the Hilltoppers sit at 5-1 in conference play and third in the conference.
“Back on the road this week, big conference game going to Liberty,” Head Coach Tyson Helton said. “Really good team that we will play in Liberty, got a bounce-back win last week. This time of year, you want to be in the hunt. We’re in the hunt. So we don’t have time to think in the past, we’ve got to be getting ready for the future.”
The Liberty Flames sit behind the Hilltoppers in the C-USA standings at 4-2 in fourth place. With two weeks remaining both WKU and Liberty will be looking to make a push to make the conference championship.
The Hilltoppers’ path is cut out for them to make the championship and even host it. If WKU defeats Liberty this week and Jacksonville State next week the Hilltoppers will host the conference championship.
Following their first C-USA loss of the season the Hilltoppers will look to right the ship against a tougher opponent in Liberty.
WKU has been effective in righting the ship after losses so far this season. Following their loss to Alabama, the Hilltoppers defeated EKU 31-0 and after their loss to Boston College, WKU defeated UTEP 44-17.
“I just think we gotta get our energy back,” Redshirt senior linebacker Sebastian Benjamin said. “I think we gotta just gotta build that momentum back. You know, tough loss last week. The biggest thing is we’re a big, energetic group, you know we like to run, hit, we like to celebrate with zombie land. You better do all that stuff [Saturday], just got to get it all back.”
The Hilltoppers defense played a solid game against Louisiana Tech last week despite the loss. The defense only allowed 12 points but was on the field for just under 40 of 60 game minutes as LA Tech controlled the time of possession.
WKU’s offense on the other hand had its worst performance of the season since week one, only scoring seven points.
“Our O-line coach has written up in our room: Don’t get beat by LA Tech twice.” Redshirt junior offensive lineman Marshall Jackson said. “Meaning, basically it happened. You can’t do anything to change it. Now, You’ve just got to turn the page. You can’t dwell on the bad things that happen. You have to focus on liberty now.”
The Hilltoppers head into Liberty as one-point underdogs according to ESPN.
WKU and Liberty will kick off at noon on ESPN+.
Sports Reporter Camden Bush can be reached at [email protected].
