With only three starters returning from last season, WKU Football opens the 2025-26 campaign Saturday, hosting a conference matchup versus Sam Houston in Week 0.

The Hilltoppers ended last season with an 8-6 record. My prediction is WKU returns to eight wins before championship weekend with a record at 8-4.

Meanwhile, my floor sees the Hilltoppers having their worst season since 2020, while the ceiling sees WKU breaking out into the best season at the FBS level.

Floor 5-7

Incoming transfer quarterback Maverick McIvor remains a question. He replaces quarterbacks T.J. Finley and Caden Veltkamp, who both transferred off the Hill this offseason. If McIvor stays consistent with his weapons, the Hilltoppers stand a chance at running their conference table.

However, with a conference matchup against a physical Sam Houston to open the season, WKU runs the risk of falling into a rut early. 

In Week 3, the Hilltoppers travel to Toledo for a rematch of the Week 4 game from last year, a contest WKU won 26-21 in Bowling Green. The Hilltoppers finish out their non-conference schedule before their second bye of the season.

The full conference slate starts with a road matchup against LA Tech and a home game versus New Mexico State, which will prove to be difficult matchups.

WKU’s final three games versus MTSU, LSU and Jacksonville State on the road will prove to be a tough stretch to close the season. Jacksonville State, the defending CUSA champion, remains a contender, and LSU will be seasoned as they host the Hilltoppers deep into their SEC schedule.

Ceiling 11-1

In my dreams, WKU marched into Tuscaloosa a year ago, lost, and then went on to win 11 straight games, claiming home-field advantage for the conference championship game. A one-loss conference champion could have ended ranked and maybe, just maybe, earned a spot in the playoff. And then I woke up.

Considering Head Coach Tyson Helton’s aggressive playcalling and the defensive acquisitions made through the transfer portal, WKU is in a better position to sweep the conference, win all of its non-conference games, and make that dream more of a reality.

Mike’s prediction 8-4

Some teams finish their seasons on a bad note and carry their misfortune into next season. WKU may prove to need a few seasons to wash off the stink of their post-homecoming stretch in 2024-25.  However, some teams let the anger of losing fester and return the next season stronger. That is exactly what I believe WKU will do. 

The Hilltopper coaching staff effectively addressed defensive holes and invested in the trenches to slow opposing rushers. They also buffed up at skill positions such as defensive backs and receivers via incoming transfers Quincy Burroughs and Isaiah Myers. An eight-win season for the Hilltoppers is by no means out of reach. With at least a 2-1 start before their first bye week, three more wins before their Oct. 11 bye week could see WKU sitting at 5-1.

The highly anticipated Baton Rouge matchup follows the final, and likely most treacherous, stretch of conference play. Wins versus FIU and New Mexico State are very much in the cards, but LA Tech, which came into Bowling Green on Homecoming weekend and crashed the party, will look to repeat on its home turf. An eight-win season with a bowl birth is a solid expectation for the Hilltoppers, and matches last season’s win total with potentially two games left, the conference championship game and a bowl game.