Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Conference USA
9-4 (6-2 conf)
SP+ #69
Ratings
2025
- SP+
- 1.6 (#69)
- SP+ Offense
- 28.8
- SP+ Defense
- 28.6
- SRS
- -4.2
- FPI
- -7.4
- Elo
- 1408
- Talent
- 561
- Recruiting
- 153 (#96)
Schedule
record 9–4
Schedule
131st
toughest of 136
Offenses faced
121st
toughest of 136
Defenses faced
118th
toughest of 136
Strength of schedule — how tough this team's opponents are, ranked 1 (hardest) to 136 (easiest) · 1 FCS game.
| Wk | Opponent | SP+ | Score | Margin | Res |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vsSam Houston | -27.8 | 41-24 | +17 | W |
| 1 | vsNorth Alabama | FCS | 55-6 | +49 | W |
| 2 | @Toledo | +6 | 21-45 | -24 | L |
| 4 | vsNevada | -13.4 | 31-16 | +15 | W |
| 5 | @Missouri State | -10.7 | 27-22 | +5 | W |
| 6 | @Delaware | -10.9 | 27-24 | +3 | W |
| 8 | vsFlorida International | -10.5 | 6-25 | -19 | L |
| 9 | @Louisiana Tech | -1.3 | 28-27 | +1 | W |
| 10 | vsNew Mexico State | -15.5 | 35-16 | +19 | W |
| 12 | vsMiddle Tennessee | -16 | 42-26 | +16 | W |
| 13 | @LSU | +10.3 | 10-13 | -3 | L |
| 14 | @Jacksonville State | -6.7 | 34-37 | -3 | L |
| 1 ·P | NSouthern Miss | -7.1 | 27-16 | +11 | W |
Quarterbacks · 5
2025 · 104
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | 1st | Maverick McIvor | SR | 6'2" | 214 | — |
| QB | 2nd | Rodney Tisdale Jr. | FR | 6'2" | 190 | ★★★ |
| QB | 3rd | Tucker Parks | FR | 6'2" | 202 | ★★★ |
| QB | — | Caleb McMickle | SO | 6'2" | 202 | ★★★ |
| QB | — | Owen Loy | FR | 6'1" | 200 | — |
Running Backs · 9
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB | 1st | Marvis Parrish | FR | 5'11" | 196 | ★★★ |
| RB | 2nd | La'Vell Wright | SR | 6'0" | 222 | — |
| RB | 3rd | George Hart III | SR | 5'11" | 215 | — |
| RB | 4th | Jaden McGill | SR | 6'0" | 220 | — |
| RB | 5th | Jalen Hampton | SR | 5'9" | 206 | — |
| RB | — | Donovan Jones | FR | 5'10" | 208 | — |
| RB | — | Corey Landers | SO | 5'8" | 195 | — |
| RB | — | Javon McMahan | FR | 5'9" | 210 | — |
| RB | — | Adrion Boyd | JR | 5'7" | 176 | — |
Wide Receivers · 13
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | 1st | Matthew Henry | SR | 6'0" | 183 | — |
| WR | 2nd | K.D. Hutchinson | JR | 5'8" | 180 | — |
| WR | 3rd | Moussa Barry | JR | 6'2" | 194 | — |
| WR | 4th | Cameron Flowers | FR | 5'11" | 183 | ★★★ |
| WR | 5th | Jairus Mack | SR | 5'11" | 182 | — |
| WR | 6th | Kelby Williams | SR | 6'3" | 195 | — |
| WR | 7th | Quincy Burroughs | JR | 6'1" | 205 | — |
| WR | 8th | Isaiah Myers | JR | 6'4" | 188 | — |
| WR | 9th | Marvin Sims | JR | 5'11" | 180 | — |
| WR | 10th | Jaleel Walker | SR | 6'2" | 185 | — |
| WR | — | Damari Jefferson | FR | 5'9" | 175 | — |
| WR | — | Justin Brown | SO | 6'0" | 194 | — |
| WR | — | Fonzy Smith | FR | 6'1" | 177 | ★★★ |
Tight Ends · 6
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TE | 1st | Noah Meyers | SO | 6'5" | 240 | — |
| TE | 2nd | Jackson West | SR | 6'4" | 248 | ★★★ |
| TE | 3rd | Justin Wolf | SR | 6'4" | 240 | — |
| TE | 4th | Lofton Howard | SO | 6'4" | 230 | — |
| TE | — | Aiden Miller | SO | 6'3" | 242 | — |
| TE | — | Cross Nimmo | FR | 6'5" | 245 | ★★★ |
Offensive Line · 15
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OL | — | Laurence Seymore | SR | 6'2" | 320 | ★★★★ |
| OL | — | Isiah Stoudemire | FR | 6'4" | 305 | ★★★ |
| OL | — | Marshall Jackson | SR | 6'6" | 304 | — |
| OL | — | Elijah Williams | FR | 6'2" | 300 | ★★★ |
| OL | — | Caleb Nitta | SO | 6'2" | 297 | — |
| OL | — | Quincy Jenkins | SR | 6'4" | 310 | — |
| OL | — | Jackson Dialls | FR | 6'4" | 317 | ★★★ |
| OL | — | Devon Smith | SR | 6'5" | 300 | — |
| OL | — | Gabe Claybrook | FR | 6'4" | 290 | — |
| OL | — | Jemeil Jackson | SR | 6'4" | 292 | — |
| OL | — | Branden Hollis | JR | 6'8" | 376 | — |
| OL | — | Karsten Upchurch | JR | 6'5" | 295 | — |
| OL | — | Max Thurston | SO | 6'5" | 297 | — |
| OL | — | Melvin Collins Jr. | JR | 6'4" | 320 | — |
| OL | — | Hackman Pierre | FR | 6'5" | 303 | — |
Defensive Line · 15
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | 1st | Harper Holloman | SO | 6'2" | 255 | ★★★ |
| DL | 1st | Mackavelli Malotumau | SR | 6'1" | 295 | ★★★ |
| DL | 2nd | Rylen Su'a-Filo | SR | 6'1" | 320 | — |
| DL | 3rd | Jaden Hardy | SR | 6'3" | 324 | ★★★ |
| DL | 4th | Jayden Gray | SR | 6'2" | 276 | ★★★ |
| DL | 5th | Robby Harrison | JR | 6'4" | 320 | ★★★ |
| DL | 6th | Venson Sneed | JR | 6'4" | 262 | ★★★ |
| DL | 7th | Jakeem Fletcher | SR | 6'1" | 312 | — |
| DL | 8th | Elin Jones | SR | 6'4" | 252 | — |
| DL | 9th | Eric Etienne | SO | 6'1" | 310 | — |
| DL | 10th | Sekou Peters | FR | 6'2" | 296 | ★★★ |
| DL | 11th | Chukwunedu Okeke | FR | 6'4" | 305 | ★★★ |
| DL | — | Sharlandiin Strange | FR | 6'3" | 262 | — |
| DL | — | Kai Micatrotto | FR | 5'11" | 250 | ★★★ |
| DL | — | Brandon Tobias II | FR | 6'5" | 258 | — |
Linebackers · 14
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LB | 1st | Jaylen Wester | SR | 6'0" | 228 | ★★★ |
| LB | 2nd | Anthony Brackenridge | SR | 6'2" | 225 | ★★★ |
| LB | 3rd | Miller Malone | SO | 6'2" | 216 | — |
| LB | 4th | Dominic Oliver | SR | 6'3" | 250 | ★★★ |
| LB | 5th | Koron Hayward | SO | 6'5" | 248 | ★★★ |
| LB | 6th | Jordan Donald | FR | 6'2" | 222 | ★★★ |
| LB | 7th | Zach Smith | FR | 6'0" | 220 | ★★★ |
| LB | 8th | Josaiah Knight | FR | 6'2" | 230 | — |
| LB | 9th | Joshua Mensah | JR | 6'1" | 212 | — |
| LB | — | Eli Jones | JR | 6'1" | 236 | — |
| LB | — | Elijah Rumph | FR | 6'0" | 212 | ★★★ |
| LB | — | Kennon Loftin | JR | 6'2" | 228 | — |
| LB | — | Brandon Thomas | FR | 6'3" | 208 | ★★★ |
| LB | — | Zsacari Minnis | FR | 6'3" | 222 | — |
Defensive Backs · 19
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB | 1st | Jaylen Lewis | JR | 5'11" | 190 | — |
| DB | 2nd | Dave Herard | SR | 6'0" | 202 | — |
| DB | 3rd | Demarko Williams | SR | 5'11" | 188 | — |
| DB | 4th | Nazir Ward | SO | 6'0" | 185 | ★★★ |
| DB | 5th | Dylan Flowers | SR | 5'10" | 178 | — |
| DB | 6th | Al-Ma'hi Ali | SR | 5'11" | 190 | — |
| DB | 7th | Jaavan Mack | SR | 5'10" | 188 | — |
| DB | 8th | Kent Robinson | JR | 5'11" | 186 | — |
| DB | 9th | Jalen Emery | SR | 5'10" | 185 | ★★★ |
| DB | 10th | Jai Eugene Jr. | SO | 6'1" | 202 | ★★★ |
| DB | 11th | Avarion Cole | SR | 5'11" | 197 | — |
| DB | 12th | Braxton Myers | SO | 6'1" | 195 | — |
| DB | 13th | Xavion Griffin | FR | 6'0" | 184 | ★★★ |
| DB | 14th | Korbyn Green | JR | 5'11" | 176 | ★★★ |
| DB | 15th | Lataj Wright | SR | 5'10" | 185 | — |
| DB | — | Virgil Marshall | JR | 5'11" | 205 | ★★★ |
| DB | — | Jordan Bergeron | FR | 6'0" | 180 | ★★★ |
| DB | — | Jalen Jackson | FR | 6'5" | 200 | — |
| DB | — | Khrystian Washington | SO | 6'2" | 180 | — |
Special Teams · 8
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS | 1st | Rex Robich | SR | 6'3" | 225 | — |
| LS | — | Bailey Sanders | FR | 6'1" | 223 | — |
| P | 1st | Cole Maynard | SR | 6'1" | 180 | — |
| PK | 1st | John Cannon | SR | 5'9" | 182 | — |
| PK | 2nd | Jack Cassidy | JR | 6'6" | 230 | — |
| PK | — | Jackson Smith | JR | 5'11" | 222 | ★★★ |
| PK | — | Konner Olson | SR | 6'0" | 210 | — |
| PK | — | Michael Buck | FR | 5'10" | 180 | — |
2025 · pct vs FBS
SP+ Off
28.860
Off PPA
+0.1756
Pass PPA
+0.2555
Rush PPA
+0.0840
Success
43%62
Explosive
1.2031
PlayerMedian (50th)percentile vs league
SP+ Trend
points vs avg team
— Overall— Offense— Defense
SP+ = opponent-adjusted points vs an average team. Overall & Offense higher = better; Defense lower = better.
Advanced
2025 · opponent-adjusted PPA / play
| Split | Offense | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | +0.17 | +0.10 |
| Passing | +0.25 | +0.13 |
| Rushing | +0.08 | +0.09 |
| 1st Down | +0.02 | +0.02 |
| 2nd Down | +0.22 | +0.05 |
| 3rd Down | +0.47 | +0.43 |
Scoring Trend
2025 · pts/game
PPG For
29.8
PPG Against
23.4
Differential
+6.3
— Points for— Points against
dots: W / LResults
2025
- Overall
- 8-4
- Home
- 5-1
- Away
- 3-3
- Conference
- 6-2
- Non-Conference
- 2-2
- One-Score (≤8)
- 3-2
- Avg Margin
- +6.3
Situational Splits
2025 · record · pts
| Split | Record | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | |||
| Home | 5-1 | 35.0 | 18.8 |
| Away | 3-3 | 24.5 | 28.0 |
| Neutral | 1-0 | 27.0 | 16.0 |
| Competition | |||
| Conference | 6-2 | 30.0 | 25.1 |
| Non-conference | 3-2 | 28.8 | 19.2 |
Season History · last 12
0 AP top-10 · 11 postseason
| Season | Record | Conf | SP+ | AP | Post |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8-4 | 6-2 | #69 | — | 1-0 |
| 2024 | 8-5 | 6-3 | #78 | — | 0-1 |
| 2023 | 7-5 | 5-3 | #74 | — | 1-0 |
| 2022 | 8-5 | 6-2 | #65 | — | 1-0 |
| 2021 | 8-5 | 7-2 | #24 | — | 1-0 |
| 2020 | 5-6 | 4-3 | #83 | — | 0-1 |
| 2019 | 8-4 | 6-2 | #58 | — | 1-0 |
| 2018 | 3-9 | 2-6 | #112 | — | — |
| 2017 | 6-6 | 4-4 | #88 | — | 0-1 |
| 2016 | 10-3 | 8-1 | #19 | — | 1-0 |
| 2015 | 11-2 | 9-0 | #37 | — | 1-0 |
| 2014 | 7-5 | 4-4 | #80 | — | 1-0 |
Recent Form · last 5
3-2 SU · 3-1 ATS · O2/U2
Betting Profile
2025 · 12 w/ line
| Straight up | 9-4 |
| ATS | 9-375% |
| Over / Under | 6-6 O-U |
| — ATS splits — | |
| As favorite | 6-2 |
| As underdog | 3-1 |
| Home | 5-1 |
| Away | 4-2 |
vs closing line · splits show cover–no cover
Recruiting Classes
avg #100 · 0 blue-chip
■ 5★■ 4★■ 3★102 rated signees
| Class | Natl | Pts | 5★ | 4★ | 3★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #96 | 153 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 2024 | #111 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2023 | #134 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 | #94 | 130 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2021 | #136 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2020 | #80 | 157 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2019 | #86 | 154 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2018 | #84 | 155 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| 2017 | #82 | 138 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2016 | #101 | 124 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
247Sports composite · class rank vs all FBS
Roster Talent
talent #100
Returning prod 33%Departed 67%
Portal in 42net +3Out 39
Talent composite561.4 #100 / 134
Portal avg stars (in / out)3.0 / 2.9
Returning usage (pass / rush / rec)17 / 25 / 42
Notable Portal Moves
| ▲ | Avarion Cole | S | 3★ | ← App State |
| ▲ | Matthew Henry | WR | 3★ | ← Western Illinois |
| ▲ | Maverick McIvor | QB | 3★ | ← Abilene Christian |
| ▲ | Josaiah Knight | EDGE | 3★ | ← Mississippi State |
| ▼ | Rodney Newsom Jr. | IOL | 4★ | → South Carolina |
| ▼ | Deante McCray | EDGE | 3★ | → Florida State |
| ▼ | Dallas Walker IV | DL | 3★ | → Auburn |
| ▼ | Jayden Loving | DL | 3★ | → Wake Forest |
returning PPA · portal · talent composite · 2025
Injury Report · 0
No injuries reported.
Team News
1 items
- Corner Canyon lineman Jackson West commits to UtahUtah secured its third commitment of the week on Wednesday evening as Corner Canyon lineman Jackson West announced his decision to stay in-state.