The 2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team (WKU) represented Western Kentucky University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers played their home games at the Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as members of the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by second-year head coach Tyson Helton.
Schedule Western Kentucky announced its 2020 football schedule on January 8, 2020. The 2020 schedule consists of 6 home and 5 away games in the regular season.
The Hilltoppers had games scheduled against Indiana and Old Dominion, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schedule source:
Game summaries
At Louisville
Statistics Western KentuckyLouisville First downs 12 22 Total yards 248 487 Rushing yards 119 144 Passing yards 129 343 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 27:27 32:33
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Tyrrell Pigrome 10/23, 129 yards, 1 TD Rushing Tyrrell Pigrome 17 carries, 68 yards Receiving Jahcour Pearson 5 receptions, 67 yardsLouisville Passing Malik Cunningham 19/34, 343 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Javian Hawkins 19 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dez Fitzpatrick 4 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD
Liberty
Statistics LibertyWestern Kentucky First downs 27 19 Total yards 487 291 Rushing yards 354 110 Passing yards 133 181 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 34:59 25:01
Team Category Player StatisticsLiberty Passing Malik Willis 13/21, 133 yards Rushing Malik Willis 21 carries, 168 yards, 3 TDs Receiving CJ Yarbrough 2 receptions, 53 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Tyrrell Pigrome 18/25, 181 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Tyrrell Pigrome 14 carries, 74 yards Receiving Mitchell Tinsley 6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD
At Middle Tennessee
Statistics Western KentuckyMiddle Tennessee First downs 21 18 Total yards 326 319 Rushing yards 138 102 Passing yards 188 217 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 31:35 28:25
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Tyrrell Pigrome 21/36, 188 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Tyrrell Pigrome 16 carries, 55 yards Receiving Xavier Lane 7 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TDMiddle Tennessee Passing Asher O'Hara 23/33, 217 yards, 1 TD Rushing Asher O'Hara 25 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jarrin Pierce 9 receptions, 65 yards
Marshall
Statistics MarshallWestern Kentucky First downs 17 15 Total yards 343 294 Rushing yards 181 85 Passing yards 162 209 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 34:41 25:19
Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Grant Wells 16/22, 162 yards Rushing Brenden Knox 15 carries, 107 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Broc Thompson 4 receptions, 94 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Kevaris Thomas 9/18, 148 yards, 1 TD Rushing Kevaris Thomas 7 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD Receiving Xavier Lane 4 receptions, 74 yards
At UAB
Statistics Western KentuckyUAB First downs 15 17 Total yards 250 358 Rushing yards 88 217 Passing yards 162 141 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 28:33 31:27
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Kevaris Thomas 16/35, 162 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Jakairi Moses 6 carries, 41 yards Receiving Joshua Simon 6 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TDUAB Passing Bryson Lucero 15/31, 141 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing DeWayne McBride 10 carries, 131 yards, 1 TD Receiving Austin Watkins 7 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD
Chattanooga
Statistics ChattanoogaWestern Kentucky First downs 13 14 Total yards 225 254 Rushing yards 135 122 Passing yards 90 132 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 32:21 27:39
Team Category Player StatisticsChattanooga Passing Drayton Arnold 9/23, 90 yards Rushing Ailym Ford 25 carries, 92 yards Receiving Tyron Arnett 2 receptions, 30 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Tyrrell Pigrome 4/8, 73 yards, 1 TD Rushing Gaej Walker 17 carries, 88 yards Receiving Mitchell Tinsley 4 receptions, 46 yards
At BYU
Statistics Western KentuckyBYU First downs 12 22 Total yards 248 487 Rushing yards 119 144 Passing yards 129 343 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 27:27 32:33
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Tyrrell Pigrome 19/30, 106 yards, 1 TD Rushing Gaej Walker 17 carries, 75 yards Receiving Xavier Lane 3 receptions, 31 yardsBYU Passing Zach Wilson 18/22, 224 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Tyler Allgeier 16 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dax Milne 5 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD
At Florida Atlantic
Statistics Western KentuckyFlorida Atlantic First downs 16 18 Total yards 257 273 Rushing yards 94 165 Passing yards 163 108 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 33:49 26:11
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Tyrrell Pigrome 19/39, 163 yards Rushing Gaej Walker 17 carries, 78 yards Receiving Xavier Lane 7 receptions, 60 yardsFlorida Atlantic Passing Nick Tronti 7/16, 108 yards Rushing Javion Posey 9 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD Receiving TJ Chase 3 receptions, 47 yards
Southern Miss
Statistics Southern MissWestern Kentucky First downs 13 19 Total yards 221 304 Rushing yards 154 121 Passing yards 67 183 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 25:18 34:42
Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Miss Passing Trey Lowe 6/14, 67 yards Rushing Kevin Perkins 8 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD Receiving Antoine Robinson 2 receptions, 25 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Tyrrell Pigrome 19/30, 183 yards Rushing Jakairi Moses 12 carries, 40 yards Receiving Xavier Lane 5 receptions, 90 yards
FIU
Statistics FIUWestern Kentucky First downs 17 13 Total yards 268 278 Rushing yards 121 157 Passing yards 147 121 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 33:51 26:09
Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Max Bortenschlager 8/18, 106 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing D'Vonte Price 24 carries, 100 yards Receiving JJ Holloman 2 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TDWestern Kentucky Passing Tyrrell Pigrome 14/25, 121 yards Rushing Gaej Walker 17 carries, 127 yards, 1 TD Receiving Mitchell Tinsley 3 receptions, 28 yards
At Charlotte
Statistics Western KentuckyCharlotte First downs 21 18 Total yards 436 308 Rushing yards 218 89 Passing yards 218 219 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 29:59 30:01
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Tyrrell Pigrome 18/27, 218 yards, 1 TD Rushing Gaej Walker 19 carries, 98 yards Receiving Dakota Thomas 5 receptions, 78 yardsCharlotte Passing Chris Reynolds 14/34, 205 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Tre Harbison 16 carries, 80 yards Receiving Victor Tucker 8 receptions, 111 yards
Vs. Georgia State (LendingTree Bowl)
Statistics Georgia StateWestern Kentucky First downs 27 14 Total yards 484 284 Rushing yards 227 104 Passing yards 257 180 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 35:02 24:58
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Cornelious Brown IV 16/30, 232 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Destin Coates 23 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD Receiving Cornelius McCoy 5 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TDWestern Kentucky Passing Tyrrell Pigrome 17/33, 180 yards, 2 INTs Rushing C. J. Jones 5 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD Receiving Joshua Simon 4 receptions, 84 yards
References