Opponent Preview: Western Kentucky

Mascot: Hilltoppers

2025 Record: 9-4, 6-2

Conference: Conference USA

Series History: Georgia leads 1-0 (won 48-12 in 2006).

Head Coach: Tyson Helton

Famous Alumni: John Carpenter, director of Halloween and Escape From New York

Fun Fact: Its mascot is a literal blob

Tyson Helton is liable to get a few side-eyes in the Peach State due to Georgia Southern fans being uneasy with the tenure of his brother, GSU head coach Clay Helton as the Eagles head coach. That’s not so much the case for Tyson Helton at WKU, where he’s grown a knack for developing a revolving door of talent season-to-season to make a team better – no easy task with teams in the Conference USA being akin to a AAA baseball team in the current college football landscape. Case in point, this year’s team lost six in the offseason via the transfer portal to FBS schools and has 66 new players on its roster, give or take. Also, take last year when WKU overcame returning two defensive starters to have a shot at playing for a conference title near the end of the season.

Despite the current dynamics of college football, WKU still finds success. The Hilltoppers’ eight bowl wins in 12 years are the most nationally behind Georgia and Minnesota. Under Helton, he has led Western Kentucky to a winning season in each year. The black mark? No conference title and just one C-USA title game appearance. It goes without saying that there’s a desire in Bowling Green to see a next step taken.

Anytime, anywhere…

Say this about Western Kentucky – it does not duck hard challenges. This year, it begins not just with a three-game road trip, but one that cuts few corners. The Hilltoppers face Georgia after a road opener at Nevada followed by going to defending national champion Indiana.

On Offense…

WKU uses what’s best called “pro raid,” a hybrid between a pro-style and air raid on a unit that is the stronger of the two sides of the ball thanks to seven returning starters.

One of those is quarterback Rodney Tisdale, who established himself the final six games last year and can impact the game as a dual threat. There’s not a lot of returning muscle on the offensive line with Karsten Upchurch being the only returner, but there seems to be a feeling that thanks to heavy lifting in the portal, this could be one of the team’s positions of strength.

There are a good number of playmakers as well in KD Hutchinson at receiver and Ajay Allen at running back, which mesh well (no pun intended for you fans of the air raid) with Tisdale’s mobility.

On Defense…

This is where there could be growing pains, which could be tough for OJT against Georgia. The defensive line is entirely new, and no transfers have any FBS experience. The flip side is in the defensive secondary with Jaylen Lewis and Jaylen Webster expected to set the tone.

Prediction

Look for WKU to put a few solid chunk plays up ahead of Georgia’s first SEC game, but the Bulldogs to have a big offensive day in a 51-10 win.