# 2022 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

The 2022 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as a member of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by head coach Tyson Helton, who was coaching his fourth season with the team. The Hilltoppers played their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The team was led on offense by quarterback Austin Reed who joined the team in 2022 via the NCAA transfer portal. Through the first two games, Reed had 550 passing yards, ranking third in the nation.

## Preseason
### C-USA media day

The Conference USA media day was held on July 27 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Hilltoppers were represented by head coach Tyson Helton, tight end Joey Beljan, and defensive end Juwuan Jones. The Hilltoppers were predicted to finish third in the conference's preseason poll.
Media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team |
| 1 | UTSA |
| 2 | UAB |
| 3 | WKU |
| 4 | Florida Atlantic |
| 5 | North Texas |
| 6 | UTEP |
| 7 | Charlotte |
| 8 | Middle Tennessee |
| 9 | Louisiana Tech |
| 10 | Rice |
| 11 | FIU |

## Schedule

Western Kentucky and Conference USA announced the 2022 football schedule on March 30, 2022.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 27 | 11:00 a.m. | Austin Peay* | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | CBSSN | W 38–27 | 13,688 |
| September 3 | 11:00 p.m. | at Hawaii* | Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics ComplexHonolulu, HI | SPEC PPV | W 49–17 | 9,346 |
| September 17 | 11:00 a.m. | at Indiana* | Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN | BTN | L 30–33 $^{OT}$ | 48,952 |
| September 24 | 2:30 p.m. | FIU | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | CBSSN | W 73–0 | 15,127 |
| October 1 | 6:00 p.m. | Troy* | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | ESPN+ | L 27–34 | 20,168 |
| October 8 | 5:00 p.m. | at UTSA | AlamodomeSan Antonio, TX | ESPN+ | L 28–31 | 22,328 |
| October 15 | 2:30 p.m. | at Middle Tennessee | Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN (100 Miles of Hate) | ESPN+ | W 35–17 | 14,806 |
| October 21 | 7:00 p.m. | UAB | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | CBSSN | W 20–17 | 16,334 |
| October 29 | 2:30 p.m. | North Texas | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | Stadium | L 13–40 | 17,194 |
| November 5 | 11:00 a.m. | at Charlotte | Jerry Richardson StadiumCharlotte, NC | CBSSN | W 59–7 | 10,857 |
| November 12 | 1:00 p.m. | Rice | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | ESPN+ | W 45–10 | 10,127 |
| November 19 | 3:00 p.m. | at Auburn* | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL | SECN | L 17–41 | 81,824 |
| November 26 | 11:00 a.m. | at Florida Atlantic | FAU StadiumBoca Raton, FL | CBSSN | W 32–31 $^{OT}$ | 18,376 |
| December 21 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. South Alabama* | Caesars SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA (New Orleans Bowl) | ESPN | W 44–23 | 13,456 |
| *Non-conference gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Austin Peay

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Governors | 10 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
| Hilltoppers | 7 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 38 |
| Statistics | APSU | WKU |
| First downs | 19 | 19 |
| Total yards | 319 | 388 |
| Rushing yards | 163 | 108 |
| Passing yards | 156 | 280 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:39 | 27:31 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Austin Peay | Passing | Mike DiLiello | 15/21, 156 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Austin Peay | Rushing | Josh Samuel | 20 rushes, 77 yards |
| Austin Peay | Receiving | Drae McCray | 6 receptions, 90 yards, 2 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 20/34, 280 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Davion Ervin-Poindexter | 15 rushes, 49 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Daewood Davis | 6 receptions, 124 yards, TD |

### At Hawaii

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 0 | 21 | 7 | 21 | 49 |
| Rainbow Warriors | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Statistics | WKU | HAW |
| First downs | 24 | 20 |
| Total yards | 412 | 360 |
| Rushing yards | 141 | 94 |
| Passing yards | 271 | 266 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 6 |
| Time of possession | 25:52 | 34:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 22/31, 271 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Kye Robichaux | 7 rushes, 49 yards, TD |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Daewood Davis | 5 receptions, 78 yards |
| Hawaii | Passing | Brayden Schager | 22/33, 230 yards, 4 INT |
| Hawaii | Rushing | Nasjzae Bryant-Lelei | 13 rushes, 64 yards, TD |
| Hawaii | Receiving | Jalen Walthall | 3 receptions, 53 yards |

### At Indiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 7 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 30 |
| Hoosiers | 3 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 33 |
| Statistics | WKU | IU |
| First downs | 25 | 28 |
| Total yards | 545 | 484 |
| Rushing yards | 216 | 120 |
| Passing yards | 329 | 364 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:21 | 27:39 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 33/43, 329 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Kye Robichaux | 14 rushes, 135 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Daewood Davis | 5 receptions, 77 yards, TD |
| Indiana | Passing | Connor Bazelak | 33/55, 364 yards, 2 TD |
| Indiana | Rushing | Josh Henderson | 11 rushes, 65 yards, TD |
| Indiana | Receiving | Cam Camper | 8 receptions, 93 yards, TD |

### FIU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hilltoppers | 14 | 28 | 17 | 14 | 73 |
| Statistics | FIU | WKU |
| First downs | 10 | 32 |
| Total yards | 180 | 688 |
| Rushing yards | 56 | 210 |
| Passing yards | 124 | 478 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:32 | 29:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| FIU | Passing | Grayson James | 13/23, 85 yards |
| FIU | Rushing | Lexington Joseph | 15 rushes, 31 yards |
| FIU | Receiving | Nate Jefferson | 4 receptions, 27 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 29/35, 381 yards, 5 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | L. T. Sanders | 4 rushes, 73 yards, TD |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Malachi Corley | 3 receptions, 125 yards, 2 TD |

### Troy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 10 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 34 |
| Hilltoppers | 7 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 27 |

### At UTSA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Roadrunners | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |

### At Middle Tennessee

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 0 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
| Blue Raiders | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |

### UAB

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blazers | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Hilltoppers | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| Statistics | UAB | WKU |
| First downs | 14 | 19 |
| Total yards | 327 | 352 |
| Rushing yards | 231 | 224 |
| Passing yards | 96 | 128 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:21 | 32:39 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UAB | Passing | Dylan Hopkins | 2/2, 63 yards, TD |
| UAB | Rushing | DeWayne McBride | 24 rushes, 200 yards |
| UAB | Receiving | Samario Rudolph | 1 reception, 59 yards, TD |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 14/23, 128 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | L. T. Sanders | 16 rushes, 120 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Malachi Corley | 5 receptions, 77 yards |

### North Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 17 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 40 |
| Hilltoppers | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Statistics | UNT | WKU |
| First downs | 25 | 23 |
| Total yards | 541 | 466 |
| Rushing yards | 196 | 146 |
| Passing yards | 345 | 320 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:05 | 30:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 20/28, 322 yards, 3 TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | Ayo Adeyi | 10 rushes, 72 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Damon Ward Jr. | 4 receptions, 101 yards, TD |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 29/49, 320 yards, TD, INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | L. T. Sanders | 13 rushes, 76 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Malachi Corley | 8 receptions, 97 yards |

### At Charlotte

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Hilltoppers | 21 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 59 |
| 49ers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Statistics | WKU | CHAR |
| First downs | 25 | 22 |
| Total yards | 592 | 384 |
| Rushing yards | 131 | 161 |
| Passing yards | 461 | 223 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 20:26 | 39:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 23–38, 409 yards, 6 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Davion Ervin-Poindexter | 3 rushes, 49 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Malachi Corley | 6 receptions, 162 yards, 1 TD |
| Charlotte | Passing | Chris Reynolds | 17–27, 196 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Charlotte | Rushing | James Martin III | 16 rushes, 85 yards |
| Charlotte | Receiving | Grant DuBose | 7 receptions, 88 yards |

### Rice

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 7 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 45 |
| Owls | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |

### At Auburn

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Tigers | 10 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 41 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama
* Date: Saturday, November 19, 2022
* Game time: 3:01 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind: 6 mph NW
* Game attendance: 81,824
* Referee: Scott Walker
* TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (analyst), Andraya Carter (sideline reporter)
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 26/55, 289 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Markese Stepp | 7 carries, 33 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Malachi Corley | 12 receptions, 99 yards |
| Auburn | Passing | Jarquez Hunter | 1/1, 20 yards, 1 TD |
| Auburn | Rushing | Tank Bigsby | 18 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD |
| Auburn | Receiving | Koy Moore | 2 receptions, 31 yards, 1 TD |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | Western Kentucky | Auburn |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | | |

### At Florida Atlantic

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Owls | 0 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Hilltoppers | 0 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 32 |

### South Alabama (New Orleans Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 14 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 44 |
| Jaguars | 0 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 23 |