WKU Football: Gameday Information for WKU vs Austin Peay
Your guide for everything you need to know to enjoy the Tops' season opener against Austin Peay.
After a successful 2021 campaign, WKU football is in the rare position of the unknown. In the FBS era, WKU has generally known where it stood, and generally was assumed to improve or maintain its status quo.
Although the same head coach is in power, coordinators have changed, the NCAA record-setting quarterback is out, two receivers who combined for 3,400 yards, a punter with a cannon is gone, and several elite players are gone from the defense, as well.
That’s a lot of loss. And season predictions are reflecting that concern, especially from those outside of the program. WKU has been consistently picked to finish third or fourth in Conference USA. They’re still respected but expected to digress due to losing record-setting talent on all sides of the ball.
However, what WKU insiders know a little more intimately is it seems like WKU has a viable answer for almost every issue. Now, how does that actually play out?
Despite stability at the top and a really good, established culture, there is so much else that could be questioned, as well. It’s fair to say the Tops might take a step backward in 2022. But remember that WKU has done absolutely everything it could have to answer some of the biggest concerns, and in some areas, Western Kentucky could be better than last season. WKU was not an impenetrable force throughout 2021, to say the least.
WKU (0-0, 0-0 C-USA) takes on Austin Peay (0-0, 0-0 ASUN) in the opening game of the college football season. In a unique opportunity, WKU gets the national limelight for 30 minutes, kicking off the entire college football season at 11 a.m. before the 11:30 game between Nebraska and Northwestern.
For this first game, WKU is looking to start off well against an FCS team. The first game is always tricky: Coaches think they have an idea, but they never truly know until they see their team in action against someone else.
Western has plenty of question marks; from up front on both sides of the ball, skill positions, punter, etc., But from our analysis, we believe tight end, running back, and linebacker all should definitely be better. The more we hear out of camp, the more it seems like the offense is quite good, and the concern could be the defensive line and somewhat the secondary as the main points of concern.
Austin Peay is a team that took a hit themselves from last season to this one. They lost a quarterback, offensive players from most position groups, and four of their top five tacklers are gone. Their specialists were good and young, so they return. Austin Peay was 6-5 last season, with a couple of pretty good FCS wins, but also were inconsistent and lost a few in conference to stay out of the hunt for the FCS playoffs. The Governors likely should finish around where they did last year, but they may struggle early with all of that roster turnover.
So let’s set the stage for WKU and APSU, shall we?
Location
Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium
Capacity: 22,113
Set near the bottom of a steep hill, Houchens Industries-LT Smith Stadium has housed the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers since 1968. WKU renovated “The Houch” as it transitioned to the FBS, adding 7,000 more seats and moving all WKU Football Operations into the new side of the stadium, finishing construction in 2009.
Time
Saturday, August 27, 2022 11 a.m. CST
Weather Forecast
The warm weather continues as fairly clear skies should lead to a high of 90. Gametime temperatures will be in the mid to upper 80s, heating up throughout the game.
TV
CBS Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Chick Hernandez
Analyst: Randy Cross
Radio
Randy Lee (Play by Play), Terry Obee (Analyst), Lexi Schweinert (Analyst), Jared Holland (Sideline)
Tune in to your local Hilltopper Sports Network station.
Also, you can listen to the radio call anywhere in the world on the WKU Gameday App!
Gameday Information
WKU
APSU
Around C-USA
C-USA Week 0: What They’re Saying
Betting Lines from Sportsline.com
WKU -21.5
O/U 67.5
ESPN.com Match-up Predictor
WKU-94.5% chance to win
Current Records
WKU: 0-0 (0-0 C-USA)
APSU: 0-0 (0-0 ASUN)
Last Time Out…
WKU was in for a difficult battle with Appalachian State in the 2021 Boca Raton Bowl, but the Hilltoppers pulled it together and ended up in typical 2021 fashion. After a back-and-forth first half, Zappe and the Tops blasted open the game in the third, ultimately leading by as many as 28 points in the fourth quarter. Against one of the best defenses in college football, WKU won 59-38, capping off one of the most successful seasons in WKU’s 13 years as an FBS member to finish at 9-5 on the season.
Austin Peay had a fairly average 2021, but definitely finished with some strong momentum. They won three games in a row to end the season, winning each by at least 16 points. The last game of the season, the Governors routed Tennessee Tech 48-20. As a program, APSU was riding on a supreme high note heading into the offseason.
Coaches
Tyson Helton- 4th Season- 23-16 (23-16 Overall)
Scotty Walden- 3rd Season- 10-7 (18-13 Overall)
Series
35–6-1 WKU
Austin Peay was a long-time OVC opponent for the Tops, but that consistent battle went by the wayside when the Tops went away from the OVC, eventually joining the FBS. Despite WKU’s being on the same level as Austin Peay for most of the time against the Governors, WKU has absolutely dominated the rivalry in every era. Although this game used to be played nearly every year for several decades, the two teams are playing for only the third time since Western left the OVC in 1998.
Last Meeting
WKU and Austin Peay last played September 1, 2012, under Willie Taggart. Western manhandled Austin Peay 49-10 in that matchup, getting up 35-0 after the first half and 49-7 at its largest margin before APSU kicked a late field goal. Kawaun Jakes had one of his better games on The Hill, throwing for nearly 300 yards, leading the offense to nearly 600 total yards.
Injury Report
WKU
K Brayden Narveson: Coming off of hip surgery, Narveson has been declared the owner of the kicking position, but it’s something to keep an eye on going forward if he gets in a funk.
TE Joshua Simon: Cleared and active; keep in mind he sat out most of last season with a broken leg.
LB Will Ignont: Cleared and active; Ignont suffered a late-season injury that kept him out of the last few games.
APSU
No known injuries
Excitement Level —7
The main excitement here is football is back and the Tops look like they should be pretty good. Is this the year the Tops go undefeated and shock the world, squeaking into the college football playoffs? Probably not. However, the interest in really in the range of possibilities for the Tops. A most common list of expectations could be anywhere from 6-7 to 10-3 depending on how things shake out at certain positions.
The excitement drags down because this is an FCS opponent that’s not very good. However, a lot of the old heads should be excited, because Austin Peay was an OVC opponent for years. There’s local interest, and lots of players and fans for both teams will likely know each other on some level. Austin Peay does have a local BG kid, so I’m sure family will be out in force.
However, those little factoids don’t really move the needle. Listen, people are pretty excited about athletics on The Hill in general right now. One would think people will come in fired up after nearly getting the trophy last year. Fans and opponents may be skeptical, but for the first few games, they should be sticking around to see how good this team will be.
We’ll lock excitement in at a solid 7, just because people in general are just ready for some sports on The Hill.