Six home games and a game in Nashville await Western Kentucky first-year coach Tyson Helton and the Hilltoppers on their 2019 schedule that was announced Thursday.

WKU begins its season at home for the third time in four years when FCS program Central Arkansas comes to town Aug. 31. The Bears, out of the Southland Conference, finished 6-5 in 2018 and return 16 starters.

Conference USA play begins in Week 2 with the season’s longest road trip at Florida International on Sept. 7. The Hilltoppers have played a C-USA game within the first two weeks in two previous seasons (Louisiana Tech, 2015; Rice, 2016) but have never started C-USA play this early on the road. WKU is also seeking its first victory over the Panthers under Butch Davis.

On Sept. 14, the Hilltoppers face Louisville at Nissan Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. Louisville rallied from a 14-0 deficit last season to beat WKU in Cardinal Stadium.

After a bye week, WKU steps back into conference play for two games by hosting defending C-USA champion UAB in the first meeting of the programs since 2014. The Hilltoppers travel to East Division rival Old Dominion on Oct. 5.

On Oct. 12, WKU hosts Army at Houchens-Smith Stadium. The Black Knights are coming off one of their best seasons in recent history as head coach Jeff Monken led the team to a No. 19 finish in the final 2018 Associated Press poll and the first 11-win season in program history. It was Army’s highest finish in that ranking in 60 years.

A trifecta of C-USA games follows Army as WKU hosts Charlotte on Oct. 19, travels to Marshall on Oct. 26, then hosts Florida Atlantic on Nov. 2.

WKU steps out of C-USA play for the final time with a road trip to Arkansas on Nov. 9, the first-ever meeting between the two schools, before traveling to Southern Miss for the first time Nov. 23.

The Hilltoppers and Middle Tennessee close out the regular season at home on senior night on Nov. 30.

All dates are subject to change and kick off times and TV designations will be announced later this year.

2019 football schedule

Aug. 31 – Central Arkansas

Sept. 7 – at Florida International

Sept. 14 – vs. Louisville (Nashville)

Sept. 21 – Bye

Sept. 28 – Alabama-Birmingham

Oct. 5 – at Old Dominion

Oct. 12 – Army

Oct. 19 – Charlotte

Oct. 26 – at Marshall

Nov. 2 – Florida Atlantic

Nov. 9 – at Arkansas

Nov. 16 – Bye

Nov. 23 – at Southern Mississippi

Nov. 30 – Middle Tennessee

WKU all-time records vs. 2019 opponents

UCA: 0-1

FIU: 6-6

Louisville: 12-20

UAB: 3-3

ODU: 4-1

Army: 2-0

Charlotte: 1-1

Marshall: 4-6

FAU: 3-7

Arkansas: First meeting

USM: 2-0

MTSU: 32-35-1{&end}