Western Kentucky redshirt junior defensive lineman Hosea Wheeler (0) blocks a 48-yard field goal attempt by Louisiana Tech’s junior kicker Buck Buchanan (15) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

The Hilltoppers celebrate after redshirt junior defensive lineman Hosea Wheeler (0) blocked a 48-yard field goal attempt by Louisiana Tech’s junior kicker Buck Buchanan (15) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky University students and alumni cheer for the Hilltoppers during their 12-7 homecoming loss to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior wide receiver Kisean Johnson (0) gets tackled by Louisiana Tech’s sophomore defensive backs Jacob Fields (23) and Michael Richard (5) as he runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

The mouthpiece of Western Kentucky senior wide receiver Kisean Johnson (0) flies off after he gets tackled by Louisiana Tech’s sophomore defensive backs Jacob Fields (23) and Michael Richard (5) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt freshman tight end Noah Meyers (81) tries to run the ball past Louisiana Tech’s redshirt senior defensive back Demarcus Griffin-Taylor (8), redshirt senior defensive back Roderick Roberson (19) and sophomore defensive back Michael Richard (5) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp (10) fakes a hand-off to senior running back Elijah Young (3) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior running back Elijah Young (3) celebrates scoring a touchdown in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Big Red dances to music as the Hilltoppers get ready to run out onto the field at the start of their 12-7 loss to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt senior linebacker Chandler Matthews (12) tries to block a pass by Louisiana Tech’s redshirt freshman quarterback Evan Bullock (7) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt senior linebacker Sebastian Benjamin (9) watches as Louisiana Tech’s redshirt freshman quarterback Evan Bullock (7) hands the ball off to junior running back Amani Givens (25) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt senior linebacker Sebastian Benjamin (9) sacks Louisiana Tech’s redshirt freshman quarterback Evan Bullock (7) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky freshman defensive lineman Harper Holloman (44) chases after Louisiana Tech’s redshirt freshman quarterback Evan Bullock (7) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Children of Western Kentucky University alumni cheer for the Hilltoppers during their 12-7 homecoming loss to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky University cheerleaders cheer for the Hilltoppers during their 12-7 homecoming loss to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore wide receiver K.D. Hutchinson (15) catches a punt return in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate wide receiver Michael Mathison (4) is tackled by Louisiana Tech’s redshirt senior defensive back Demarcus Griffin-Taylor (8) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp (10) runs the ball as Louisiana Tech’s senior defensive lineman Jessie Evans (2) dives for the tackle in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp (10) hands the ball off to redshirt junior running back George Hart III (9) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt junior running back George Hart III (9) tries to push the ball past Louisiana Tech’s sophomore defensive back Jacob Fields (23) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior running back Elijah Young (3) runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp (10) passes the ball to graduate wide receiver Michael Mathison (4) as he’s blocked by Louisiana Tech’s redshirt sophomore defensive back Blake Thompson (0) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt freshman tight end Noah Meyers (81) runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior wide receiver Kisean Johnson (0) tries to push off Louisiana Tech’s redshirt senior defensive back Demarcus Griffin-Taylor (8) as he runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior running back Elijah Young (3) gets tackled by Louisiana Tech’s redshirt senior defensive back Isaiah Mcelvane (3) and redshirt junior linebacker Sifa Leota (42) in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior wide receiver Bryce Childress (5) is pushed out of bounds by Louisiana Tech’s redshirt sophomore linebacker Mekhi Mason (9) as he runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp (10) gets tackled by Louisiana Tech’s sophomore defensive back Jacob Fields (23) and redshirt junior linebacker Sifa Leota (42) as he tries to push the ball into the end zone in the Hilltoppers’ 12-7 loss to the Bulldogs at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS