Hilltoppers announce home-and-home series with Liberty

Published 10:56 am Monday, June 11, 2018

Western Kentucky defensive back Drell Greene (right) intercepts a pass intended for Ball State wide receiver Justin Hall on Sept. 23 during WKU’s 33-21 win at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

Western Kentucky announced Monday the addition of four future nonconference football games, including three games to be played at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

The Hilltoppers will play a home-and-home series with Liberty beginning on Sept. 19, 2020, which completes WKU’s six-game home slate and overall schedule for that season.

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The Toppers will travel to Lynchburg, Va., home of the Flames, who begin their inaugural FBS season in 2018, for a game Sept. 6, 2025. The 2020 matchup will be the first-ever meeting between the schools.

WKU will also host Tennessee-Martin in a single game to open the 2021 season Sept. 4 in addition to welcoming back Houston Baptist to Houchens-Smith Stadium on Sept. 9, 2023.

The Hilltoppers and Skyhawks played each year from 1997-2000, including the final two as members of the Ohio Valley Conference, but have not played since. WKU is 4-0 all-time vs. UTM.

The Huskies from Houston Baptist made their inaugural trip to Bowling Green during the 2016 campaign, falling to WKU 50-3.

With the addition of these three home games, the Hilltoppers’ nonconference schedules are complete through 2021 and include six home games in each of the next three seasons, including a visit from Indiana out of the Big Ten Conference in 2021.

Future WKU nonconference opponents

2018 – at Wisconsin (Aug. 31), Maine (Sept. 8), at Louisville (Sept. 15), at Ball State (Sept. 22)

2019 – Central Arkansas (Aug. 31), Louisville (Nashville, Sept. 14), Army (Oct. 12), at Arkansas (Nov. 9)

2020 – Chattanooga (Sept. 5), at Indiana (Sept. 12), Liberty (Sept. 19) at Louisville (Sept. 26)

2021 – Tennessee-Martin (Sept. 4), at Army (Sept. 11), Indiana (Sept. 25), at Michigan State (Oct. 2)

2022 – at Hawaii (Sept. 3), Austin Peay (Sept. 10), at Indiana (Sept. 17), at Auburn (Sept. 24)

2023 – South Florida (Sept. 2), Houston Baptist (Sept. 9), at Alabama (Sept. 16)

2024 – at South Florida (Aug. 31)

2025 – at Liberty (Sept. 6)