Nevada (1-2) vs. Western Kentucky (2-1)
Saturday, Sept. 20 - 4 p.m. PT
Bowling Green, Ky. - Houchen Industries -L.T. Smith Stadium

TV/Stream: ESPN+ (PxP: Tyler Eaton; Analyst: Terry Obee)
Radio: Wolf Pack Radio Network/The Varsity Network App (PxP: John Ramey; Analyst: Mike Edwards)

RENO, Nev. - Nevada's regular-season non-conference slate wraps this Saturday as the Wolf Pack travels to Western Kentucky. The game will kick off at 4 p.m. PT and be streamed on ESPN+, with Tyler Eaton (play-by-play) and Terry Obee (analyst) on the call.

The Wolf Pack Radio Network will call the game on KOZZ 105.7 FM in Northern Nevada, online at www.thevarsitynetwork.com and on the Varsity Network app. John Ramey (play-by-play), Mike Edwards (analyst) and Terrence Newman (sideline) will be on the call, with the 60-minute pregame show to begin at 3 p.m. PT.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting between the Wolf Pack and Hilltoppers will be the first all-time. Western Kentucky is scheduled to return the game next Sept. 5 in Reno.

ABOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY
Western Kentucky comes into Saturday's contest off of a bye week and with a 2-1 record. The Hilltoppers opened the campaign with a pair of wins before suffering its first setback, 45-21, at Toledo on September 6.

Head coach Tyson Helton is in his seventh season at the Hilltopper helm, a record of 50-33 in Bowling Green.

Western Kentucky averages 39.0 points per game early in 2025 and has twice eclipsed the 40-point mark. Quarterback Maverick McIvor has thrown for 941 yards and 10 touchdowns, as the Hilltopper offense averages 358.0 passing yards and 467.3 yards of total offense per game. Four Hilltopper receivers are already over 100 yards for the season, led by 210 from Moussa Barry.

Defensively, the Hilltoppers give up 382.7 yards a game, including 211.0 yards on the ground. Western Kentucky averages nearly six tackles-for-loss per game with Harper Holloman leading the way with 2.5, and has picked off a pair of passes.

GET INTO THAT BACKFIELD!
Through three games, the Nevada defensive front four has shown that its year-over-year improvement has been no fluke. For the third time, the defense recorded at least six tackles-for-loss, hitting the mark exactly Saturday against Middle Tennessee. The Pack also claimed a season-high four sacks in the contest.

Nevada is already at 19.0 TFLs after three contests, led by 6.0 from Dylan LaBarbera. LaBarbera also paces the Wolf Pack with 2.0 sacks. Sam Cook (3.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks), Jonathan Maldonado (2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks), and Stone Combs (2.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks) are also providing the rush.

WINNING IN THE TRENCHES
It's not just the Wolf Pack defensive line winning its battles, The Union is also moving mass as it plowed the road for another 200-yard rushing game Saturday against Middle Tennessee.

After going for 269 yards on the ground Sept. 6 against Sacramento State, the Pack went for 203 against Middle Tennessee, led by 90 yards on 12 carries from Herschel Turner. Turner has especially thrived behind The Union, rushing for 168 yards on 23 carries (7.3 ypc) over the last two games.

TIGHT ENDS DOING THAT BLUE-COLLAR WORK
A key factor in the Wolf Pack's impressive rushing numbers the past two weeks has been the contributions of tight end tandem Jace Henry and Jett Carpenter. Under the tutelage of 10-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl 50 champion Virgil Green, the pair adds key run-blocking to The Union's fight, but can also get out into the open and make plays with their hands. While Henry made his first catch of the season Saturday against Middle Tennessee, Carpenter has become a prime target, already with six catches for 41 yards on the season.