Western Kentucky (2-4) at No. 11 BYU (6-0)
- Kickoff: Saturday, 8:15 p.m. MDT
- Venue: LaVell Edwards Stadium (6,000 fans allowed)
- Surface: Natural grass
- TV: ESPN
- Livestream: WatchESPN
- Radio: KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM
- Series: First meeting
- Weather: Clear skies with temperatures in the high 40s at kickoff.
THE STAKES
For Western Kentucky … The Hilltoppers are looking to upset the No. 11 team in the country on the road.
For BYU … The Cougars are looking to extend their undefeated season and preserve their No. 11 ranking before a huge showdown next week at No. 25 Boise State.
THE TRENDS
For Western Kentucky … The Hilltoppers beat Chattanooga last week, 13-10. Prior to that they lost to Marshall and UAB by a combined scored of 75-28.
For BYU … If the Cougars win, it would mark BYU’s fourth 7-0 start in school history. It also happened in 1979, 1984 and 2001. The Cougars have posted a 7-5 record in games played on Halloween. BYU has scored at least 43 points in five of the first six games.
THE CRYSTAL BALL
Western Kentucky will win if … The Hilltoppers force turnovers and manage to get pressure on quarterback Zach Wilson.
BYU will win if … The Cougars don’t get complacent and look ahead to next week’s game at Boise State.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Tyrrell Pigrome, Western Kentucky quarterback: The senior grad transfer from Maryland has completed 65 of 113 passes for 632 yards with seven touchdowns and zero interceptions.
KEY MATCHUP
BYU quarterback Zach Wilson vs. Western Kentucky’s secondary: Wilson, a Heisman Trophy candidate who is completing 78% of his passes, is averaging 321 passing yards per game. The Hilltoppers are giving up 181 passing yards per contest.
QUOTABLE
“It will be a very unique trip but an exciting one. It’s a great opportunity to play an undefeated team.”
— Western Kentucky coach Tyson Helton
“This is the deepest team we have had since we started. But we aren’t just talking about talent — we are talking about (overall) depth, the guys we feel comfortable taking the field with, and that is one thing that you always keep working on.”
— BYU coach Kalani Sitake
NEXT UP
BYU visits No. 25 Boise State Nov. 6; Western Kentucky visits Florida Atlantic on Nov. 7.
BYU SCHEDULE
Sept. 7 — BYU 55, Navy 3
Sept. 19 — at Army (POSTPONED)
Sept. 26 — BYU 48, Troy 7
Oct. 2 — BYU 45, Louisiana Tech 14
Oct. 10 — BYU 27, UTSA 20
Oct. 16 — BYU 43, Houston 26
Oct. 24 — BYU 52, Texas State 14
Oct. 31 — Western Kentucky (8:15, ESPN)
Nov. 6 — at Boise State (7:45 p.m., FS1)
Nov. 21 — Northern Alabama (TBA, TBA)
Dec. 12 — San Diego State (TBA, TBA)
All times MT