Western Kentucky

Western Kentucky enters 2026 with quarterback uncertainty defining their offseason after an 8-4 campaign that exceeded expectations. The Hilltoppers lost Maverick McIvor at quarterback and face a wide-open competition for the signal-caller position, while their defense projects as a legitimate strength with a +0.5 rating that ranks 56th nationally. The portal brought significant roster churn with 22 departures including running back La'Vell Wright (32.2 PPA) to Pitt and tight end Noah Meyers (22.8 PPA) to Syracuse, but quarterback Brock Glenn arrived from Florida State as the most impactful addition at 7.8 PPA.

JP+ projects 6.1 wins for the Hilltoppers in a Conference USA schedule that includes challenging road trips to Indiana and Georgia alongside winnable games against New Mexico State and Sam Houston. The gap between that projection and their recent success stems largely from offensive uncertainty, as the unit grades out 101st nationally at -3.2 points with significant target-share losses and an unsettled quarterback situation. If the new signal-caller emerges quickly and the defense maintains its effectiveness, Western Kentucky could push toward another bowl appearance. If offensive cohesion takes time to develop, a step back from last season's eight wins becomes the more likely outcome.