Western Kentucky absolutely shredded FCS Mercyhurst 52-7 last Saturday, shaking off a brutal 1-3 start to their 2026 season right before diving headfirst into Conference USA play. That win? It was a much-needed shot of confidence for the Hilltoppers, who’ve had a ridiculously tough non-conference schedule, but now the real grind begins Thursday night against New Mexico State.
The Hilltoppers’ Gauntlet and Tisdale Jr.’s Explosion
WKU’s 1-3 record tells only part of the story. They didn’t just lose three in a row to start the year; they faced an absolute gauntlet. Imagine getting thrown into the fire against a top national title contender Georgia, who stomped them 70-20, and then immediately following that up with reigning national champion Indiana, who cruised to a 38-0 victory. That’s a brutal start for anyone. So, for them to come out against Mercyhurst and put up a 52-7 routing, gaining that confidence? That’s huge heading into conference play. Hilltoppers quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. was straight-up dealing, throwing for 309 yards and four touchdowns. He was spreading the ball to 12 different receivers, man! Their only non-scoring drive in the first half of that game was when the clock ran out. That’s what you want to see from your offense.
Aggies Are Favored, But Will They Hold At Home?
New Mexico State also handled Mercyhurst, beating them 51-14, so they’re coming in with some momentum too, despite their own 1-3 record. Their losses were against Florida State, Hawaii, and their state rival New Mexico. So, two teams, both 1-3, both coming off big wins against the same FCS opponent, now kicking off their Conference USA season. It’s a classic C-USA opener. The oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook have the Aggies favored by 2.5 points at home, with the Over/Under for total points set at 55.5. The SportsLine Projection Model, which has been crushing it with a 32-24 run on top-rated college football picks, is also looking at this game, and you gotta wonder what they see.
This Thursday night clash at Aggie Memorial Stadium is more than just another game; it’s the start of their C-USA season. For Western Kentucky, it’s about proving that recent blowout wasn’t a fluke and that their ambitious schedule has them ready for conference competition. For New Mexico State, it’s about defending home turf and getting an early leg up in the league. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, and you know we’ll be watching to see who really sets the tone for their conference run.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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