Troy Rekindles Old Rivalry at WKU

TROY, Ala. – Coming off back-to-back Sun Belt Conference games, Troy steps back out of conference to rekindle an old rivalry with Western Kentucky in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday. Kickoff from Houchens Smith Stadium is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

The non-conference tilt marks the first meeting between Troy (2-2) and WKU (3-1) since 2013 when the schools were both members of the Sun Belt; the Hilltoppers departed the following season for Conference USA.

Troy bounced back from its heartbreaking loss at App State with a solid victory over a Marshall squad that marched into Notre Dame Stadium two weeks earlier and knocked off the No. 8 Fighting Irish.

The Trojans held Marshall to 174 yards of total offense and 96 rushing yards; the Herd entered the weekend ranked sixth nationally, averaging 263.3 yards per game on the ground and 15th overall with 507.7 yards per game. On the other side of the ball, Troy racked up 421 yards of total offense against a Marshall defense that was 23rd nationally, allowing just 280.7 yards per game.

Carlton Martial became the Sun Belt's all-time leading tackler in the game as he finished with 18 tackles – he needed just three for the record. The tackle total is the second most in the country this season and ranks as the sixth most in a game in Troy history.

The 174-yard output by Marshall's offense marked the 36th time a Troy defense has held its opponent under 200 yards since moving to the DI level in 2001.

The Trojans enter the weekend tied with Tennessee for the nation's lead with five passing plays of 50-plus yards. For Troy, four of those came last week, with Tez Johnson hauling in two and Jabre Barber and Marcus Rogers adding one. Barber leads Troy with 20 catches for 308 yards this season and already has two games over the 100-yard mark.

WKU is one play away from entering the weekend undefeated, as the Hilltoppers' lone loss came in overtime at Indiana. However, the rest of the Hilltoppers' schedule hasn't been for the faint of heart, with wins over three teams who don't have a win over an FBS opponent – FIU, Hawai'i and Austin Peay.

What the Hilltoppers do have is a high-powered offense led by transfer Austin Reed, who is averaging 314.3 yards per game and has already thrown 14 touchdown passes to just three interceptions. WKU ranks sixth nationally, averaging 47.5 points per game and 11th with 507.0 yards per game; the Hilltoppers own the nation's longest streak with 30 points in 18 straight games.

Notable
• Troy has intercepted multiple passes in 28 games since the start of the 2016 season, which is tied for the fourth most nationally ... the Trojans have 3-plus picks in 10 games over that time, the fifth most nationally.

• Troy led 10-0 at the end of the first quarter against Marshall, marking the first time this season the Trojans led after the first 15 minutes of play; -7 Ole Miss, -3 Alabama A&M, 0 at App State, +10 Marshall.

• Carlton Martial enters the week 71 tackles shy of becoming the all-time leader in FBS history; he ranks 13th all-time with 475 career tackles.

• Troy has scored a defensive touchdown in six straight seasons and in 11 of the last 12 seasons after Buddha Jones' 23-yard fumble return for a touchdown last week against Marshall.

• Troy is in search of its first road victory since a 31-28 victory at Texas State last season; the Trojans are 2-8 in their last 10 road games.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jabre Barber

Tez Johnson

Buddha Jones

Carlton Martial

Marcus Rogers

Troy University Athletics