By Marie Reader

2023 FAMOUS TOASTERY BOWL

WKU (7-5 Overall, 5-3 Conference USA) vs. Old Dominion (6-6 Overall, 5-3 Sun Belt)
Date: Monday, Dec. 18
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. CT
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina | Jerry Richardson Stadium
Watch: ESPN
Listen: WKLX (SAM 100.7 FM) and WWKU (ESPN Radio 102.7 FM) in Bowling Green
Social: @WKUFootball | @WKUSports
Game Notes: WKU Bowl Guide | ODU Bowl Guide

NOTES

• WKU became bowl eligible for the fifth time in five seasons under Head Coach Tyson Helton with its 28-23 win over Sam Houston on Nov. 18. The Hilltoppers went to bowl games in each of Helton’s first four years as head coach, with wins in three of those, including last year’s R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. WKU went to nine bowl games in the 11 seasons leading up to the 2023 campaign, with a 6-3 record in those games, and the bowl game this year will be the 10th for the program in 12 seasons. WKU is one of 16 programs that has played in a bowl game each season since 2019 and is also bowling again in 2023, including just one of four Group of Five teams. The Hilltoppers are one of nine programs that have won a postseason game in both 2021 and 2022 and are bowl eligible again this season, and one of just three Group of Five teams in that category.
• In WKU’s 41-28 win at FIU in the regular-season finale, wide receiver Malachi Corley set the WKU Football program record for career receptions. He had six catches, including a touchdown reception, in the victory, and passed Taywan Taylor’s previous program high of 253 catches. Corley now has 255 career receptions as a Hilltopper, and he also ranks second in WKU history in touchdown receptions with 29 and third in receiving yards with 3,007.
• Corley highlighted numerous selections for WKU on Conference USA’s All- Conference Teams. Corley was picked for the CUSA All-Conference First Team Offense. Defensive tackle Hosea Wheeler and safety Kendrick Simpkins were named All-Conference Second Team Defense, and quarterback Austin Reed, offensive lineman Vincent Murphy, defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr., kicker Lucas Carneiro, wide receiver/kick returner Easton Messer, and long snapper Trey Naughton received All-Conference Honorable Mention honors. WKU had 14 selections for the CUSA All-Freshman Team. Representing WKU on the CUSA All-Freshman Team on offense were receivers Messer, K.D. Hutchinson, and Moussa Barry; tight end Noah Meyers; and offensive lineman Evan Wibberley. Representing the Hilltoppers on defense were defensive end Deante McCray; linebackers Koron Hayward and Reginald Allen Jr.; and defensive backs Alex Ford and Nazir Ward.WKU claimed all four spots on special teams – no punter was selected – with Messer and Hutchinson at kick returner and punt returner, respectively, Naughton at long snapper, and Carneiro at kicker.
• The Famous Toastery Bowl will mark the eighth nationally-televised game WKU has played during the 2023 season and the second on ESPN, with the other being a 35-28 victory over Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana.

QUOTES

• “Very, very competitive football team. I think it says a lot about them that they win their last two games to get bowl eligible. It says that they’re a tough, gritty football team and highly motivated. It’s a great honor to be bowl eligible. I know, like us, they’re excited for the opportunity to play in this bowl game. They’ve got good skill players on offense. Their offensive scheme is good. They like to go fast. The quarterback is a good player, they’ve got good runners that run the ball extremely hard. It’ll be a good challenge for our defense, for sure. Then offensively they cause a lot of problems. They’ve got a good front, they like to blitz, they’ve got good blitz schemes, they get after the quarterback, their linebackers are good players, good coverage guys, they change up their coverages and their looks, so it’s going to be a tough day for us offensively as far as trying to figure out what’s going on. We’ve got to be hitting on all cylinders offensively in the first couple of drives so that we can get them figured out. Overall, they’re a really good football team and it should be a good matchup. Our guys are excited to play. That’s what you want in a bowl game. You want two good football teams that are motivated that are both excited to be there. It’s important to us. We like to go to bowl games, but it’s important to us to try to go win a bowl game and get that trophy, so we’re definitely going to go try and do that.” – WKU Head Coach Tyson Helton, on facing Old Dominion in the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl.
• “Of the programs I’ve been a part of, we’ve all done a pretty good job of using the bowl practices as kind of your stepping stone or another spring ball, really, getting ready for the next season. You’re using it as an opportunity to get your young guys some reps, your backups, guys that haven’t played very much this season because you’re kind of afforded the opportunity to take some time. You’re not focusing on playing week after week. You’ve got a little time to prepare. I think we took that opportunity as an offense to get some guys some reps and I think we’re going to finish up with about seven or eight practices as we’re getting ready before the game to maximize those opportunities.” – WKU Offensive Coordinator Drew Hollingshead, on practicing during bowl season.
• “I’m really enjoying practice just because, like coach had mentioned earlier, I guess in the last two years I feel like I’ve got close with a lot of these players on our defense and, in a lot of the cases, I feel like this is kind of like my last week with them. I don’t know, I sound like a big old sap, but that makes me sad. Anyway, there’s a lot of those guys I care a lot about and I’m going to try my best to enjoy my last week with him as much as we can and try to shift our focus to winning the football game. That’s kind of what these bowls are for me.” – WKU Defensive Coordinator Tyson Summers, on bowl season and preparing for Old Dominion.

LAST TIME OUT

• Malachi Corley broke the WKU Football career receptions record, the WKU defense forced three turnovers, and the Hilltoppers concluded the regular season with a 41-28 win over FIU at FIU Stadium. WKU finished with 407 yards of offense in the victory, with 333 coming through the air. Starting quarterback Austin Reed threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns on 26-of-35 passing in three quarters of action. Corley caught six passes for 52 yards and a touchdown, and passed Taywan Taylor for the program’s career record for receptions. Corley now has 255 catches as a Hilltopper. Easton Messer added 38 yards and a touchdown on four catches, Jimmy Holiday had 45 yards and a touchdown on two catches, Craig Burt Jr. had 42 yards and a score on two receptions, and K.D. Hutchinson caught a touchdown pass. Dalvin Smith also threw a touchdown pass on a trick play. Upton Stout recorded his second defensive touchdown of the season on a scoop and score in the first half – it came off of Kendrick Simpkins’ fourth strip sack of the season. Talique Allen and Alex Ford had interceptions in the win. Kylan Guidry and Niko Cooper each finished with a team-high five tackles.

ABOUT OLD DOMINION

• The Monarchs enter the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl with a 6-6 overall record and a 5-3 record in Sun Belt Conference play this season. Old Dominion won its final two games of the regular season against Georgia Southern and Georgia State to become bowl eligible for the second time in three seasons under Head Coach Ricky Rahne and third time in program history.

SERIES HISTORY

• The 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl game will mark the eighth meeting between WKU and Old Dominion and the first since the two met regularly as foes in Conference USA – the Monarchs have since joined the Sun Belt Conference. The Hilltoppers hold a 6-1 advantage in the series with wins in the last two meetings, including a 43-20 victory in Norfolk, Virginia, the last time the two programs met during the 2021 season. Old Dominion’s only win in the series came during the 2018 season when the Monarchs beat the Hilltoppers 37-34 at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

For all the latest on WKU Football, follow @WKUFootball on Twitter and Instagram, and like the WKU Football Facebook page.

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