UCA at Western Kentucky

WHEN 6:35 p.m. Central

WHERE L.T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Ky. RECORDS UCA 0-0;WKU 0-0

COACHES Nathan Brown (6-5 in second season at UCA and overall); Tyson Helton (0-0 in first season at WKU and overall)

SERIES UCA leads 1-0 LAST MEETING UCA 28, Western Kentucky 7 in 2009 RADIO KUCA-FM, 91.3, in Conway; KKPT-FM, 94.1, in Little Rock

INTERNET ESPN+

WHEN UCA HAS THE BALL Expect an equal distribution of passing and running from an offense directed by sophomore quarterback Breylin Smith, who passed for 1,009 yards in four games as UCA’s starter last season. UCA returns its two leading rushers from 2018: Senior Carlos Blackman ran for 786 yards and 9 touchdowns, and junior Kierre Crossley ran for 600 yards and 2 TDs. Smith will have to find new targets in the passing game. Four of the five leading receivers have completed their eligibility, and the other is injured. Sophomore wide receiver Lujuan Winningham returns, as does junior tight end Jack Short.

WHEN WESTERN KENTUCKY HAS THE BALL WKU’s top offensive returners include sophomore running back Joshua Samuels, who rushed for a team-leading 639 yards last season. Junior quarterback Steven Duncan passed for 1,071 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2018. Senior receiver Lucky Jackson led WKU with 50 catches for 552 yards and 4 touchdowns

WHAT’S AT STAKE UCA has lost its last seven season openers played on the road. Its last victory in that circumstance came at Eastern New Mexico in 2004, when UCA won 38-31.