Arlington to host CUSA Football Kickoff
Published 5:21 pm Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Western Kentucky redshirt senior defensive back Jaylen Lewis (7) hypes up his teammates before the Red and White Spring Showcase at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)
Western Kentucky head football coach Tyson Helton, offensive lineman Karsten Upchurch and safety Jaylen Lewis will represent the Hilltoppers at the 2026 CUSA Football Kickoff and Media Days on July 20-21 at the Texas Live! Arena and the Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center in Arlington, Texas.
WKU is coming off a 9-4 season in 2025, which included a 27-16 victory over Southern Miss in the 2025 New Orleans Bowl – the fifth bowl win for the Hilltoppers in seven seasons under Helton. This fall, the Hilltoppers will enter their eighth season under Helton, who holds a 57-36 overall record during his first seven seasons, with appearances in bowl games each of those seven seasons, as well as two Conference USA Championship Game appearances.
With its 2025 New Orleans Bowl victory, WKU claimed its eighth bowl win in the last 12 seasons. Only Georgia and Minnesota have more bowl wins than WKU during the College Football Playoff Era, and WKU’s eight bowl wins are tied for third-most nationally with Alabama, Ohio State and Wisconsin during that period.
Upchurch started the final 11 games of the 2025 season for WKU at right tackle, helping the Hilltoppers to the top offense in CUSA at 29.54 points per game.
Lewis started all 13 games for the Hilltoppers in his first season with the program after transferring from Temple. He posted 74 total tackles – tied for second-most on the team – with 3.5 tackles for loss, a team-high three interceptions, five pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Lewis was a 2025 All-CUSA Honorable Mention selection, and received CUSA All-Conference Fourth Team honors from Phil Steele.
CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod, as well as head coaches and players from each of the 10 CUSA programs, will be on hand to discuss and preview the upcoming 2026 football season. The 2026 alignment will feature 10 teams: Delaware, FIU, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston and WKU.
In addition to traditional news conferences and media availability on July 21, all participants will take part in a live ESPN+ show, hosted by ESPN’s Mike Corey on July 20 within the Texas Live! Arena.
Texas Live! is a premier $250 million entertainment, dining and hospitality destination located in the heart of Arlington, Texas. Developed in partnership between the Texas Rangers and The Cordish Companies, the 200,000-square-foot complex serves as a central hub for sports fans and visitors, situated directly between AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field.