The Western Kentucky Hilltopper football team has continued its trend of scheduling attractive non-conference games by adding Big Ten foe Michigan State and Southeastern Conference opponent Alabama to future schedules, the program announced on Thursday.
WKU will travel to East Lansing for the first time in program history on Oct. 2, 2021 to take on the Spartans and returns to Tuscaloosa for what will be the third meeting since 2012 when the Hilltoppers and Crimson Tide face off on Sept. 16, 2023. WKU also traveled to Tuscaloosa in 2008 and 2016.
With the addition of Michigan State, the Hilltoppers will face at least two programs from Power 5 leagues in at least eight consecutive years dating back to 2015. Since moving to the FBS level in 2009 and including games scheduled through 2021, the Hilltoppers have faced or will face a pair of Power 5 programs in 11 seasons.
In the year WKU plays at Michigan State, the Hilltoppers will also host their third Power 5 game when Indiana comes to Houchens-Smith Stadium for the second time (2010). WKU hosted Vanderbilt during the 2016 season.
(Courtesy WKU Athletics)