For the first time in program history, Western Kentucky University will host a member of the Southeastern Conference at Houchens-L.T. Smith Stadium as part of a three-game series with Vanderbilt, Director of Athletics Todd Stewart announced on Wednesday.
The series is broken up into two parts for the Hilltoppers and Commodores. Set to take place over the 2015-17 seasons, the teams will trade home games in Nashville on Sept. 12, 2015 and in Bowling Green on Sept. 4, 2016, before the Hilltoppers will play one guarantee game in Nashville on Nov. 4, 2017.
“We are very excited to be adding Vanderbilt as a future football opponent,” said Stewart. “Our game in 2016 will mark the first ever football appearance by a member of the SEC on our campus, and it will be a great day for our university, fans and community. The away games also present a great opportunity for our fans, students and over 7,000 alumni in Nashville to support WKU football on the road.”
Situated just 67 miles apart, the universities have a sparse history between each, with only five all-time meetings on the gridiron, including three varsity matchups between 1931 and 1938. Most recently, the Tops fell to Vanderbilt 12-0 in Nashville on Oct. 1, 1938. In all, WKU has 18 total games against SEC foes and is set to add two more to that total in 2013.
Last week, the program announced the addition of Illinois to its 2017 road schedule. The Tops will also travel to Champaign in 2014 for their first ever meeting with the Illini.
WKU opens the 2013 season on Saturday, Aug. 31 when the Hilltoppers face another SEC opponent, Kentucky, at LP Field in Nashville at 6:00 p.m. CT. Season tickets, single-game tickets and tickets for the opener in Nashville are on sale now through WKUSports.com, by visiting the WKU Ticket Office in E.A. Diddle Arena or by calling 1-800-5 BIG RED.
Tickets can be purchased through the WKU Ticket Office in E.A. Diddle Arena in person, by phone at 1-800-5-BIG-RED or online via www.wkusports.com.
Tickets for the Kentucky game are priced at $67 for club level, $47 for lower level sideline, $32 for upper sideline and $22 for upper corner seats for the Kentucky game. Parking passes for this game may be ordered through Ticketmaster.com or through the WKU Ticket Office. The first 4,000 WKU students at the game on August 31 with a valid ID will receive a free ticket to the game. After 4,000, student tickets will be $13.
For complete coverage of WKU Football, visit www.wkusports.com, or follow the program on Twitter via @WKU_Football or @CoachPetrinoWKU.