The Bearkats won nine games in the regular season -- more than Western Kentucky -- and finished with an identical 6-2 record in conference play, though the Hilltoppers won the tiebreaker. Sam Houston capped it all with a 31-26 win against Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl, marking its first postseason win since transitioning to the FBS.

Week 0 of the college football season features two Conference USA teams meeting as Western Kentucky plays host to Sam Houston State.

Maverick McIvor threw for 401 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score as Western Kentucky opened the college football and Conference USA season with a 41-24 win over Sam Houston.