It’s been a topsy-turvy first five weeks of the season for Western Carolina football. From losing a 35-7 lead against Gardner-Webb to the video-game numbers on offense after the return of quarterback Taron Dickens, the Catamounts have lived a season’s worth of emotions and adversity already.
But at long last, Western Carolina has arrived at the heart of its schedule: Southern Conference opponents the rest of the way. A two-month grind toward goals that have eluded the program for decades – a conference title and/or an FCS playoff berth.
Can WCU end the droughts this fall? The next step for the Catamounts (2-3, 1-0 SoCon) will come against a pesky Wofford team that doesn’t have a win but has been in every game it has played against FCS competition, including Sept. 13 against defending champion Mercer.
Western Carolina at Wofford How to Watch
🏈 Matchup: Western Carolina (2-3, 1-0 SoCon) at Wofford (0-4, 0-1)
🏟️ Stadium: Gibbs Stadium | Spartanburg, SC
⏰ Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 4 | 1:30 p.m.
📺 TV/Streaming: ESPN+
📅 Last Meeting: Western Carolina 21, Wofford 17 (2024)
Five Things To Know
1. Western Carolina’s offense has been red hot since the return of quarterback Taron Dickens, who has thrown for 1,009 yards, 10 TDs and 0 INTs the past two games. Through Week 5, WCU is ranked No. 7 in FCS in total offense (482.8 yards per game) but No. 126 in total defense (527.2). Wofford, meanwhile, has the No. 79 defense in the nation and is third-best in the SoCon.
2. Wofford carries an 0-4 record, but three of the defeats have been by a combined 6 points – a 16-15 loss at South Carolina State, a 14-10 home loss to Richmond and a 22-21 loss at Mercer. Wofford lost the lead in the fourth quarter of all three contests. The Terriers’ other loss came at Virginia Tech, 38-6.
3. WCU wide receiver James Tyre had a breakout game against Campbell this Saturday. He caught six passes for 101 yards and returned two punts for another 47 yards. His biggest contribution, though, may have come with the Catamounts clinging to a 35-28 lead in the fourth quarter. Tyre took a pitch from Dickens, then threw a pass to Painter Richards-Baker on a reverse for a 61-touchdown to increase the cushion back to two scores.
4. For Wofford to have a chance, the Terriers will need to control time of possession and force takeaways. While WCU ranks among the nation’s leaders in offense, Wofford sits in the bottom 12 nationally in scoring (13.0 ppg), total offense (181.8 ypg), passing (136.8 ypg) and rushing (45.0 ypg). Eli Campbell and Maximus Pulley lead the Wofford defense with 32 tackles each. Campbell also has 2 interceptions.
5. Wofford leads the overall series 28-18, but Western Carolina has captured the past four meetings. The last three have been decided by 7 points or less. Last year’s game was the first in Cullowhee following Hurricane Helene and did not feature any fans in the stands. Saturday marks WCU’s first trip outside of North Carolina this season.
What to Expect
Western Carolina has mustered more than 1,200 yards the past two weeks, and now the defense gets a chance to build confidence against one of the nation’s least-productive offenses. Wofford has struggled to find consistency in every phase. If WCU avoids turnovers, this should be a comfortable step forward in the SoCon race.
Our Pick: Western Carolina 34, Wofford 12
📊 Who’s playing in North Carolina college football this weekend? Check the full Week 6 Schedule for North Carolina college teams, including kickoff times and TV/streaming information.
Keep up with all the action on Game Day: Visit our NC College Football Scoreboard Hub for Week 6 (Oct. 3-4).
Want more FCS and Western Carolina football coverage? Get the latest NC football stories & headlines dropped to your email inbox every week? Sign up for our FREE newsletter: NC Football Weekly
