Bailey Zappe threw seven touchdowns and recorded 424 yards on 28-35 passing as Western Kentucky opened its season with a 59-21 win over UT Martin. The Hilltoppers play at Army next Saturday.
Preseason OVC Offensive Player of the Year Draylen Ellis tossed four scores and had 325 yards in the air and Ahmad Tanner had 103 yards rushing as Austin Peay downed UT Chattanooga 30-20. The Governors play next Saturday at Ole Miss.
Preston Rice threw four touchdown passes and Murray State pitched its first shutout since 2011 in downing Mississippi Valley State 35-0. The Racers play at Cincinnati next Saturday.
Jabari Small had two touchdowns and 124 yards rushing as Tennessee began the Josh Heupel era with a 38-6 win over Bowling Green. The Vols welcome Pittsburgh next Saturday.
Saturday’s Games: The Kentucky Wildcats open the season hosting Louisiana Monroe with pregame at 9 am on Lite Rock 98.7 and lite987whop.com.
Vanderbilt opens its season hosting East Tennessee in Nashville. Kickoff is at 7 pm.
Four schools are in the running for the Big 12’s plan to expand its football prowess. ESPN reports the conference is eyeing BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston as leading candidates to join the league. Those schools could receive formal invitations as the conference braces to lose Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC. The Big 12 considered all four schools when it looked to expand in 2016, but opted to stay at 10 members. In order for the conference to expand, eight of its 10 current members would have to approve the candidate schools.