The Western Kentucky football team is cooking with gas as they enter their ninth game of what is shaping up to be a very fruitful 2024 season – taking a Conference USA visit to New Mexico State on Saturday.

WKU, along with Jacksonville State, is a frontrunner to reach and perhaps host the CUSA championship game the first week of December, and sixth-year head coach Tyson Helton is looking for more of the same, and then some, from his Hilltoppers.

“This is the time of year when you need to fire up and hit all cylinders when you hit the road,” Helton said. “You know the old saying: ‘They remember what you do in November.’ So we have to take it to a whole new level this month.

“Our team loves to travel and we have always brought our own mojo on the road. This is a well-trained football team, from the coaching staff to the players, and everyone handles their business like a professional. This is a program that always sees the big picture.”

Western is currently 6-2 overall, 4-0 in conference play, is on a three-game winning streak and is in FBS bowl eligibility for the sixth consecutive season under Helton – and for the 10th time in 11 seasons overall. Incredible.

In fact, the Hilltoppers play complementary football, with an explosive offense and a stingy, hard-hitting defense that has allowed just 15 points per outing over the past seven games.

“We did what it takes to win, and that means being efficient in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams,” Helton said. “I just can’t say enough about the way our defense played. They were fantastic, week in, week out.”

WKU is coming off a nationally televised 31-14 victory over Kennesaw State on October 30. In it, sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp completed 17 of 22 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. Additionally, much-improved running back Elijah Young ran for 114 yards on just 15 carries. Easton Messer had a TD reception, as did backup tight ends Trevor Borland and Noah Meyers.

And get this: WKU committed neither a turnover nor a penalty in the game.

“We’re becoming very balanced, and that’s a great thing because it makes it harder for our opponents to defend us. They have a lot more options to consider,” Helton said. “Caden continues to get the job done for us and his teammates play hard for him. Elijah does a great job running the football; he keeps getting better.

“We are very efficient everywhere.”

Still, the one-game-at-a-time mentality remains firmly in place, and Helton said the Hilltoppers won’t take anything for granted in New Mexico State (2-6, 1-4 CUSA) despite opening as heavy favorites.

“New Mexico State will be ready to play us and we have to respond to the challenge we are sure to get from them – their best opportunity,” Helton said. “The last time they were at home they had a big overtime win over Louisiana Tech, so we’ve got to play our best football and come out of there with a big conference win.”

Helton believes his team will answer the bell the right way.

“Our guys are doing a great job of doing what needs to be done – we’re all united and pulling in the same direction,” he said. “There will be setbacks, but as long as we respond in the right way, we will be fine.

“If we want to become champions, we have to keep piling up those wins.”

And despite Western’s success, Helton doesn’t think it has peaked.

“To be honest, I don’t think we have played as a complete team game yet. I still think our best football is ahead of us,” he said. “This is the month where we have to put everything together and become the best football team we can be. We have a lot to play for.”

The Hilltoppers indeed do that.