CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Eastern Kentucky football opens its 2021 season on Saturday night when the Colonels visit Western Carolina.
 
The game will air live on ESPN+ with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Scott Pryzwanski will handle play-by-play duties with Jay Sonnhalter serving as the analyst.
 
The live radio broadcast of the game is available in the Richmond area on WCYO 100.7 FM, and can be heard worldwide on EKUSports.com. Greg Stotelmyer and Jim Tirey will be on the call. 
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  Eastern Kentucky leads the all-time series 4-2. The two teams first met in 1988 when EKU picked up a 32-14 win on the road.
 
-  The Colonels are 1-1 all-time in Cullowhee.
 
-  The most recent meeting came in 2020 when Eastern Kentucky won 49-17 in Richmond.
 
-  EKU is making its first trip to Western Carolina since 2006. 
 
THE COLONELS
-  Entering its second season under head coach Walt Wells, Eastern Kentucky is competing in the ASUN-WAC Challenge as a member of the ASUN Conference. The alliance will feature Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State from the ASUN, and Abilene Christian, Lamar University, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin from the WAC. The seven schools will play a single round-robin, with each institution having three home contests and three road contests. The team with the highest winning percentage shall receive the automatic qualification to the 2021 FCS Playoffs.
 
-  Five players were voted to the 2021 ASUN Preseason All-Conference Team. The five Colonels named Preseason All-ASUN were Payton Collins (offensive line), Jyran Mitchell (all-purpose), Quinten Floyd (defensive line), Matthew Jackson (linebacker) and Joseph Sayles (defensive back).
 
-  EKU was picked to finish fifth in the Preseason ASUN/WAC AQ7 Coaches Poll.
 
-  Eastern Kentucky's 17-13 win at Austin Peay on Nov. 3, 2018 was the 600th victory in program history. The Colonels are now 612-397-38 in 107 seasons of football. EKU was the 20th FCS program to win 600 or more games.
 
-  Eastern Kentucky is 53-49-6 (.519) all-time in season openers, including wins in two of its last three opening contests. EKU faced Western Carolina in its 1989 season opener, earning a 31-13 win over the Catamounts.
 
-  The Colonels are 8-3 in their last 11 road games against FCS opponents. Three of EKU's four road losses last season came against FBS foes. The Colonels played three FBS teams in a single season for the first time since 1979. 
 
-  EKU surrendered just 11.6 points per game in the second half last season. The Colonel defense ranked 10th in the nation in fumbles recovered and passes intercepted in 2020. 
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  The Catamounts were 1-8 during the 2020-21 season and last played on Mar. 27, falling 24-17 to East Tennessee State. 
 
-  Tyler Smith (offensive lineman) represented Western Carolina on the 2021 Preseason All-Southern Conference team.
 
-  Five Catamounts landed on Phil Steele's Preseason All-Southern Conference teams as selected and announced by the publication. Rogan Wells (quarterback) and Ronald Kent, Jr. (defensive back) made the second team, while Smith, Ty Harris (linebacker), and Cameron McCutcheon (linebacker) were third-team selections.
 
-  Harris led the Western Carolina defense with 90 tackles last season.
 
-  Western Carolina returns just 3.8 percent of its pass completions and 8.3 percent of its passing yards from last season. Kason Lincke (quarterback), Carlos Davis (quarterback), and Reggie Jones (wide receiver) combined to go 5-for-5 for 105 yards through the air.