WKU Player of the Week: quarterback Maverick McIvor

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Player of the Week is back for 2026 and to kick it off, let’s relive the 2025 New Orleans Bowl and a stellar performance from Maverick McIvor.

The quarterback stepped into the game after starter Rodeny Tisdale Jr. went down and immediately made an impact.

Down 13-6 coming out halftime, McIvor led a huge Hilltopper comeback, outscoring Southern Miss 21-3 from there on out.

He threw for 199 yards and rushed for another 48 yards and one touchdown.

It was McIvor’s first action in a game for Western in over two months, but his efforts proved to be the spark the squad needed to win the game.

After the victory, McIvor was named the 2025 New Orleans Bowl MVP and the Hilltopper spoke on what that meant to him.

“ A lot of emotions first of all. There’s nothing more than I wanted to be out there with the guys,” McIvor said. “Stepping out there on the field, I actually came in like a third and 12th and kind of got my first hit under my wing in the second half. I was ready to rock. The feelings were indescribable. There’s no greater feeling than stepping out there and just playing with your brothers. I think when your time’s called, you have to be ready to play. And I think just going throughout all these weeks of prep, you got to stay ready and when your number’s called, it’s time for you to go out there and play good.”