The 2016 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University (WKU) in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers played their home games at the Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and competed in the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by third year head coach Jeff Brohm. They finished the season 11–3, 7–1 in C-USA play to win a share of the East Division title with Old Dominion. Due to their head-to-head victory over Old Dominion, Western Kentucky represented the East Division in the Conference USA Championship Game where they defeated Louisiana Tech to be crowned C-USA champions. They were invited to the Boca Raton Bowl where they defeated Memphis. This team led the NCAA in Scoring Offense.[1]
Quick Facts Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football, C-USA championC-USA East Division co-championBoca Raton Bowl champion ...
Close
More information Conf, Overall ...
Close
On December 5, head coach Jeff Brohm resigned to become the head coach at Purdue.[2] He finished at WKU with a record of 30–10, two bowl wins, and two C-USA titles. Defensive coordinator Nick Holt led the Hilltoppers in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Western Kentucky announced its 2016 football schedule on February 4, 2016. The 2016 schedule consisted of 6 home and away games in the regular season. The Hilltoppers hosted C–USA foes Florida International (FIU), North Texas, Old Dominion, and Rice, and traveled to Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, Marshall, and Middle Tennessee.[3]
Western Kentucky's four non-conference games included two home games against Houston Baptist from the Southland Conference and Vanderbilt from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and two road games against Alabama from the SEC and Miami (Ohio) from the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
More information Date, Time ...
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|
| September 1 | 7:00 p.m. | Rice | | CBSSN | W 46–14 | 19,286 |
| September 10 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 1 Alabama* | | ESPN2 | L 10–38 | 101,821 |
| September 17 | 2:30 p.m. | at Miami (OH)* | | ESPN3 | W 31–24 | 19,822 |
| September 24 | 3:30 p.m. | Vanderbilt* | - Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
- Bowling Green, KY
| CBSSN | L 30–31 OT | 23,674 |
| October 1 | 6:00 p.m. | Houston Baptist* | - Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
- Bowling Green, KY
| CUSA.tv | W 50–3 | 17,331 |
| October 6 | 7:00 p.m. | at Louisiana Tech | | CBSSN | L 52–55 | 17,978 |
| October 15 | 1:30 p.m. | at Middle Tennessee | | ESPN3 | W 44–43 2OT | 22,411 |
| October 22 | 6:00 p.m. | Old Dominion | - Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
- Bowling Green, KY
| ASN | W 59–24 | 18,676 |
| October 29 | 2:30 p.m. | at Florida Atlantic | | ASN | W 52–3 | 9,338 |
| November 5 | 4:30 p.m. | FIU | - Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
- Bowling Green, KY
| beIN | W 49–21 | 15,516 |
| November 12 | 2:30 p.m. | North Texas | - Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
- Bowling Green, KY
| ESPN3 | W 45–7 | 16,239 |
| November 26 | 6:00 p.m. | at Marshall | | ESPNU | W 60–6 | 17,397 |
| December 3 | 11:00 a.m. | Louisiana Tech | | ESPN | W 58–44 | 13,213 |
| December 20 | 6:00 p.m. | vs. Memphis* | | ESPN | W 51–31 | 24,726 |
|
Close
[4]
Rice
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Owls |
0 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
14 |
| Hilltoppers |
16 |
14 |
6 |
10 |
46 |
Close
At Alabama
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Hilltoppers |
3 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
10 |
| #1 Crimson Tide |
10 |
7 |
7 |
14 |
38 |
Close
At Miami (OH)
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Hilltoppers |
0 |
14 |
10 |
7 |
31 |
| RedHawks |
0 |
3 |
14 |
7 |
24 |
Close
Vanderbilt
More information OT, Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | OT |
Total |
| Commodores |
0 |
7 |
7 |
10 | 7 |
31 |
| Hilltoppers |
7 |
7 |
0 |
10 | 6 |
30 |
Close
Houston Baptist
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Huskies |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| Hilltoppers |
14 |
16 |
20 |
0 |
50 |
Close
At Louisiana Tech
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Hilltoppers |
14 |
10 |
7 |
21 |
52 |
| Bulldogs |
21 |
14 |
17 |
3 |
55 |
Close
At Middle Tennessee
More information OT, 2OT ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | OT | 2OT |
Total |
| Hilltoppers |
3 |
17 |
7 |
3 | 7 | 7 |
44 |
| Blue Raiders |
3 |
17 |
0 |
10 | 7 | 6 |
43 |
Close
Old Dominion
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Monarchs |
0 |
14 |
10 |
0 |
24 |
| Hilltoppers |
21 |
31 |
0 |
7 |
59 |
Close
At Florida Atlantic
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Hilltoppers |
14 |
10 |
14 |
14 |
52 |
| Owls |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Close
FIU
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Panthers |
7 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
21 |
| Hilltoppers |
14 |
21 |
14 |
0 |
49 |
Close
North Texas
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Mean Green |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
| Hilltoppers |
17 |
14 |
14 |
0 |
45 |
Close
At Marshall
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Hilltoppers |
28 |
13 |
9 |
10 |
60 |
| Thundering Herd |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
Close
Vs. Louisiana Tech–C-USA Championship Game
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Bulldogs |
17 |
10 |
14 |
3 |
44 |
| Hilltoppers |
24 |
14 |
10 |
10 |
58 |
Close
Vs. Memphis–Boca Raton Bowl
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Tigers |
10 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
31 |
| Hilltoppers |
14 |
14 |
16 |
7 |
51 |
Close
More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes | Week |
|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
|---|
| AP | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | — | — | RV | RV |
|---|
| Coaches | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV |
|---|
| CFP | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |
|---|
Close
