2014 WKU Hilltoppers football team

2014 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
Bahamas Bowl Champions
Conference Conference USA
East Division
2014 record 8–5 (4–4 C-USA)
Head coach Jeff Brohm (1st as HC; 2nd Overall year)
Offensive coordinator Tyson Helton (1st year)
Defensive coordinator Nick Holt (2nd year)
Home stadium Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
(Capacity: 22,113)
2014 Conference USA football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
East Division
#23 Marshall x$   7 1         13 1  
Middle Tennessee   5 3         6 6  
WKU   4 4         8 5  
UAB   4 4         6 6  
Old Dominion*   4 4         6 6  
FIU   3 5         4 8  
Florida Atlantic   2 6         3 9  
West Division
Louisiana Tech x   7 1         9 5  
Rice   5 3         8 5  
UTEP   5 3         7 6  
UTSA   3 5         4 8  
North Texas   2 6         4 8  
Southern Miss   1 7         3 9  
Championship: Marshall 26, Louisiana Tech 23
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • Ineligible for post season bowl due to transition from FCS.
As of 22:24, 20 December 2014 (UTC); Rankings from AP Poll

The 2014 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University (WKU) in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first- year head coach Jeff Brohm and played their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium. This was the team's first year as a Conference USA member and playing in the East Division. They finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in C-USA play to finish in a three way tie for third place in the East Division. They were invited to the Bahamas Bowl where they defeated Central Michigan.

Previous season

The 2013 WKU Hilltoppers football team finished the 2013 season 8–4 overall and 4–3 in Sun Belt Conference play. The Hilltoppers biggest win was against season opener Kentucky by 35–26. WKU became bowl eligible after defeating Army but did not received a bowl invite due to the number of invites the Sun Belt Conference receives. After five years of competing in the Sun Belt, WKU moved to Conference USA on July 1, 2014.[1]

Schedule

Western Kentucky announced their 2014 football schedule on February 3, 2014. The 2014 schedule consist of 6 home games and 6 away games in the regular season. The Hilltoppers will host CUSA foes Old Dominion, UAB, UTEP, and UTSA, and will travel to Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, and Louisiana Tech.[2]

The Hilltoppers will play four opponents for the first time this season, Illinois, Old Dominion, UTEP, and UTSA. Western Kentucky will compete for the first time in the East division of Conference USA which has seven schools in total while the West division has six. Due to the two uneven divisions, WKU will only play five schools from the East division and will not play Florida International this season. Western Kentucky will play three teams from the West division, Louisiana Tech, UTEP, and UTSA, which will complete the eight conference games each member of the CUSA has to play.

Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance
August 29 7:00 PM Bowling Green* Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY CBSSN W 59–31   17,215
September 6 11:00 AM at Illinois* Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL BTN L 34–42   38,561
September 13 6:00 PM at Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN (100 Miles of Hate) WKU PBS L 47–50 3OT  24,911
September 27 2:30 PM at Navy* Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD CBSSN W 36–27   30,537
October 4 6:00 PM UAB Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY L 39–42   14,923
October 18 11:00 AM at Florida Atlantic FAU StadiumBoca Raton, FL ASN L 38–45   10,915
October 25 3:00 PM Old Dominion Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY W 66–51   17,886
November 1 2:00 PM at Louisiana Tech Joe Aillet StadiumRuston, LA FSN L 10–59   20,011
November 8 3:00 PM UTEP Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY W 35–27   18,472
November 15 11:00 AM Army* Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY CBSSN W 52–24   16,819
November 22 11:00 AM UTSA Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY FSN W 45–7   12,518
November 28 11:00 AM at #19 Marshall Joan C. Edwards StadiumHuntington, WV FS1 W 67–66 OT  23,576
December 24 11:00 AM vs. Central Michigan* Thomas Robinson StadiumNassau, Bahamas (Bahamas Bowl) ESPN W 49–48   13,667
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.
Schedule Source:[3]

Game notes

Bowling Green

1 2 3 4 Total
Falcons 0 10 14 7 31
Hilltoppers 14 17 14 14 59
Overall record Last meeting Result
0–1 2007 BGSU, 41–21

Illinois

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 3 14 10 7 34
FIghting Illini 7 7 7 21 42
Overall record Last meeting Result
First Meeting

Middle Tennessee

1 2 3 4OT2OT3OT Total
Hilltoppers 3 21 0 10733 47
Blue Raiders 14 10 0 10736 50
Overall record Last meeting Result
29–33–1 2012 MTSU, 34–29

Navy

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 3 10 9 14 36
Midshipmen 7 6 0 7 20
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–2 2013 WKU, 19–7

UAB

1 2 3 4 Total
Blazers 14 0 21 7 42
Hilltoppers 20 7 12 0 39
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–2 1997 UAB, 20–16

Florida Atlantic

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 17 14 7 0 38
Owls 7 7 14 17 45
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–4 2012 FAU, 37–28

Old Dominion

1 2 3 4 Total
Monarchs 3 27 21 0 51
Hilltoppers 21 21 14 10 66
Overall record Last meeting Result
First Meeting

Louisiana Tech

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 7 3 0 0 10
Bulldogs 10 21 21 7 59
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–2 1973 La Tech, 34–0

UTEP

1 2 3 4 Total
Miners 17 3 7 0 27
Hilltoppers 7 7 7 14 35
Overall record Last meeting Result
First Meeting

Army

1 2 3 4 Total
Black Knights 7 3 14 0 24
Hilltoppers 14 10 14 14 52
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–0 2013 WKU, 21–17

UTSA

1 2 3 4 Total
Roadrunners 0 0 0 7 7
Hilltoppers 14 14 7 10 45
Overall record Last meeting Result
First Meeting

Marshall

1 2 3 4OT Total
Hilltoppers 28 21 0 108 67
#19 Thundering Herd 21 21 7 107 66
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–4 1996 MARSH, 37–3

Central Michigan–Bahamas Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total
Chippewas 7 7 0 34 48
Hilltoppers 21 21 7 0 49
Overall record Last meeting Result
0–1 2012 CMU, 24–21

References

  1. Kelley, Kevin (April 1, 2013). "Western Kentucky to Join Conference USA in 2014". FB Schedules. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. "Conference USA Announces 2014 Football Schedule" (Press release). Conference USA. February 3, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  3. "2014 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
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