American college football season
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]
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.
Schedule [ edit ] 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).
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 1 7:00 p.m. Rice CBSSN W 46–1419,286 September 10 2:30 p.m. at No. 1 Alabama * ESPN2 L 10–38101,821 September 17 2:30 p.m. at Miami (OH) * ESPN3 W 31–2419,822 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 50–317,331 October 6 7:00 p.m. at Louisiana Tech CBSSN L 52–5517,978 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 59–2418,676 October 29 2:30 p.m. at Florida Atlantic ASN W 52–39,338 November 5 4:30 p.m. FIU Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY beIN W 49–2115,516 November 12 2:30 p.m. North Texas Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY ESPN3 W 45–716,239 November 26 6:00 p.m. at Marshall ESPNU W 60–617,397 December 3 11:00 a.m. Louisiana Tech ESPN W 58–4413,213 December 20 6:00 p.m. vs. Memphis * ESPN W 51–3124,726
[4]
Game summaries [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Owls 0 7 7 0 14 Hilltoppers 16 14 6 10 46
At Alabama [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Hilltoppers 3 0 0 7 10 #1 Crimson Tide 10 7 7 14 38
At Miami (OH) [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Hilltoppers 0 14 10 7 31 RedHawks 0 3 14 7 24
Vanderbilt [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 OT Total Commodores 0 7 7 10 7 31 Hilltoppers 7 7 0 10 6 30
Houston Baptist [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Huskies 3 0 0 0 3 Hilltoppers 14 16 20 0 50
At Louisiana Tech [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Hilltoppers 14 10 7 21 52 Bulldogs 21 14 17 3 55
At Middle Tennessee [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 OT 2OT Total Hilltoppers 3 17 7 3 7 7 44 Blue Raiders 3 17 0 10 7 6 43
Old Dominion [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Monarchs 0 14 10 0 24 Hilltoppers 21 31 0 7 59
At Florida Atlantic [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Hilltoppers 14 10 14 14 52 Owls 0 3 0 0 3
1 2 3 4 Total Panthers 7 0 0 14 21 Hilltoppers 14 21 14 0 49
North Texas [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Mean Green 0 0 7 0 7 Hilltoppers 17 14 14 0 45
At Marshall [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Hilltoppers 28 13 9 10 60 Thundering Herd 0 0 6 0 6
Vs. Louisiana Tech–C-USA Championship Game [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Bulldogs 17 10 14 3 44 Hilltoppers 24 14 10 10 58
Vs. Memphis–Boca Raton Bowl [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 10 7 7 7 31 Hilltoppers 14 14 16 7 51
Rankings [ edit ] Ranking movementsLegend: ██ 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
References [ edit ]
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold