2016 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
C-USA champion
C-USA East Division co-champion
Boca Raton Bowl champion
Boca Raton Bowl, W 51–31 vs. Memphis
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionEast Division
Record11–3 (7–1 C-USA)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorBrian Brohm (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinatorTony Levine (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorNick Holt (4th season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
2016 Conference USA football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Western Kentucky xy$  7 –1   11 –3  
Old Dominion x  7 –1   10 –3  
Middle Tennessee  5 –3   8 –5  
FIU  4 –4   4 –8  
Charlotte  3 –5   4 –8  
Marshall  2 –6   3 –9  
Florida Atlantic  2 –6   3 –9  
West Division
Louisiana Tech xy  6 –2   9 –5  
UTSA  5 –3   6 –7  
Southern Miss  4 –4   7 –6  
North Texas  3 –5   5 –8  
Rice  2 –6   3 –9  
UTEP  2 –6   4 –8  
Championship: Western Kentucky 58, Louisiana Tech 44
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

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

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).

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 17:00 p.m.Rice
CBSSNW 46–1419,286
September 102:30 p.m.at No. 1 Alabama*
ESPN2L 10–38101,821
September 172:30 p.m.at Miami (OH)*
ESPN3W 31–2419,822
September 243:30 p.m.Vanderbilt*
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
CBSSNL 30–31 OT23,674
October 16:00 p.m.Houston Baptist*
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
CUSA.tvW 50–317,331
October 67:00 p.m.at Louisiana Tech
CBSSNL 52–5517,978
October 151:30 p.m.at Middle Tennessee
ESPN3W 44–43 2OT22,411
October 226:00 p.m.Old Dominion
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
ASNW 59–2418,676
October 292:30 p.m.at Florida Atlantic
ASNW 52–39,338
November 54:30 p.m.FIU
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
beINW 49–2115,516
November 122:30 p.m.North Texas
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
ESPN3W 45–716,239
November 266:00 p.m.at Marshall
ESPNUW 60–617,397
December 311:00 a.m.Louisiana Tech
ESPNW 58–4413,213
December 206:00 p.m.vs. Memphis*
ESPNW 51–3124,726

[4]

Game summaries

Rice

1 2 3 4 Total
Owls 0 7 7 0 14
Hilltoppers 16 14 6 10 46

At Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 3 0 0 7 10
#1 Crimson Tide 10 7 7 14 38

At Miami (OH)

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 0 14 10 7 31
RedHawks 0 3 14 7 24

Vanderbilt

1 2 3 4OT Total
Commodores 0 7 7 107 31
Hilltoppers 7 7 0 106 30

Houston Baptist

1 2 3 4 Total
Huskies 3 0 0 0 3
Hilltoppers 14 16 20 0 50

At Louisiana Tech

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 14 10 7 21 52
Bulldogs 21 14 17 3 55

At Middle Tennessee

1 2 3 4OT2OT Total
Hilltoppers 3 17 7 377 44
Blue Raiders 3 17 0 1076 43

Old Dominion

1 2 3 4 Total
Monarchs 0 14 10 0 24
Hilltoppers 21 31 0 7 59

At Florida Atlantic

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 14 10 14 14 52
Owls 0 3 0 0 3

FIU

1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 7 0 0 14 21
Hilltoppers 14 21 14 0 49

North Texas

1 2 3 4 Total
Mean Green 0 0 7 0 7
Hilltoppers 17 14 14 0 45

At Marshall

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

1 2 3 4 Total
Bulldogs 17 10 14 3 44
Hilltoppers 24 14 10 10 58

Vs. Memphis–Boca Raton Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total
Tigers 10 7 7 7 31
Hilltoppers 14 14 16 7 51

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRV——————————RV——RVRV
CoachesRVRVRVRV—————————RVRVRV
CFPNot released——————Not released

References

  1. ↑ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Jeff Brohm to leave WKU for Purdue opening". USA Today.
  3. ↑ "WKU Announces 2016 Football Schedule" (Press release). [Western Kentucky University Department of Athletics. February 4, 2016. Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  4. ↑ "2016 WKU Hilltoppers Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved February 8, 2016.


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