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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] 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).
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]
1
2
3
4
Total
Owls
0
7
7
0
14
Hilltoppers
16
14
6
10
46
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
3
0
0
7
10
#1 Crimson Tide
10
7
7
14
38
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
0
14
10
7
31
RedHawks
0
3
14
7
24
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
Commodores
0
7
7
10 7
31
Hilltoppers
7
7
0
10 6
30
1
2
3
4
Total
Huskies
3
0
0
0
3
Hilltoppers
14
16
20
0
50
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
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
1
2
3
4
Total
Mean Green
0
0
7
0
7
Hilltoppers
17
14
14
0
45
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
28
13
9
10
60
Thundering Herd
0
0
6
0
6
[ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Bulldogs
17
10
14
3
44
Hilltoppers
24
14
10
10
58
[ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Tigers
10
7
7
7
31
Hilltoppers
14
14
16
7
51
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking 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
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
