American college football season
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 .[1]
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 receive 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.[2]
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 .[3]
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 p.m. Bowling Green * CBSSN W 59–3117,215 September 6 11:00 a.m. at Illinois * BTN L 34–4238,561 September 13 6:00 p.m. at Middle Tennessee WKU PBS L 47–50 3OT 24,911 September 27 2:30 p.m. at Navy * CBSSN W 36–2730,537 October 4 6:00 p.m. UAB Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY L 39–4214,923 October 18 11:00 a.m. at Florida Atlantic ASN L 38–4510,915 October 25 3:00 p.m. Old Dominion Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY W 66–5117,886 November 1 2:00 p.m. at Louisiana Tech FSN L 10–5920,011 November 8 3:00 p.m. UTEP †Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY W 35–2718,472 November 15 11:00 a.m. Army * Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY CBSSN W 52–2416,819 November 22 11:00 a.m. UTSA Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY FSN W 45–712,518 November 28 11:00 a.m. at No. 19 Marshall FS1 W 67–66 OT 23,576 December 24 11:00 a.m. vs. Central Michigan * ESPN W 49–4813,667 *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game All times are in Central time
Schedule Source: [4] Game summaries [ ] Bowling Green [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Falcons
0
10
14
7
31
Hilltoppers
14
17
14
14
59
Illinois [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
3
14
10
7
34
FIghting Illini
7
7
7
21
42
Middle Tennessee [ ]
1
2
3
4 OT 2OT 3OT
Total
Hilltoppers
3
21
0
10 7 3 3
47
Blue Raiders
14
10
0
10 7 3 6
50
Navy [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
3
10
9
14
36
Midshipmen
7
6
0
7
20
UAB [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Blazers
14
0
21
7
42
Hilltoppers
20
7
12
0
39
Florida Atlantic [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
17
14
7
0
38
Owls
7
7
14
17
45
Old Dominion [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Monarchs
3
27
21
0
51
Hilltoppers
21
21
14
10
66
Louisiana Tech [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
7
3
0
0
10
Bulldogs
10
21
21
7
59
UTEP [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Miners
17
3
7
0
27
Hilltoppers
7
7
7
14
35
Army [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Black Knights
7
3
14
0
24
Hilltoppers
14
10
14
14
52
UTSA [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Roadrunners
0
0
0
7
7
Hilltoppers
14
14
7
10
45
Marshall [ ]
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
Hilltoppers
28
21
0
10 8
67
#19 Thundering Herd
21
21
7
10 7
66
Central Michigan–Bahamas Bowl [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Chippewas
7
7
0
34
48
Hilltoppers
21
21
7
0
49
References [ ]
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People National championship seasons in bold
