American college football season
The 2017 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team (WKU ) represented Western Kentucky University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Hilltoppers played their home games at the Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky as members of the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by first-year head coach Mike Sanford Jr. The Hilltoppers finished the season 6–7, 4–4 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for third place in the East Division. They received an invite to the Cure Bowl where they lost to Georgia State .[1]
Previous season [ ] The Hilltoppers finished the 2016 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, WKU represented the East Division in the Conference USA Championship Game where they defeated Louisiana Tech to be crowned C-USA champions.[2] Boca Raton Bowl where they defeated Memphis .[3]
On December 5, head coach Jeff Brohm resigned to become the head coach at Purdue .[4] Nick Holt led WKU in the Boca Raton Bowl.[5] [6]
Preseason [ ] In a preseason media vote, the Hilltoppers were picked to win the East Division again, receiving 20 of 28 first place votes.[7]
Schedule and results [ ] Western Kentucky announced its 2017 football schedule on January 26, 2017. The 2017 schedule consists of 6 home and away games in the regular season. The Hilltoppers will host CUSA foes Charlotte , Florida Atlantic , Louisiana Tech , and Middle Tennessee , and will travel to FIU , Marshall , Old Dominion , and UTEP .[8]
The Hilltoppers will host two of the four non-conference opponents, Ball State from the Mid-American Conference and Eastern Kentucky from the Ohio Valley Conference and travel to Illinois of the Big Ten Conference and Vanderbilt from the Southeastern Conference .
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 2 6:00 p.m. Eastern Kentucky * FloSports W 31–1718,614 September 9 7:00 p.m. at Illinois * BTN L 7–2041,923 September 16 6:00 p.m. Louisiana Tech Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY Stadium L 22–2316,223 September 23 6:00 p.m. Ball State * Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY Stadium W 33–2117,590 October 7 7:00 p.m. at UTEP CUSA.TV W 15–1420,418 October 14 3:30 p.m. Charlotte Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY FloSports W 45–1416,754 5:00 p.m. at Old Dominion CBSSN W 35–3120,118 October 28 3:30 p.m. Florida Atlantic Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY Stadium L 28–4212,441 November 4 11:00 a.m. at Vanderbilt * ESPNU L 17–3126,350 November 11 5:30 p.m. at Marshall Stadium L 23–3019,516 November 17 7:00 p.m. Middle Tennessee CBSSN W 41–38 3OT 12,612 6:00 p.m. at FIU beIN L 17–4116,199 December 16 2:30 p.m. vs. Georgia State * CBSSN L 17–2719,585
Schedule Source: [9] Game summaries [ ] Eastern Kentucky [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Colonels
0
0
14
3
17
Hilltoppers
0
17
7
7
31
at Illinois [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
0
0
0
7
7
Fighting Illini
3
10
7
0
20
Louisiana Tech [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Bulldogs
3
10
0
10
23
Hilltoppers
8
7
7
0
22
Ball State [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Cardinals
7
0
7
7
21
Hilltoppers
7
10
0
16
33
at UTEP [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
0
8
7
0
15
Miners
0
14
0
0
14
Charlotte [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
49ers
7
7
0
0
14
Hilltoppers
14
24
0
7
45
at Old Dominion [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
7
14
0
14
35
Monarchs
7
7
17
0
31
Florida Atlantic [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Owls
10
10
0
22
42
Hilltoppers
7
14
7
0
28
at Vanderbilt [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
7
7
3
0
17
Commodores
14
7
7
3
31
at Marshall [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
7
0
3
13
23
Thundering Herd
0
13
17
0
30
Middle Tennessee [ ]
1
2
3
4 OT 2OT 3OT
Total
Blue Raiders
0
3
0
21 7 7 0
38
Hilltoppers
7
0
3
14 7 7 3
41
at FIU [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
3
7
7
0
17
Panthers
3
10
21
7
41
vs Georgia State–Cure Bowl [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
7
3
0
7
17
Panthers
10
3
7
7
27
Coaching staff [ ]
Name
Title
Mike Sanford
Head Coach
Clayton White
Defensive Coordinator
Junior Adams
Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
Steve Spurrier Jr.
Quarterbacks
Mike Sanford Sr.
Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs
Geoff Dartt
Offensive Line
Jimmy Lindsey
Defensive Line
Jami DeBerry
Safeties/Recruiting Coordinator
Ryan Mahaffey
Tight Ends
Maurice Crum
Linebackers
Source[10]
References [ ]
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People National championship seasons in bold
