2014 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

The 2014 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented the 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 the 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]

2014 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
Bahamas Bowl champion
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionEast Division
Record8–5 (4–4 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTyson Helton (1st season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorNick Holt (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons
← 2013
2015 →
2014 Conference USA football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 23 Marshall x$   7 1     13 1  
Middle Tennessee   5 3     6 6  
Western Kentucky   4 4     8 5  
UAB   4 4     6 6  
Old Dominion*   4 4     6 6  
FIU   3 5     4 8  
Florida Atlantic   2 6     3 9  
West Division
Louisiana Tech x   7 1     9 5  
Rice   5 3     8 5  
UTEP   5 3     7 6  
UTSA   3 5     4 8  
North Texas   2 6     4 8  
Southern Miss   1 7     3 9  
Championship: Marshall 26, Louisiana Tech 23
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * Ineligible for postseason bowl due to transition from FCS
As of 22:24, 20 December 2014 (UTC)
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

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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.[2]

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.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 297:00 p.m.Bowling Green*CBSSNW 59–3117,215
September 611:00 a.m.at Illinois*BTNL 34–4238,561
September 136:00 p.m.at Middle TennesseeWKU PBSL 47–50 3OT24,911
September 272:30 p.m.at Navy*CBSSNW 36–2730,537
October 46:00 p.m.UAB
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
L 39–4214,923
October 1811:00 a.m.at Florida AtlanticASNL 38–4510,915
October 253:00 p.m.Old Dominion
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 66–5117,886
November 12:00 p.m.at Louisiana TechFSNL 10–5920,011
November 83:00 p.m.UTEP
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 35–2718,472
November 1511:00 a.m.Army*
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
CBSSNW 52–2416,819
November 2211:00 a.m.UTSA
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
FSNW 45–712,518
November 2811:00 a.m.at No. 19 MarshallFS1W 67–66 OT23,576
December 2411:00 a.m.vs. Central Michigan*ESPNW 49–4813,667
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time
Schedule Source:[3]

Game summaries

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Bowling Green

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1 2 3 4 Total
Falcons 0 10 14 7 31
Hilltoppers 14 17 14 14 59

Illinois

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1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 3 14 10 7 34
Fighting Illini 7 7 7 21 42

Middle Tennessee

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1 2 3 4OT2OT3OT Total
Hilltoppers 3 21 0 10733 47
Blue Raiders 14 10 0 10736 50
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1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 3 10 9 14 36
Midshipmen 7 6 0 7 20
1 2 3 4 Total
Blazers 14 0 21 7 42
Hilltoppers 20 7 12 0 39

Florida Atlantic

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1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 17 14 7 0 38
Owls 7 7 14 17 45

Old Dominion

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1 2 3 4 Total
Monarchs 3 27 21 0 51
Hilltoppers 21 21 14 10 66

Louisiana Tech

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1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 7 3 0 0 10
Bulldogs 10 21 21 7 59

UTEP

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1 2 3 4 Total
Miners 17 3 7 0 27
Hilltoppers 7 7 7 14 35

Army

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1 2 3 4 Total
Black Knights 7 3 14 0 24
Hilltoppers 14 10 14 14 52

UTSA

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1 2 3 4 Total
Roadrunners 0 0 0 7 7
Hilltoppers 14 14 7 10 45

Marshall

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1 2 3 4OT Total
Hilltoppers 28 21 0 108 67
#19 Thundering Herd 21 21 7 107 66

Central Michigan–Bahamas Bowl

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1 2 3 4 Total
Chippewas 7 7 0 34 48
Hilltoppers 21 21 7 0 49

References

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  1. ^ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Conference USA Announces 2014 Football Schedule" (Press release). Conference USA. February 3, 2014. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  3. ^ "2014 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved February 3, 2014.