The 1983 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 16th-year head coach Jimmy Feix, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 2–8–1. The team's captains were Paul Gray and Walter York.^[1]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 10	at Louisville*	Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY	L 22–41	31,279
September 17	at Akron	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH	L 13–14	8,845
September 24	at Austin Peay	Municipal Stadium Clarksville, TN	L 3–13	7,500
October 1	Southeastern Louisiana*	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	L 7–27	10,500
October 8	at Youngstown State	Rayen Stadium Youngstown, OH	L 13–24	6,134
October 15	Tennessee Tech	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 17–0	9,000
October 22	at No. 1 Eastern Kentucky	Hanger Field Richmond, KY (Battle of the Bluegrass)	T 10–10	8,700
October 29	Morehead State	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 38–7	14,500
November 5	at No. T–5 Middle Tennessee	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN (100 Miles of Hate)	L 7–26	5,500
November 12	No. 11 Eastern Illinois	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	L 14–34	5,000	[2]
November 19	Murray State	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY (Battle for the Red Belt)	L 3–7	6,900
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Poll released prior to the game