2015 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
C-USA champion
C-USA East Division champion
Miami Beach Bowl champion
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionEast Division
Ranking
APNo. 24
Record12–2 (8–0 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTyson Helton (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorNick Holt (3rd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons
← 2014
2016 →
2015 Conference USA football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 24 Western Kentucky x$   8 – 0     12 – 2  
Middle Tennessee   6 – 2     7 – 6  
Marshall   6 – 2     10 – 3  
FIU   3 – 5     5 – 7  
Old Dominion   3 – 5     5 – 7  
Florida Atlantic   3 – 5     3 – 9  
Charlotte*   0 – 8     2 – 10  
West Division
Southern Miss x   7 – 1     9 – 5  
Louisiana Tech   6 – 2     9 – 4  
UTSA   3 – 5     3 – 9  
UTEP   3 – 5     5 – 7  
Rice   3 – 5     5 – 7  
North Texas   1 – 7     1 – 11  
Championship: Western Kentucky 45, Southern Miss 28
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * Ineligible for postseason bowl due to transition from FCS
As of January 12, 2015
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2015 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University (WKU) in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season as members of the East Division of Conference USA. Led by second year head coach Jeff Brohm, they played their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They finished the season 12–2, 8–0 in C-USA play to be champions of the East Division. They represented the East Division in the Conference USA Football Championship Game where they defeated Southern Miss to win their first ever C-USA championship. They were invited to the Miami Beach Bowl where they defeated South Florida. They led the NCAA in Passing Efficiency, tied the school record for victories and were also ranked in the FBS AP Top 25 for the first time in program history.[1]

Schedule

Western Kentucky announced their 2015 football schedule on February 2, 2015. The 2015 schedule consist of five home and seven away games in the regular season. The Hilltoppers will host CUSA foes Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, Marshall, and Middle Tennessee, and will travel to Florida International (FIU), North Texas, Old Dominion, and Rice.[2]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 37:00 p.m.at Vanderbilt*
SECNW 14–1230,307
September 107:00 p.m.Louisiana Tech
FS1W 41–3817,515
September 193:00 p.m.at Indiana*
ESPNewsL 35–3844,823
September 262:30 p.m.Miami (OH)*
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
CBSSNW 56–1420,320
October 32:30 p.m.at Rice
FSNW 49–1020,124
October 1011:00 a.m.Middle Tennessee
FSNW 58–2816,993
October 156:30 p.m.at North Texas
CBSSNW 55–2810,155
October 246:00 p.m.at No. 5 LSU*
ESPNUL 20–48101,561
October 3111:00 a.m.at Old Dominion
FSNW 55–3020,118
November 711:00 a.m.Florida Atlanticdagger
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
FSNW 35–1918,421
November 211:30 p.m.at FIU
FCSW 63–714,380
November 2711:00 a.m.Marshall
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
FS1W 49–2817,687
December 511:00 a.m.Southern Miss
ESPN2W 45–2816,823
December 211:30 p.m.vs. South Florida*No. 25
ESPNW 45–3521,712
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[3]

Rankings

Further information: 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRV———RVRV——RVRVRVRV2524
Coaches——RV————RV—RVRVRVRVRVRVRV
CFPNot released——————Not released

Game summaries

At Vanderbilt

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 0 0 7 7 14
Commodores 0 3 0 9 12

Louisiana Tech

1 2 3 4 Total
Bulldogs 0 17 7 14 38
Hilltoppers 14 13 11 3 41

At Indiana

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 7 21 0 7 35
Hoosiers 7 10 21 0 38

Miami (OH)

1 2 3 4 Total
RedHawks 0 7 0 7 14
Hilltoppers 21 28 0 7 56

At Rice

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 21 14 0 14 49
Owls 3 7 0 0 10

Middle Tennessee

1 2 3 4 Total
Blue Raiders 7 7 7 7 28
Hilltoppers 28 24 3 3 58

Further information: 100 Miles of Hate

At North Texas

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 14 20 14 7 55
Mean Green 0 14 0 14 28

At LSU

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 0 7 6 7 20
#5 Tigers 7 7 20 14 48

At Old Dominion

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 10 21 10 14 55
Monarchs 3 7 7 13 30

Florida Atlantic

1 2 3 4 Total
Owls 7 6 6 0 19
Hilltoppers 0 14 14 7 35

At Florida International

1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 21 14 21 7 63
Panthers 0 0 0 7 7

Marshall

1 2 3 4 Total
Thundering Herd 0 14 7 7 28
Hilltoppers 7 28 6 8 49

Southern Miss (C–USA Championship Game)

1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Eagles 7 14 7 0 28
Hilltoppers 7 14 10 14 45

South Florida (Miami Beach Bowl)

1 2 3 4 Total
#25 Hilltoppers 0 10 28 7 45
Bulls 7 7 7 14 35

See also: 2015 Miami Beach Bowl

References

  1. ^ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Hilltoppers Announce 2015 Football Schedule and Season Ticket Plans" (Press release). Western Kentucky University Department of Athletics. February 2, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  3. ^ "2015 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved March 23, 2015.


Categories