2015 WKU Hilltoppers football team


The 2015 WKU Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University 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.

Previous season

The Hilltoppers finished the 2014 season 8–5 overall and 4–4 in conference play. WKU biggest win and upset was against season closer Marshall by 67–66 in overtime, Marshall's first and only loss of their season making them ineligible for a berth in a New Year's Six Bowl. WKU became bowl eligible after defeating UTSA and was invited to play in the inaugural Bahamas Bowl, the first international bowl game since 2010. The Hilltoppers defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas, 49–48.

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, North Texas, Old Dominion, and Rice.

Rankings

Game summaries

at Vanderbilt

Overall recordLast meetingResult
0–31938VANDY, 12–0

Louisiana Tech

Overall recordLast meetingResult
1–32014LT, 59–10

at Indiana

Overall recordLast meetingResult
0–22010IND, 38–21

Miami (OH)

at Rice

Middle Tennessee

Overall recordLast meetingResult
29–33–12014MTSU, 50–47 3OT

at North Texas

Overall recordLast meetingResult
2–42012WKU, 25–24

at LSU

Overall recordLast meetingResult
0–12011LSU, 42–9

at Old Dominion

Overall recordLast meetingResult
1–02014WKU, 66–51

Florida Atlantic

Overall recordLast meetingResult
1–52014FAU, 45–38

at Florida International

Overall recordLast meetingResult
4–42012WKU, 14–6

Marshall

Overall recordLast meetingResult
2–42014WKU, 67–66 OT

Southern Miss (C–USA Championship Game)

Overall recordLast meetingResult
1–02012WKU, 42–17

South Florida (Miami Beach Bowl)

Overall recordLast meetingResult
2–42010USF, 24–12