1996 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

1996 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
1996 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
Conference	Independent
Record	7–4
Head coach	Jack Harbaugh (8th season);
Home stadium	L. T. Smith Stadium
	Seasons ← 1995 1997 →

The 1996 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by quarterback Willie Taggart and head coach Jack Harbaugh. The team was an independent and primarily ran an option offense. Their schedule included top-ranked and eventual undefeated NCAA Division I-AA champion, Marshall. Western Kentucky's roster featured future National Football League (NFL) player Ben Wittman. Joey Stockton and Mike Mills were named to All-American teams. The I-AA Independent All-Star Team included Antwan Floyd, Trae Hackett, Stockton, Turner Goodwin, and Mills.^[1]

1996 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Buffalo		–		8	–	3
No. 15 Youngstown State		–		8	–	3
Saint Mary's		–		7	–	3
Western Kentucky		–		7	–	4
Davidson		–		6	–	4
Towson		–		6	–	4
Samford		–		6	–	5
Wofford		–		6	–	5
Cal Poly		–		5	–	6
Hofstra		–		5	–	6
Liberty		–		5	–	6
Southern Utah		–		4	–	7
Charleston Southern		–		2	–	8
Morehead State		–		2	–	8
Jacksonville State		–		1	–	9

^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 29	Kentucky Wesleyan		L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 66–0	9,600
September 7	at No. 9 Murray State		Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY (Battle for the Red Belt)	W 44–41 ^OT	14,123
September 14	No. 11 Eastern Kentucky	No. 24	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY (Battle of the Bluegrass)	W 14–7	17,600
September 21	at Austin Peay	No. 15	Fortera Stadium Clarksville, TN	W 34–2	5,011
September 28	at No. 1 Marshall	No. 12	Marshall University Stadium Huntington, WV	L 3–37	20,755
October 5	at UAB	No. 16	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	L 0–24	14,107	^[2]
October 12	at Jacksonville State	No. 20	JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AL	L 20–34	4,334
October 19	Liberty		L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	L 14–23	7,100	^[3]
October 26	No. 21 Indiana State		L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 27–20	8,200
November 2	Southern Illinois		L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 51–37	5,800	^[4]
November 9	at Morehead State		Jayne Stadium Morehead, KY	W 31–26	1,500
Homecoming Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game

References

^ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
^ "UAB runs roughshod over W. Kentucky 24–0". The Courier-Journal. October 6, 1996. Retrieved December 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Rock-solid Floys one constant for Western". Messenger-Inquirer. October 20, 1996. Retrieved April 7, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Floyd breaks rushing mark as Western triumphs 51-37". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. November 3, 1996. p. C8. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

This college football 1990s season article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.

[2] "UAB runs roughshod over W. Kentucky 24–0". The Courier-Journal. October 6, 1996. Retrieved December 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "Rock-solid Floys one constant for Western". Messenger-Inquirer. October 20, 1996. Retrieved April 7, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "Floyd breaks rushing mark as Western triumphs 51-37". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. November 3, 1996. p. C8. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]