The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers are the athletic teams that represent Western Kentucky University (WKU), located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division I ranks, competing in the Conference USA (C-USA) since the 2014–15 academic year. The Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers previously competed in the Sun Belt Conference from 1982–83 to 2013–14; and in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) from 1948–49 to 1981–82.
The Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network (HSSN) is a viewer-supported, student-run, and seasonal syndicated programming service based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It features live broadcasts of men's and women's college basketball events of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, the sporting team representing Western Kentucky University. The institution is currently a member of Conference USA.
The 1952 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College in the 1952 college football season. They were coached by Jack Clayton and shared their first Ohio Valley Conference football championship and won their first bowl game, the Refrigerator Bowl. The team was led by college division AP All-American and All-OVC Quarterback Jimmy Feix and matched the school record for most wins set in 1922. R. E. Simpson, Marvin Satterly, Gene McFadden, and Max Stevens were also named to the All-OVC team. The team's captains were Dave Miller and Denny Wedge.
The 2001 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2001 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were coached by Jack Harbaugh. This was the school's first season as a member of the Gateway Football Conference, having won the Ohio Valley Conference championship the previous year. The Hilltoppers were the preseason favorites to win the conference but finished tied for 2nd. They qualified for the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs where they were defeated by eventual runner-up, Furman. The team was originally scheduled to play Wisconsin on September 14, however, due to the September 11 attacks, all college football games were suspended the following weekend, and the game was played on the 29th.
The 2000 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2000 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by veteran head coach Jack Harbaugh. They won their first conference championship since 1980, going undefeated in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in just their second year after rejoining as a football-only member; the school was a football independent from 1982 through 1998. The Hilltoppers received the OVC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division I-AA playoff, making it to the quarterfinals. Prior to the start of the season, the OVC gave Western Kentucky an ultimatum, join the conference for all sports or leave. The administration decided to leave and joined the Gateway Football Conference. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked No. 5 in final national poll by The Sports Network.
The 1980 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 14th-year head coach Jimmy Feix, the Hilltoppers compiled and overall record of 9–1 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, winning the OVC title. However, Western Kentucky was not selected for the NCAA Division I_AA Football Championship playoffs. Instead, the OVC's second-place finisher, Eastern Kentucky, was invited despite the fact that Western had beaten them earlier in the season. This perceived snub was a factor in Western Kentucky's decision to leave the OVC in 1982. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked fifth in final Associated Press poll.
The 1951 Marshall Thundering Herd football team was an American football team that represented Marshall University in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1951 college football season. In its second season under head coach Pete Pederson, the team compiled a 5–4–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 206 to 176. The team played its home games at Fairfield Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia.
The 1948 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1948 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Jack Clayton, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 5–4 with a mark of 2–3 in conference play, placing fifth in the OVC.
The 1951 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1951 college football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Jack Clayton, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 4–5 with a mark of 2–4 in conference play, placing sixth in the OVC. The team's captain was Lawrence "Butch" Gilbert.
The 1955 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1955 college football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Jack Clayton, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 3–6 with a mark of 1–4 in conference play, placing fifth in the OVC. The team's captains were Jerry Nassano and Vernon "Tank" Wilson.
The 1956 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1958 NCAA College Division football season. Led by Jack Clayton in his ninth and final year as head coach, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 5–4 with a mark of 2–3 in conference play, tying for third place in the OVC. The team's captains were Jim Chambliss and Bill Strawn.
The 1976 Western Kentucky football team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Jimmy Feix, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 4–5–1 with a mark of 3–4 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the OVC. The team's captain was David Carter.
The 1981 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 14th-year head coach Jimmy Feix, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 6–5 with a mark of 4–4 on conference play, tying for fourth in the OVC. The team's captains were Greg Gallas, Troy Snardon, Lamont Meacham.
The 1955 Murray State Thoroughbreds football team was an American football team that represented Murray State College—now known as Murray State University—as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1955 college football season. Led Fred Faurot in his eighth and final season as head coach, the Thoroughbreds compiled an overall record of 6–4 with a mark of 2–3 in conference play, placing fourth in the OVC.
The 1951 Eastern Kentucky Maroons football team represented Eastern Kentucky State College—now known as Eastern Kentucky University–as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1951 college football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Tom Samuels, the Maroons compiled an overall record of 7–3 with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the OVC.
The 1951 Morehead State Eagles football team was an American football team that represented Morehead State College—now known as Morehead State University—as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1951 college football season. Led by 13th-year head coach Ellis T. Johnson, the Eagles compiled an overall record of 1–7 with a mark of 0–6 in conference play, placing last out of seven teams in the OVC.
The 1951 Evansville Purple Aces football team represented Evansville College—now known as the University of Evansville—as a member of the Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1951 college football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Don Ping, the Purple Aces compiled an overall record of 5–5 with marks 1–1 against ICC opponents, placing fourth, and 3–3 in OVC play, tying for fourth place.
The 1951 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football team represented Tennessee Polytechnic Institute—now known as Tennessee Technological University–as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1951 college football season. Led by Star Wood in his second and final season as head coach, the Golden Eagles compiled an overall record of 5–5–1 with a mark of 3–3 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the OVC. Tennessee Tech played home games at Overall Field in Cookeville, Tennessee.
The 1949 Evansville Purple Aces football team represented Evansville College—now known as the University of Evansville—as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1949 college football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Don Ping, the Purple Aces compiled an overall record of 8–2–1 with a mark of 3–1–1 in OVC play. Evansville has the third-best record of any|team in the conference, but because both team with better records, Marshall and Louisville, has not played the required number of conference games in order to be eligible for the title, the OVC championship was awards to the Purple Aces. Evansville was invited to the Refrigerator Bowl, where the Purple Aces defeated Hillsdale. On offense, Evansville employed three differnent formations: the T formation, the short punt formation, and Notre Dame Box. The team played home game at the Reitz Bowl and Bosse Field in Evansville, Indiana.
The 1949 Howard Bulldogs football team represented Howard College—now known as the Samford University—as an member of the Dixie Conference during the 1949 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Earl Gartman, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 4–5 with a mark of 2–0 in conference play, placing second in the Dixie Conference. Howard employed the T formation on offense. played one home game at each of three difference stadiums, Woodlawn High School Stadium and Berry Field, both located in Birmingham, Alabama, and Tarrant High School Stadium in Tarrant, Alabama
