The Battle for the Red Belt is an American college football rivalry between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team of Western Kentucky University and the Murray State Racers football team of Murray State University. The rivalry began as an in-conference rivalry within the Ohio Valley Conference, but the Hilltoppers have since moved to the Football Bowl Subdivision, first to the Sun Belt Conference and most recently to Conference USA. The rivalry has continued as a trophy game, although it is no longer played on an annual basis.
The 1973 Western Kentucky football team represented Western Kentucky University during the inaugural 1973 NCAA Division II football season. The team came off an 7–3 record from the prior season and was led by coach Jimmy Feix. They finished the regular season undefeated and won the Ohio Valley Conference championship. The Hilltoppers made the initial NCAA Division II Football Championship, winning their first two playoff games, including a win over Grambling in the Grantland Rice Bowl, before falling in the championship game to Louisiana Tech in the Camellia Bowl. Their rankings in the final polls were UPI 2 and AP 3.
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 1963 Western Kentucky football team represented Western Kentucky State College during the 1963 NCAA College Division football season. The Hilltoppers were led by OVC Coach of the Year Nick Denes, won the Ohio Valley Conference championship, and finished the season undefeated. This team was one of the finest in school history and set a school record for victories. The roster included future NFL players John Mutchler, Dale Lindsey, Jim Burt, and Harold Chambers as well as future NFL coach Joe Bugel. Mutchler was named OVC Defensive Player of the Year.
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 1953–54 Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College during the 1953-54 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Edgar Diddle and consensus All-American, Tom Marshall. The Hilltoppers won the Ohio Valley Conference championship, and were invited to the 1954 National Invitation Tournament, where they were seeded as the number 2 team and advanced to the semifinals. During this period, the NIT was considered on par with the NCAA Tournament. This was one of the finest teams in Western Kentucky history, they led the NCAA in wins and Marshall averaged more than 25 points and nearly 15 rebounds per game, setting school records for scoring and rebounding. Art Spoelstra, Jack Turner and Lynn Cole joined Marshall on the All-Conference and OVC Tournament teams.
The 1952–53 Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College during the 1952-53 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Edgar Diddle and All-American player Tom Marshall. The Hilltoppers won the Ohio Valley Conference tournament and were invited to the 1953 National Invitation Tournament. During this period, the NIT was considered on par with the NCAA Tournament. Art Spoelstra joined Marshall on the All-Conference and OVC Tournament teams.
The 1951–52 Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College during the 1951-52 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Edgar Diddle and leading scorer, forward Tom Marshall. The Hilltoppers won the Ohio Valley Conference season and tournament championships, and were invited to the 1952 National Invitation Tournament. During this period, the NIT was considered on par with the NCAA Tournament. Marshall, Art Spoelstra, Gene Rhodes, and Richard White were named to the All-Conference and OVC Tournament teams.
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 1949 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1949 college football season. Led by second-year head coach Jack Clayton, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 5–4 with a mark of 2–3 in conference play, placing sixth 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 1953 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1953 college football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Jack Clayton, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 6–4 with a mark of 2–3 in conference play, placing fourth in the OVC. The team's captains were Marvin Satterly and Max Stevens.
The 1954 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1954 college football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Jack Clayton, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 6–4 with a mark of 2–3 in conference play, tying for second place in the OVC. The team's captains were Jerry Passafiume and Jim Phifer.
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 1957 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 first-year head coach Nick Denes, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 5-3-1 with a mark of 1-3-1 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the OVC. The team's captains were Twyman Patterson and Carroll VanHooser.
The 1958 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 second-year head coach Nick Denes, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 4–5 with a mark of 2–4 in conference play, tying for fifth place in the OVC. The team's captains were Rod Bagby and Jim "Yogi" Hardin.
The 1959 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1959 NCAA College Division football season. Led by third-year head coach Nick Denes, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 5–4 with a mark of 3–3 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the OVC. The team's captains were Dave Miller and Denny Wedge.
The 1960 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1960 NCAA College Division football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Nick Denes, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 2–6–1 with a mark 1–4–1 conference play, tying for sixth place in the OVC. The team's captain was Herb Wassom.
The 1961 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1961 NCAA College Division football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Nick Denes, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 6–3 with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, plaching third place in the OVC. The team's captain was Winton Boone.
