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 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 (OVC), but both schools have since departed for other conferences. The Hilltoppers were the first to move, transitioning to the Football Bowl Subdivision and playing as an independent in the 2008 season before moving football to the Sun Belt Conference in 2009, followed by a move to Conference USA in 2014. The Racers, which remain in the Football Championship Subdivision to this day, played their final OVC season in 2022, and joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2023. The rivalry has continued as a trophy game, although it is no longer played on an annual basis.
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 1967 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1967 NCAA College Division football season. Led by Nick Denes in his 11th and final season as head coach, the Hilltoppers compiled and overall record of 7–1–1 with a mark of 5–1–1 in conference play, placing second in the OVC.
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 1950 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1950 college football season. Led by third-year head coach Jack Clayton, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 6–2–2 with a mark of 3–1–2 in conference play, placing second in the OVC. The team's captains were Roy Hina and Joe Talley.
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 college 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 1957 college 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 college 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 1960 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1960 college 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 college 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.
The 1962 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1962 NCAA College Division football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Nick Denes, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 5–3 with a mark of 3–3 in conference play, plaching fifth place in the OVC. The team's captain was Lee Murray.
The 1964 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1964 NCAA College Division football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Nick Denes, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 6–3–1 with a mark of 3–3–1 in conference play, tying for third place in the OVC. The team's captains were Stan Napper and Ken Waller.
The 1965 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1965 NCAA College Division football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Nick Denes, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 2–6–2 with a mark of 1–5–1 in conference play, for seventh place in the OVC. The team's captain was Ken Frick.
The 1966 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1966 NCAA College Division football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Nick Denes, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 3–4 in conference play, for sixth place in the OVC. The team's captain was Jack Crangle.
