1996 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

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  →

1996 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
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

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]

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	[2]
October 5	at UAB	No. 16	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	L 0–24	14,107	[3]
October 12	at Jacksonville State	No. 20	JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AL	L 20–34	4,334	[4]
October 19	Liberty		L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	L 14–23	7,100	[5]
October 26	No. 21 Indiana State		L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 27–20	8,200	[6]
November 2	Southern Illinois		L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 51–37	5,800	[7]
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

1. WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
2. "Western loses quarterback, then Marshall romps 37–3". The Courier-Journal. September 29, 1996. Retrieved July 6, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
3. "UAB runs roughshod over W. Kentucky 24–0". The Courier-Journal. October 6, 1996. Retrieved December 13, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Previously winless Jacksonville State downs Hilltoppers". The Courier-Journal. October 13, 1996. Retrieved July 20, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Rock-solid Floys one constant for Western". Messenger-Inquirer. October 20, 1996. Retrieved April 7, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Western Kentucky ends skid against Indiana State 27–20". The Courier-Journal. October 27, 1996. Retrieved January 7, 2026– via Newspapers.com.
7. "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.