1996 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

1996 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record7–4
Head coach
Home stadiumL. T. Smith Stadium
1996 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Buffalo   –     8 – 3  
No. 15 Youngstown State   –     8 – 3  
Saint Mary's   –     7 – 3  
  –     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

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 29Kentucky Wesleyan
W 66–09,600
September 7at No. 9 Murray State
W 44–41 OT14,123
September 14No. 11 Eastern KentuckyNo. 24
W 14–717,600
September 21at Austin PeayNo. 15
W 34–25,011
September 28at No. 1 MarshallNo. 12
L 3–3720,755[2]
October 5at UABNo. 16
L 0–2414,107[3]
October 12at Jacksonville StateNo. 20
L 20–344,334
October 19Liberty
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
L 14–237,100[4]
October 26No. 21 Indiana State
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 27–208,200
November 2Southern Illinois
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 51–375,800[5]
November 9at Morehead State
W 31–261,500

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. ^ "Rock-solid Floys one constant for Western". Messenger-Inquirer. October 20, 1996. Retrieved April 7, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "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.
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