| GAME 9: WKU (6-2, 4-0 C-USA) at Old Dominion (3-4, 1-2 C-USA) | ||
| Game Notes | ||
| WKU Notes | ODU Notes | C-USA Notes |
| Purchase Tickets | ||
| SOLD OUT | ||
| Going to the Game? | ||
| Directions | ODU Fan Guide | Ballard Stadium |
| Watch/Listen | ||
| TV: FSN | Radio: IMG Network | Listen Live |
| Follow Live! | ||
| @WKUSports | @WKUFootball | @WKUSportPics |
The Matchup:
WKU at Old Dominion
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, 11 a.m. CT
Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium (20,118), Norfolk, Va.
TV: FSN
Brendan Burke (Play-by-Play)
Ben Leber (Analyst)
CT Steckel (Sideline)
Radio: IMG Sports Network | WKU Gameday App (Google | iPhone | TuneIn)
What to Watch For: WKU Game Notes | ODU Game Notes
- WKU is in its 96th season of football and second under head coach Jeff Brohm, who became the school's 19th head coach on Jan. 10, 2014.
- WKU is one of the newest members of the FBS, entering just their seventh year of membership in college football's highest classification.
- In sixth-year QB Brandon Doughty, the Hilltoppers returned the nation's leader in passing yards (4,830) and touchdowns (49) from 2014. Doughty, the 2014 C-USA Most Valuable Player, was granted a sixth year of eligiblity for injuries suffered across the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
- Last season, WKU became the first program in NCAA history with a 4,500 yard passer and 1,500 yard rusher. They were also the first program in 17 years to break their league's single-game passing (Doughty, 593, at Middle Tennessee) and rushing record (Allen, 345, vs. Army) in the same season (Kent State, MAC, 1997).
- Through eight games, WKU has tallied 328 points, down just one point from last year's school record pace. In 2014, through eight games, WKU was 329-347 (-18) in scoring margin and 3-5. This season, the Tops are 328-216 (+112) and 6-2.
- WKU has been on fire lately, with halftime leads of 42, 25, 38 and 20 points in four of their last five games. The Hilltoppers are out-scoring their opponents 232-96 in the first half, an average halftime margin of 17 points, the third-highest nationally.
- WKU has reached bowl eligibility for the fifth consecutive season and in five of seven years as an FBS school. The Hilltoppers are also the first bowl eligible team in the Commonwealth. The 6-2 start is WKU's best of the FBS era.
About the Game:
- The Hilltoppers jump back into conference play this week and carry a seven-game winning streak over C-USA opponents into the game, the fourth-longest active streak in the country.
- The Hilltoppers are looking to move to 5-0 in conference play for the first time since going 7-0 in 2000 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
- WKU has never played at Old Dominion and has played in Virginia just twice. The Hilltoppers are 0-2 including a loss at No. 20 Virginia Tech in 2008. The other game was at Liberty in 1995.
- It will also be just the 12th time WKU has played on Halloween in program history and for just the third time since 1987. WKU last played on Halloween in 2009, losing 49-68 at North Texas. The Hilltoppers are 8-4 all-time on the date and 3-4 when on the road.
- ODU Athletic Director Dr. Camden Wood Selig formerly served in the same post at WKU. Selig hired current WKU AD Todd Stewart.
Numbers to Watch:
- 1 - Wide receiver Taywan Taylor is one receiving touchdown shy of breaking WKU's single-season mark of 11. Taylor has tied Jared Dangerfield (2014) and Porter Williams (1973).
- 72 - Taywan Taylor also needs just 72 yards to become only the second 1,000-yard receiver in a season in program history. He would join Porter Williams (1973) in that club.
- 251 - Brandon Doughty needs just 251 yards to move into the Top 50 in career passing yards. Along the way, Doughty has passed Doug Flutie, Marcus Mariota, John Elway and others along the way.
2015 Team Captains:
WKU's season-long team captains are voted on by the team at the first team meeting of the fall. On offense, QB Brandon Doughty, OL Forrest Lamp and TE Tyler Higbee. On defense, DB Wonderful Terry, LB Nick Holt and DL Gavin Rocker. Doughty is a three-year captain while Rocker is a two-year captain.
First Half Dominance:
Over their last four games with halftime leads, the Hilltoppers have taken 42- (Miami), 25- (Rice), 38- (Middle Tennessee) and 20- (North Texas) point leads into the break. WKU is out-scoring its opponents 232-96 in the game's opening half this season and boast the most second quarter points in the country.
Over eight games, that 136 point margin works out to a 17 point average lead going into the break of each game. The Hilltoppers trail only No. 3 Clemson and No. 2 Baylor in that area.
Experienced Team + Experienced Coaching Staff
Contrary to the youth of the 2014 team, the 2015 Hilltoppers return nearly 73-percent of their letterwinners, 87-percent of their total yards, and 73-percent of their total tackles, marks that have the Tops as the No. 16 most experienced team in the country heading into 2015, according to Phil Steele.
To go along with an experienced team in 2015, head coach Jeff Brohm's staff is also the most experienced coaching staff in Conference USA, combining for 206 years of collegiate coaching experience. North Texas is next on the list with 183 years.
| Conference USA Coaching Staff Experience | ||
| Team | Head Coach | Comb. Years of Experience |
| WKU | Jeff Brohm | 206 |
| North Texas | Dan McCarney | 183 |
| Middle Tennessee | Rick Stockstill | 182 |
Quick Starts:
Since shifting to a high-flying offense to start the 2013 season, WKU has proven to be potent on their opening drive. In the past three seasons, WKU has opened with a score 19 times including 16 touchdowns over 32 games.
Additionally, Brandon Doughty is 78-of-96 (81.3) for 941 yards and 10 touchdowns on opening drives, including a perfect 7-of-7 and 6-of-6 drives against BGSU and UAB, respectively, in 2014. Doughty was 4-for-4 for 67 yards against LA Tech, 7-for-7 for 76 yards against Miami, and 1-for-1 for 59 yards against MT this season.
