BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Western Kentucky University Football generated $34.29 million in media exposure value during the 2023 season, according to Nielsen. The Hilltoppers finished the season 8-5 and with a historic come-from-behind victory in the Famous Toastery Bowl, a game that generated nearly $3.5 million in media exposure value alone.
"It is often acknowledged that Athletics is the front porch of WKU and everyone within our department and sport programs knows of this responsibility," WKU Director of Athletics Todd Stewart said. "As a result, no entity can bring more positive exposure to a university than a successful athletics program. It is great to see Nielsen's independent research validate the multi-million-dollar impact from television exposure alone our football program had on WKU this past season."
The Hilltoppers' generated more value than the rest of Conference USA combined, totaling more than $33 million from the six national TV games measured. Nielsen does not measure CBS Sports Network, on which WKU played two games during the regular season.
WKU also garnered significant buzz and attention from its seven unique Big Red logos, which were worn on helmets based on position groups during the Oct. 24 game against Liberty. The uniform reveal generated over $1 million in value alone through social media and earned media value.
The Hilltoppers opened the season hosting South Florida on CBS Sports Network, followed by a week three contest on FOX at Ohio State. The following week, the Hilltoppers played at Troy on ESPNU prior to hosting MTSU on CBS Sports Network. WKU's next three games, all midweek games in October, were on national TV.
First, on Oct. 5, WKU played at Louisiana Tech on ESPN, followed by back-to-back games on ESPNU. The three midweek October games, a new initiative for Conference USA with the most recent TV contract, saw WKU earn $7.1 million in total media value.
The final nationally televised game of the 2023 season was the historic Famous Toastery Bowl win, a game that saw WKU overcome a 28-0 deficit and win in overtime, 38-35. It is the fourth-largest comeback in college football history for a bowl game.
The Hilltoppers are scheduled to open the 2024 season at Alabama on Aug. 31, before taking on Eastern Kentucky and Toledo at home on Sept. 7 and Sept. 21, respectively, and traveling to Boston College for a Sept. 28 contest to close the nonconference slate. The 2024 CUSA schedule has not yet been released.
For all the latest on WKU Football, follow @WKUFootball on Twitter and Instagram, and like the WKU Football Facebook page.
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