WKU Football: Ranking The Non-Conference Road Trips Over The Next Decade; #8–14
With the 2018 football season almost a week away, WKU fans will once again get the pleasure of hitting the road and experiencing some big…
With the 2018 football season almost a week away, WKU fans will once again get the pleasure of hitting the road and experiencing some big time road environments across the nation.
Since the Toppers started playing paycheck games in the early 2000’s, fans have had the pleasure of visiting some of the best environments that college football has to offer from Lincoln, Nebraska to Death Valley in Baton Rouge to Blacksburg, Virginia and between the Hedges in Athens, Georgia.
WKU fans have had the chance to experience some big time football that you just can’t witness while traveling in Conference USA or the Sun Belt. With the non-conference schedule pretty much set for the next six seasons let’s rank the road trips that WKU fans will get to experience starting next week in Madison, Wisconsin.
Let’s start with the worst trip and countdown to the best one between now and 2026, starting with Liberty.
14. at Liberty (September 6, 2025)
Coming in last on the list is a trip to Liberty University, America’s preeminent Evangelical Christian University in Lynchburg, Virginia. By the time the Flames will host WKU in 2025, they will be in their eighth season of FBS football, counting their transition this year.
The Tops will have already hosted the FBS Independent in 2020 looking to avenge their 0–2 record in the series dating back to the 1995 & 1996 seasons.
Liberty is trying to become the Notre Dame or BYU for the Evangelical church and are using athletics as another way to raise the profile of the university. They have the financial clout to get upcoming home games that most mid- majors cannot afford to schedule. Before the Hilltoppers travel to Lynchburg, the Flames will host Syracuse, Virginia Tech, BYU & Wake Forest. That money probably was enough to entice the cash-strapped Hilltopper program to put a home-and-home series on the schedule. By the time WKU makes the eight-and-a-half hour drive to Lynchburg, there’s no telling where the programs will sit. The Flames could experience similar quick success (they did beat Baylor last year as an FCS team) akin to WKU or could struggle with the FBS transition and life as an independent.
With their move to FBS, Williams Stadium will have already undergone renovations that will include expansion to 25,000 seats, a bigger scoreboard and more food options. This should further enhance a unique road experience that seems solid according to online reviews.
Despite the beautiful campus, I however am skeptical of comparing a road trip to an FBS Independent Christian university to the others on this list. Driving 504 miles to a campus that prohibits alcohol will definitely be an adjustment for most tailgaters (this one included), and for someone that likes to take in the local food/drink scene while traveling that makes it even less attractive to me.
Tying those factors with the fact that the Flames just don’t carry much name recognition to the average fan and you’ve got a trip that just lacks the buzz of the other schools on this list. That said, I could be completely off base with this observation and by the time the game rolls around in seven years their experience could be completely different especially for fans that are looking for a truly unique atmosphere that makes college football great. If one does decide to make the trek, one nearby historical site to visit while in the area is Appomattox Court House, where Robert E Lee surrendered to Ulysses S Grant, ending the Civil War. The National Historical park is just 30 minutes east from Liberty’s campus.
13. at Ball State (September 22, 2018)
If a repeat road trip (2007) against a MAC school coming off a two-win season doesn’t sound too exciting to you, don’t feel bad because it isn’t. The Cardinals and Hilltoppers finish up a two game series before the Tops begin conference play the following week against Marshall.
Ball State might be one of the most similar schools to WKU in the country; it’s a university that is very similar in size and stature in its state (Indiana) to WKU with almost identical enrollment numbers, stadium sizes, conference level and both reside in almost identically sized cities.
Fans making the trip will get a direct comparison to a similar school in the NCAA pecking order. While that might not be a recipe for an exciting road trip, luckily for traveling WKU fans the game falls on family weekend, which should help liven up the atmosphere at Schumann Stadium. This series, like the Miami (OH) series that preceded it, provides a regional mid-major foe that is drivable (4 1/2 hours from Bowling Green) and imminently winnable.
After a probable 1–2 start to the 2018 season, the game will at least be pivotal if WKU wants to make a bowl game in Sanford’s second season making the stakes high at least. Getting to compare Muncie to Bowling Green adds another fun angle to an otherwise unheralded road atmosphere.
12. at Troy (September 23, 2023)
Just announced yesterday, WKU will get to a return trip to their former Sun Belt rival a decade after they last played each other.
The Trojans hold a 9–2–1 series advantage over the Tops and WKU has only a 1–3–1 record at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Troy is located in the town of Troy, Alabama. If you plan on driving, it will take you six hours to reach the town of just over 18,000 people from Bowling Green.
Besides a lull at the end of the Larry Blakeney era, the Trojans usually have one of the stronger programs in the Sun Belt, recently winning the 2017 conference title. The quality of this game should be good but the buzz factor is just lacking, unfortunately. Having to play a former conference rival six hours away in a town less than half the size of Bowling Green won’t bring out more than your die hard travelers.
For what it’s worth Troy is said to have a beautiful campus and a smart dedicated fan base (as you’ll find in most of the state of Alabama). There doesn’t seem to be too many non football attractions in the city other than a few local restaurants . Like Ball State, the trip to Troy is more about seeing how WKU/Bowling Green measures up to a peer than some earth shattering experience.
11. at Indiana (September 17, 2022)
IU is a Power 5 school that WKU has already traveled to twice in the past ten years (2008 & 2015). While Bloomington is a great college town with fun bars and an underrated tailgating scene, it just doesn’t measure up to the tradition or uniqueness of the 10 road trips ahead of it on the list.
IU is a basketball school through and through and that is obvious from the minute you walk on campus prior to a football gameday. The lack of history and buzz around the program makes the Memorial Stadium experience subpar compared to its Big Ten brethren.
There really isn’t much that differentiates the Hoosiers home to similar stadiums like Vanderbilt’s; it’s a giant stone horseshoe with a late arriving crowd of fans that are there to kill a weekend before basketball starts.
With that being said, I had a great time during the 2015 game despite the frustrating loss. The grass lot right across 17th Street is as hidden of a gem that I uncovered in my road travels. For $20, you get a tailgating space in a fun and packed area with tons of unique people that care as much about that experience as they do the game (sometimes more).
IU also allows re-admission so you can easily return to your vehicle during halftime to further imbibe before the returning for the second half. If you’re making the 3 hour and 20 minute drive, be sure to check out Nick’s and Kilroy’s to experience some of IU’s bar culture as well. You’ll have a memorable weekend in Bloomington, even if the football part leaves a lot to be desired.
10. at USF (August 31, 2024)
A game that is more about the travel destination than the in game experience, WKU will travel to Tampa for the fourth time in program history in 2024 ( and the first time since 2010).
The Bulls are currently riding high after the success of the Willie Taggart years and the continuation of that success under Charlie Strong. They currently are trying to keep up with in-state rival UCF and making plans to continue to grow their program.
Right now the Bulls play in the off campus Raymond James Stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stadium. While that probably isn’t the best atmosphere to watch a pair of G5 teams square off it still makes for a cool experience compared to several of the trips below.
There is a possibility that by the time this one rolls around in 2024 the Bulls could be playing in a new on-campus stadium which would make this trip more memorable. The trip to the Tampa Bay area can’t be overstated when it comes to activities to do. With the game being on Labor Day, you’ve got the long weekend to enjoy several world class beaches, seafood, Ybor City, fishing, Busch Gardens and even take in a Rays game (they could have a new stadium by then as well). Tie a competitive game with an excuse to plan around a solid vacation and you’ve got yourself a solid experience.
9. at Hawaii (September 3, 2022)
By pure travel destinations, Hawaii should be at the top of the list but the costs to visit the islands and the Rainbow Warriors football atmosphere move this 2022 road trip towards the bottom of our list.
Hawaii is a Mountain West program that plays a unique and sometimes exciting version of football. Since their dream season in 2007, where they played their way into the Sugar Bowl, they’ve struggled to keep the football program not only relevant but also existent.
The Rainbow Warriors play in Aloha Stadium, a 43-year-old, 50,000 seat stadium in Honolulu that desperately needs renovations or a replacement.
When football is going well, the islands can embrace the program but when it’s not it can be an old cavernous non atmosphere reminiscent to the mid major programs that WKU regularly plays.
Lucky for WKU, this trip might just be far enough away for Hawaii to get a new stadium. The rest of the trip offers paradise with it’s world renown beaches, luxurious views, surfing & historical attractions such as the Pearl Harbor memorial. With this trip being four years out, you have plenty of time to budget, plan and tie it to your dream vacation (something that I’m seriously considering). After a week on the beach seeing your favorite team play in paradise is just icing on the cake and the Hilltoppers could easily make the trip worth it with a very winnable game.
8. at Cincinnati (September 26, 2026)
Just announced yesterday, the road trip to Cincinnati offers WKU fans the chance to play a regional school (three hours from Bowling Green) in a cool recently renovated old stadium.
The upcoming series will be the first time the two schools have ever played each other on the gridiron. While probably the number three or four team (after the Reds, Bengals and probably FC Cincinnati) in an obviously pro market, the University of Cincinnati still has quite a solid following.
Nippert Stadium is a now 103-year-old stadium that is built right in the middle of the Bearcats campus. While the game doesn’t have the same buzz and stakes of the Tops’ trip to Louisville, you will get a more collegiate atmosphere in what several writers call one of the most underrated stadiums in America.
Connect the unique experience with the fact that Cincinnati the city has tons to offer and you’ve got yourself quite a trip without breaking the bank. Cincinnati has really cleaned itself up over the past few years.
By the time the Tops play the Bearcats in late September, you’ve got all three of their professional teams still playing. If you’re all sported out you can always check out the Cincinnati Zoo, Kings Island, The Newport Aquarium and tons of great bar districts such as Over the Rhine and Mount Adams. This series shapes up to be competitive on the field and a fun travel city off the field.
We’ll finish our countdown tomorrow and reveal the top seven upcoming road trips for WKU fans. What do you think about our rankings thus far? Were we way off base with one? Let us know in the comments or on twitter.