Best of ... teams
No. 50: Western Kentucky
Coach: Mike Sanford
2016 record: 11-3
Projected 2017 record: 10-2
Circle the date: Nov. 4 at Vanderbilt
Bowl trip: Heart of Dallas
Why No 50: The Hilltoppers would be much higher if Jeff Brohm had stuck around. But Purdue made the former Illinois assistant coach an offer he couldn’t refuse, and the Boilermakers are better for it. Brohm left a talented team in Bowling Green. The best of the returnees is quarterback Mike White, who threw for more than 4,300 yards to go along with 37 touchdowns and just seven interceptions last season.