Entering the season, Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe was saddled with massive expectations after three highly-prolific seasons at the FCS level. 14 games later, Zappe finishes his final collegiate season by etching his name in the FBS record books for years to come. The Houston Baptist transfer broke the FBS single-season records for passing touchdowns and passing yards in the Hilltoppers’ 59-38 victory over Appalachian State in the 2021 Boca Raton Bowl.
The win gives WKU head coach Tyson Helton his second bowl victory in three seasons and his 23 wins in three seasons is the most-prolific three-year stretch for the program since Jeff Brohm’s 30 wins from 2014-2016.