The WKU football team has achieved bowl eligibility by October the past couple seasons, rolling to a Conference USA title both years.
But that has not been the case in 2017.
The Hilltoppers (5-4, 3-2 C-USA) all but lost their chance to contend for a third straight conference title after a 42-28 loss to Lane Kiffin and Florida Atlantic at home on Oct. 28, and they dropped to 5-4 on the year after a 31-17 setback to Vanderbilt in Nashville on Saturday. But WKU still has the opportunity to make a bowl game for the fourth consecutive year.