WHEN CONFERENCE USA underwent its membership upheaval earlier this decade, nine new schools were brought on board.
The ninth was Western Kentucky University. It probably should have been first, or somewhere near the head of the line.
As the league sought a footing in some larger media markets, Bowling Green, Kentucky, wasn't a sexy choice. But it did fit the profile of a football program with "upside" - remember, the Hilltoppers are in just their ninth season in the FBS.
This is year No. 3 in C-USA for Western Kentucky, and the Hilltoppers are on the verge of becoming the undisputed kingpin of the East Division. With a win Saturday over a weary Marshall team, WKU will defend its 2015 league title against Louisiana Tech the following week.
Game time Saturday at Joan C. Edwards Stadium is 7 p.m., with ESPNU televising.
From both a football and an all-around perspective, WKU was the best candidate among the five C-USA schools plucked from the Sun Belt, it says here.
The Hilltoppers already have won eight C-USA championships in various sports, and the women's basketball team just downed No. 23 Indiana, a year after knocking off Top-25 Louisville. They also boast of a league-high 55 C-USA players of the week in the various sports.
The men's basketball team took a step back last season, but upset regular-season champion Alabama-Birmingham in the C-USA tournament. Coach Ray Harper, that ol' warm and fuzzy guy, abruptly departed and was replaced by Rick Stansbury, the longtime Mississippi State head coach.
That could turn out to be the league's best coaching hire since Southern Mississippi gambled on Larry Eustachy in 2004.
WKU's fan following is small but credible. When you see an attendance listed at 16,239, you can pretty much believe it - not like the 15,054 hilariously listed by Florida International for Marshall's visit over the weekend.
Bowling Green (population 63,616) is a bit larger than Charleston or Huntington. Media coverage is very good, as the Bowling Green Daily News staffs all football and basketball games, home and away.
You're not going to get that with FIU or Florida Atlantic in this or any other century.
Marshall, staggering into the football season finale at 3-8 (2-5 league), will try to ruin the Hilltoppers' title hopes. Should the Herd win and Old Dominion beat FIU, the Monarchs would take the East title.
(Yes, ODU turned out pretty well, too. The school once made a pitch to the Mid-American Conference, which was uninterested. Too bad.)
If you suffered through Marshall's 31-14 loss to FIU, you know the Herd faces long odds against WKU, even at home. I saw a Marshall team with little ability to run or stop the run, shaky chemistry in the passing game and a growing list of injuries.
When is the last time you've seen a team run out of tight ends?
WKU (8-3, 6-1) will not offer mercy this Saturday night, and still has the firepower to administer a beatdown. The Hilltoppers' only league loss was 55-52 to Louisiana Tech, and they beat Middle Tennessee 44-43 in two overtimes.
Michael White, the junior transfer from South Florida, has thrown for 3,373 yards and 28 touchdowns with only five interceptions, and leads the league in pass efficiency rating. Taywan Taylor and Nick Norris have 1,340 and 1,024 receiving yards, respectively, and Anthony Wales has rushed for 1,057 yards with 18 TDs.
The Hilltoppers are second in the league in scoring offense (42.5) and total offense (509.8). They also lead in scoring defense (23.9), rushing defense (108.7) and are second in total defense (367.6).
Not bad for a team that had to replace its all-time leading passer, Brandon Doughty, and a chunk of its defense. That's reloading, not rebuilding.
In a short time, the Hilltoppers have gone from all but begging for C-USA membership to being a model football program. And they're heavily favored to stretch their ownership of Marshall to a third straight win.
That would be one final indignity in a season of many for Herd football fans.
Contact Doug Smock at 304-348-5130 or dougsmock@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @dougsmock and read his blog at http://blogs.wvgazettemail.com/dougsmock/.