CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

2014 Western Illinois

5–⁠7 (3–⁠5 Missouri Valley Football Conference).

Schedule and results

Western Illinois in 2014, game by game: won vs. Valparaiso 45–6; lost at No. 18 Wisconsin 3–37; won vs. Drake 38–13; lost at Northwestern 7–24; lost at Southern Illinois 17–34; lost vs. North Dakota State 10–17; won at Youngstown State 30–24; lost vs. Illinois State 34–37; lost vs. Northern Iowa 13–27; won at South Dakota 44–29; lost vs. South Dakota State 24–59; won vs. Indiana State 34–20+39−35Won 45–6 vs. Valparaiso+39ValparaisoLost 3–37 at No. 18 Wisconsin-34No. 18 WisconsinWon 38–13 vs. Drake+25DrakeLost 7–24 at Northwestern-17NorthwesternLost 17–34 at Southern Illinois-17Southern Illino…Lost 10–17 vs. North Dakota State-7North Dakota St…Won 30–24 at Youngstown State+6Youngstown StateLost 34–37 vs. Illinois State-3Illinois StateLost 13–27 vs. Northern Iowa-14Northern IowaWon 44–29 at South Dakota+15South DakotaLost 24–59 vs. South Dakota State-35South Dakota St…Won 34–20 vs. Indiana State+14Indiana State
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Aug 28vsValparaisoW 45–⁠673%
Sep 6at18WisconsinL 3–⁠378%
Sep 13vsDrakeW 38–⁠1350%
Sep 20atNorthwesternL 7–⁠2420%
Sep 27atSouthern IllinoisL 17–⁠3426%
Oct 4vsNorth Dakota StateL 10–⁠1715%
Oct 11atYoungstown StateW 30–⁠2420%
Oct 18vsIllinois StateL 34–⁠3735%
Oct 25vsNorthern IowaL 13–⁠2741%
Nov 8atSouth DakotaW 44–⁠2947%
Nov 15vsSouth Dakota StateL 24–⁠5926%
Nov 22vsIndiana StateW 34–⁠2044%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat Indiana State 34–⁠20; unranked in the final AP poll; tied for 7th in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

In program history: The 21st-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 53 on file).

Record
5–⁠7
Conference
3–⁠5 tied for 7th in Missouri Valley Football Conference
AP final
Unranked
Points
299–⁠327
Coach
—
Elo
1286 +65 this season
SP+ rating
—
SRS
−15.0 No. 22 of 124 in FCS
Recruiting class
No. 183
Defensive coordinator
Brian Ward

Leaders

Passing yardsTrenton Norvell QB400 yds
Passing touchdownsTrenton Norvell QB1 TD
Rushing yardsJ.C. Baker RB143 yds
Receiving yardsLance Lenoir WR129 yds
Receiving touchdownsJoey Borsellino WR1 TD

Top recruits in the 2014 class

Sean McGuire PRO★★No. 2087
Isaiah Lesure WR★★No. 2648

247Sports composite rankings via CollegeFootballData.com; national rank in the class.

The 2014 class by position

SignedStarsRating
Quarterbacks12.00.789
Receivers12.00.767
Whole class22.00.778

High-school signees by position group, with their average stars and 247Sports composite rating (out of 1), via CollegeFootballData.com. Athletes are signees with no set position.

2014 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings

TeamConf.OverallAP final
North Dakota State8–⁠115–⁠1
Illinois State8–⁠113–⁠2
Northern Iowa6–⁠39–⁠5
South Dakota State5–⁠49–⁠5
Youngstown State4–⁠47–⁠5
Indiana State4–⁠48–⁠6
Southern Illinois3–⁠56–⁠6
Western Illinois3–⁠55–⁠7
Missouri State1–⁠74–⁠8
South Dakota0–⁠82–⁠10

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.