Western Kentucky (6-5, 3-4 Conference USA) at No. 19 Marshall (11-0, 7-0 C-USA)

KICKOFF: 11:00 a.m. CT

BROADCAST: Fox Sports 1, 105.3 FM (IMG Sports Network)

ODDS: Marshall -21 (Vegas Insider)

SERIES: Marshall 4-1

LAST MEETING: Marshall 37-3, 9/28/96

WHAT’S AT STAKE: WKU is seeking its fourth consecutive season with seven or more victories…A WKU win would mark the first win against a ranked FBS program in school history.

KEY MATCHUP: WKU’s defense vs. Marshall’s offense – WKU’s week-by-week improvements on the defense will be put to the test against the nation’s second-ranked offense in Marshall. The Herd, averaging 562.5 yards per contest, face a WKU defense ranked 114^th in the country. But the Hilltoppers have improved each week since starting their three-game win streak holding UTEP to 394 yards, 333 against Army and 234 versus UTSA.

RELATED LINK: Tops buying into playoff mentality

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

WKU QB Brandon Doughty – The senior quarterback leads the country with 36 passing touchdowns and needs two more scores against Marshall to establish WKU’s career record for touchdown passes that currently stands at 51.

Marshall RB Devon Johnson – The junior leads the Herd with 16 touchdowns on 1,573 yards rushing, averaging 157.3 yards per game. Marshall has rushed for 3,171 yards this season, edging towards the single-season rushing record of 3,395 set in 1996.

FACTS & FIGURES:

WKU is taking on a ranked team for the first time since facing No. 1 Alabama in 2012…Marshall is off to an 11-0 start for the first time since going undefeated in 1999…Marshall has a 141-25 record (84.9 percent) in Joan C. Edwards Stadium and has won 13 straight dating back to 2012.