The payoff from Western Kentucky’s 41-3 football loss at Kentucky in September is being put to use.

WKU is using the money UK paid for the game to install a new playing surface inside Houchens-Smith Stadium. The new FieldTurf surface - which cost WKU $834,000 - replaces the artificial AstroPlay field that was installed in spring 2002.

“They started the project right before Christmas,” said Craig Biggs, WKU associate athletic director of facilities. “We removed the old turf and the remainder of the track. Right now they’re in the process of replacing some sideline drainage and then start replacing the turf.

“It’s relatively the same thing, this (surface is) just obviously a newer version. We had had a lot of problems with the previous turf and it had just worn its welcome out.”

Not only will Houchens-Smith Stadium sport new turf next season, but the field is moving 11 feet closer to the stadium’s older side. The new placement will give the field a more centered look; the stadium’s new side was built on top of the track, so the original field was noticeably closer to that structure.

Biggs said the project should wrap up before spring football practice, with a targeted completion date in either late February or early March.

The new field, as well as finishing the Hall of Fame-style trophy rooms in the stadium’s new side, will essentially wrap up the $50 million stadium renovation. WKU will also have a natural grass practice field outside the stadium’s western side.

“The only other project, which is kind of down the line, is for the open end of the stadium,” Biggs said. “It won’t close the stadium, but it will be more of a beautification project with some landscaping and new fencing down there.

“(Overall) we should be in great shape (for next season).”

In need of a 12th

WKU is still seeking a 12th opponent for the 2009 campaign.

The Hilltoppers have already booked 11 games, with home contests against Arkansas State, Florida International, Louisiana-Lafayette, Troy and South Florida. WKU’s road games include trips to Florida Atlantic, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Navy and Tennessee.

WKU athletics director Wood Selig said a sixth home game is likely to be played against a Football Championship Series (formerly Division I-AA) opponent.

“We’re still trying to fill our final 12th game for 2009 and we’ve got a couple different scenarios that we’re waiting on,” Selig said. “We hope that in the next couple of weeks everything will be resolved and we’ll have our 12th official game for 2009.

“We’re definitely looking for a home game, giving us six and six.”

Dates and times for all 12 games won’t be released until early March, as the Sun Belt Conference won’t set dates until it completes television deals in February.

But Tennessee, South Florida and Navy have listed apparently concrete dates on their school Web sites. The Tennessee game is Sept. 5 in Knoxville, Tenn., South Florida visits Houchens-Smith Stadium on Sept. 12 and WKU meets Navy on Sept. 26 in Annapolis, Md.