American college football season
The 2012 WKU Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season . They were led by third-year head coach Willie Taggart and played their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium . They were a member of the Sun Belt Conference . They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in Sun Belt play to finish in fifth place.[1] Little Caesars Pizza Bowl , their first bowl appearance since joining FBS in 2007, where they were defeated by Central Michigan .[2]
After a three-year record of 16–20, head coach Willie Taggart resigned in December to become the head coach at South Florida . Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry coached the Hilltoppers in Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Bobby Petrino was hired as the school's new head coach on December 10, 2012.
Schedule [ ] Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 1 6:00 p.m. Austin Peay * ESPN3 W 49–1016,327 September 8 3:30 p.m. at No. 1 Alabama * SECN L 0–35101,821 September 15 6:00 p.m. at Kentucky * ESPNU W 32–31 OT 53,980 September 22 6:00 p.m. Southern Miss * Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, Kentucky ESPN3 W 42–1723,252 September 29 6:00 p.m. at Arkansas State ESPN3 W 26–1325,160 October 11 6:30 p.m. at Troy ESPNU W 31–2616,426 October 20 3:00 p.m. Louisiana–Monroe †Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, Kentucky ESPN3 L 42–43 OT 22,323 October 27 6:00 p.m. at FIU ESPN3 W 14–612,842 November 1 8:15 p.m. Middle Tennessee ESPNU L 29–3417,327 November 10 12:00 p.m. Florida Atlantic Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, Kentucky SBN /CSSL 28–3714,185 November 17 6:00 p.m. at Louisiana–Lafayette ESPN3 L 27–3120,314 November 24 12:00 p.m. North Texas Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, Kentucky SBN/CSS W 25–2411,074 December 26 6:30 p.m. vs. Central Michigan * ESPN L 21–2423,310 *Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
Game summaries [ ] Austin Peay [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Governors
9
9
7
3
28
Hilltoppers
14
21
7
7
49
See also: 2012 Austin Peay State Governors football team
@ Alabama [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
0
0
0
0
0
#1 Crimson Tide
14
7
7
7
35
@ Kentucky [ ]
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
Hilltoppers
3
14
7
0 8
32
Wildcats
0
10
7
7 7
31
The win over the Wildcats of the SEC marks the Hilltoppers first ever win over a team from a Bowl Championship Series conference..
Southern Miss [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Golden Eagles
0
3
7
7
17
Hilltoppers
14
7
21
0
42
@ Arkansas State [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
0
0
14
12
26
Red Wolves
3
10
0
0
13
@ Troy [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
7
7
14
3
31
Trojans
10
7
9
0
26
Louisiana–Monroe [ ]
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
Warhawks
0
21
0
14 8
43
Hilltoppers
7
21
0
7 7
42
@ FIU [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
7
0
0
7
14
Panthers
3
0
0
3
6
Middle Tennessee [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Blue Raiders
10
7
7
10
34
Hilltoppers
7
10
7
5
29
Florida Atlantic [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Owls
0
14
7
16
37
Hilltoppers
7
7
0
14
28
@ Louisiana–Lafayette [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
0
10
3
14
27
Ragin' Cajuns
0
10
7
14
31
North Texas [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Mean Green
7
10
7
0
24
Hilltoppers
7
3
0
15
25
Central Michigan–Little Caesars Pizza Bowl [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
HIlltoppers
7
7
7
0
21
Chippewas
14
3
0
7
24
This will be the Hilltoppers first bowl game since becoming a member of the FBS in 2007.
References [ ]
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People National championship seasons in bold
