American college football season
The 2012 Western Kentucky 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] They were invited to the 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 |
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September 1 | 6:00 p.m. | Austin Peay* | | ESPN3 | W 49–10 | 16,327 |
September 8 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 1 Alabama* | | SECN | L 0–35 | 101,821 |
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 42–17 | 23,252 |
September 29 | 6:00 p.m. | at Arkansas State | | ESPN3 | W 26–13 | 25,160 |
October 11 | 6:30 p.m. | at Troy | | ESPNU | W 31–26 | 16,426 |
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 14–6 | 12,842 |
November 1 | 8:15 p.m. | Middle Tennessee | | ESPNU | L 29–34 | 17,327 |
November 10 | 12:00 p.m. | Florida Atlantic | - Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
- Bowling Green, Kentucky
| SBN/CSS | L 28–37 | 14,185 |
November 17 | 6:00 p.m. | at Louisiana–Lafayette | | ESPN3 | L 27–31 | 20,314 |
November 24 | 12:00 p.m. | North Texas | - Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
- Bowling Green, Kentucky
| SBN/CSS | W 25–24 | 11,074 |
December 26 | 6:30 p.m. | vs. Central Michigan* | | ESPN | L 21–24 | 23,310 |
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Game summaries
Austin Peay
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Governors | 9 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 28 |
Hilltoppers | 14 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 49 |
@ 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
- ^ 2019 Sun Belt Conference Football Media Guide, retrieved 30 April 2020
- ^ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | - Big Red
- "Stand Up and Cheer"
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |
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