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 [ edit ] 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
Game summaries [ edit ] Austin Peay [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Governors 9 9 7 3 28 Hilltoppers 14 21 7 7 49
@ Alabama [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Hilltoppers 0 0 0 0 0 #1 Crimson Tide 14 7 7 7 35
@ Kentucky [ edit ] 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 [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Golden Eagles 0 3 7 7 17 Hilltoppers 14 7 21 0 42
@ Arkansas State [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Hilltoppers 0 0 14 12 26 Red Wolves 3 10 0 0 13
1 2 3 4 Total Hilltoppers 7 7 14 3 31 Trojans 10 7 9 0 26
Louisiana–Monroe [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 OT Total Warhawks 0 21 0 14 8 43 Hilltoppers 7 21 0 7 7 42
1 2 3 4 Total Hilltoppers 7 0 0 7 14 Panthers 3 0 0 3 6
Middle Tennessee [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Blue Raiders 10 7 7 10 34 Hilltoppers 7 10 7 5 29
Florida Atlantic [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Owls 0 14 7 16 37 Hilltoppers 7 7 0 14 28
@ Louisiana–Lafayette [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Hilltoppers 0 10 3 14 27 Ragin' Cajuns 0 10 7 14 31
North Texas [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Mean Green 7 10 7 0 24 Hilltoppers 7 3 0 15 25
Central Michigan–Little Caesars Pizza Bowl [ edit ] 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 [ edit ]
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold