2012 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

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]

2012 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
Record7–6 (4–4 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Offensive schemeWest Coast
Defensive coordinatorLance Guidry (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons
← 2011
2013 →
2012 Sun Belt Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Arkansas State $   7 1     10 3  
Louisiana–Monroe   6 2     8 5  
Middle Tennessee   6 2     8 4  
Louisiana–Lafayette *   4 2     5 4  
Western Kentucky   4 4     7 6  
Troy   3 5     5 7  
North Texas   3 5     4 8  
Florida Atlantic   2 6     3 9  
FIU   2 6     3 9  
South Alabama **   1 7     2 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • * – Louisiana–Lafayette vacated 4 wins due to NCAA violations.
    ** – South Alabama was ineligible for the conference title or a bowl game as part of their transition to the FBS.

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

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DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 16:00 p.m.Austin Peay*ESPN3W 49–1016,327
September 83:30 p.m.at No. 1 Alabama*SECNL 0–35101,821
September 156:00 p.m.at Kentucky*ESPNUW 32–31 OT53,980
September 226:00 p.m.Southern Miss*
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, Kentucky
ESPN3W 42–1723,252
September 296:00 p.m.at Arkansas StateESPN3W 26–1325,160
October 116:30 p.m.at TroyESPNUW 31–2616,426
October 203:00 p.m.Louisiana–Monroe
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, Kentucky
ESPN3L 42–43 OT22,323
October 276:00 p.m.at FIUESPN3W 14–612,842
November 18:15 p.m.Middle Tennessee
ESPNUL 29–3417,327
November 1012:00 p.m.Florida Atlantic
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, Kentucky
SBN/CSSL 28–3714,185
November 176:00 p.m.at Louisiana–LafayetteESPN3L 27–3120,314
November 2412:00 p.m.North Texas
  • Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, Kentucky
SBN/CSSW 25–2411,074
December 266:30 p.m.vs. Central Michigan*ESPNL 21–2423,310

Game summaries

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Austin Peay

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1 2 3 4 Total
Governors 9 9 7 3 28
Hilltoppers 14 21 7 7 49

@ Alabama

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1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 0 0 0 0 0
#1 Crimson Tide 14 7 7 7 35

@ Kentucky

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1 2 3 4OT Total
Hilltoppers 3 14 7 08 32
Wildcats 0 10 7 77 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

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1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Eagles 0 3 7 7 17
Hilltoppers 14 7 21 0 42

@ Arkansas State

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1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 0 0 14 12 26
Red Wolves 3 10 0 0 13

@ Troy

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1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 7 7 14 3 31
Trojans 10 7 9 0 26

Louisiana–Monroe

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1 2 3 4OT Total
Warhawks 0 21 0 148 43
Hilltoppers 7 21 0 77 42

@ FIU

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1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 7 0 0 7 14
Panthers 3 0 0 3 6

Middle Tennessee

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1 2 3 4 Total
Blue Raiders 10 7 7 10 34
Hilltoppers 7 10 7 5 29

Florida Atlantic

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1 2 3 4 Total
Owls 0 14 7 16 37
Hilltoppers 7 7 0 14 28

@ Louisiana–Lafayette

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1 2 3 4 Total
Hilltoppers 0 10 3 14 27
Ragin' Cajuns 0 10 7 14 31

North Texas

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1 2 3 4 Total
Mean Green 7 10 7 0 24
Hilltoppers 7 3 0 15 25

Central Michigan–Little Caesars Pizza Bowl

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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

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