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] 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
Game summaries
Austin Peay
1
2
3
4
Total
Governors
9
9
7
3
28
Hilltoppers
14
21
7
7
49
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
0
0
0
0
0
#1 Crimson Tide
14
7
7
7
35
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
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
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
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
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
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 Seasons National championship seasons in bold
