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. 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 .
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 *
Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky
ESPN3
W 49–10
16,327
September 8
3:30 p.m.
at No. 1 Alabama *
Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, Alabama
SECN
L 0–35
101,821
September 15
6:00 p.m.
at Kentucky *
Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, 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
Liberty Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas
ESPN3
W 26–13
25,160
October 11
6:30 p.m.
at Troy
Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, Alabama
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
FIU Stadium • Miami
ESPN3
W 14–6
12,842
November 1
8:15 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky (100 Miles of Hate )
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
Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana
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 *
Ford Field • Detroit (Little Caesars Pizza Bowl )
ESPN
L 21–24
23,310
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. # Rankings from Coaches Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time .
Game summaries [ edit ]
Austin Peay [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Governors
9
9
7
3
28
Hilltoppers
14
21
7
7
49
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
34–6–1
2006
WKU, 24–14
@ Alabama [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
0
0
0
0
0
#1 Crimson Tide
14
7
7
7
35
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
0–1
2008
ALB, 41–7
@ Kentucky [ edit ]
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
Hilltoppers
3
14
7
0 8
32
Wildcats
0
10
7
7 7
31
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
0–3
2011
UK, 14–3
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
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
First meeting
@ Arkansas State [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
0
0
14
12
26
Red Wolves
3
10
0
0
13
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
2–3–1
2011
ARST, 26–22
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
7
7
14
3
31
Trojans
10
7
9
0
26
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
1–8–1
2011
WKU, 41–18
Louisiana–Monroe [ edit ]
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
Warhawks
0
21
0
14 8
43
Hilltoppers
7
21
0
7 7
42
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
4–3
2011
WKU, 31–28
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
7
0
0
7
14
Panthers
3
0
0
3
6
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
3–4
2011
WKU, 10–9
Middle Tennessee [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Blue Raiders
10
7
7
10
34
Hilltoppers
7
10
7
5
29
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
29–31–1
2011
WKU, 36–33
Florida Atlantic [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Owls
0
14
7
16
37
Hilltoppers
7
7
0
14
28
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
1–3
2011
WKU, 20–0
@ Louisiana–Lafayette [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hilltoppers
0
10
3
14
27
Ragin' Cajuns
0
10
7
14
31
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
2–3
2011
WKU, 42–23
North Texas [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Mean Green
7
10
7
0
24
Hilltoppers
7
3
0
15
25
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
1–4
2011
WKU, 31–21
Central Michigan–Little Caesars Pizza Bowl [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
HIlltoppers
7
7
7
0
21
Chippewas
14
3
0
7
24
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
First meeting
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