2012 WKU Hilltoppers football team


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

Game summaries

Austin Peay

Overall recordLast meetingResult
34–6–12006WKU, 24–14

@ Alabama

Overall recordLast meetingResult
0–12008ALB, 41–7

@ Kentucky

Overall recordLast meetingResult
0–32011UK, 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

@ Arkansas State

Overall recordLast meetingResult
2–3–12011ARST, 26–22

@ Troy

Overall recordLast meetingResult
1–8–12011WKU, 41–18

Louisiana–Monroe

Overall recordLast meetingResult
4–32011WKU, 31–28

@ FIU

Overall recordLast meetingResult
3–42011WKU, 10–9

Middle Tennessee

Overall recordLast meetingResult
29–31–12011WKU, 36–33

Florida Atlantic

Overall recordLast meetingResult
1–32011WKU, 20–0

@ Louisiana–Lafayette

Overall recordLast meetingResult
2–32011WKU, 42–23

North Texas

Overall recordLast meetingResult
1–42011WKU, 31–21

Central Michigan–Little Caesars Pizza Bowl

This will be the Hilltoppers first bowl game since becoming a member of the FBS in 2007.