Sport football Number of teams 9 | Start date September 3, 2009 | |
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Duration September 3, 2009through January 4, 2010 Season champion Boise State Broncos football | ||
The 2009 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) football season was an NCAA football season played from September 3, 2009, to January 4, 2010. The Western Athletic Conference consists of 9 members: Boise State, Fresno State, Hawai'i, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State, and Utah State. Boise State won the 2009 WAC title going 13–0, 8–0 in conference and were invited to play in the Fiesta Bowl, in which they defeated previously unbeaten TCU. Nevada, Fresno State, and Idaho also played in bowl games, the Hawaiʻi Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, and Humanitarian Bowl, respectively. Nevada lost to SMU and Fresno State lost to Wyoming, while Idaho beat Bowling Green.
Contents
Previous season
The Boise State Broncos went 12–0 during the regular season to win the conference championship and rise to #9 in the final BCS standings. With Utah of the Mountain West Conference being ranked ahead of them in the BCS, the Broncos missed out on the big money bowls and were selected to play #11 TCU in the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl where they would ultimately lose 17–16 to bring their undefeated season to an end.
Other bowl-eligible teams in 2008 were Louisiana Tech (7–5), Fresno State (7–5), Hawaiʻi (7–6), Nevada (7–5) and San Jose State (6–6). La Tech was invited to play in the Independence Bowl, where they won 17–10 over Northern Illinois. Fresno State was invited to play in the New Mexico Bowl where they lost to Colorado State 35–30. Hawaiʻi was invited to play in the Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl in its home stadium, where it lost to Notre Dame 49–21. Nevada was invited to the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl where they lost to Maryland 42–35. San Jose State was not invited to a bowl game. Overall the WAC went 1–4 in their bowl games.
Preseason poll
The 2009 WAC Preseason Poll was announced at the league's football preview in Salt Lake City on July 29. Boise State was overwhelmingly selected as the favorite to win the conference by both the league's coaches and media that cover the WAC. Although the Broncos did not receive all first-place votes in the coaches' poll, their selection was effectively unanimous; league rules prohibit coaches from casting first-place votes for their own teams. Accordingly, Broncos head coach Chris Petersen voted for Nevada.
Coaches poll
- Boise State – 64 (8)
- Nevada – 55 (1)
- Fresno State – 45
- Louisiana Tech – 45
- Hawaiʻi – 36
- San Jose State – 34
- Utah State – 21
- New Mexico State – 13
- Idaho – 11
Media poll
- Boise State – 519 (55)
- Nevada – 444 (3)
- Fresno State – 365
- Louisiana Tech – 360
- Hawai'i – 275
- San Jose State – 263
- Utah State – 170
- Idaho - 110
- New Mexico State – 104
Colin Kaepernick of Nevada was voted the preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Kyle Wilson of Boise State was voted the preseason Defensive player of the year.
Award watch lists
Mike Iupati of Idaho was one of three finalists named for the Outland Tropy, won by Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska.
Kellen Moore of Boise State was named one of the ten finalists for the Manning Award, won by Colt McCoy of Texas.
Regular season
The WAC has teams in 4 different time zones. Times reflect start time in respective time zone of each team (Central-Louisiana Tech, Mountain-New Mexico State, Boise State, Utah State, Pacific-Idaho, Fresno State, San Jose State, Nevada, Hawaiian-Hawai'i). Conference games start times are that of the home team.
Rankings reflect that of the USA Today Coaches poll for that week until week eight when the BCS poll will be used.
Week one
Players of the Week
Week two
Players of the Week
Week three
Players of the Week
Week four
Players of the Week
Week five
Players of the Week
Week six
Players of the Week
Week seven
Players of the Week
Week eight
Players of the Week
Week nine
Players of the Week
Week ten
Players of the Week
Week eleven
Players of the Week
Week twelve
Players of the Week
Week thirteen
Players of the Week
Week fourteen
Players of the Week
Coach of the year
Chris Petersen- Boise State
Rankings
During the 2009 season the only WAC team to be ranked was Boise State, who would finish the season ranked #4.