The 2010 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) football season was an NCAA football season played from September 2, 2010 â January 9, 2011. The Western Athletic Conference in 2010 consisted of 9 members: Boise State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State, and Utah State.
Boise State, Hawaii, and Nevada all went 7âÂÂ1 in conference play to share the WAC title. All three teams finished the regular season ranked in the top 25 of all four major polls. Boise State (12âÂÂ1) was invited to the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas where they defeated Utah 26âÂÂ3. Hawaii (10âÂÂ4) was invited to the Hawaii Bowl where they lost to Tulsa 35âÂÂ62. Nevada (13âÂÂ1) was invited to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl where they defeated Boston College 20âÂÂ13. The only other WAC team to be bowl eligible was Fresno State (8âÂÂ5), and they were invited to the Humanitarian Bowl where they lost to Northern Illinois 17âÂÂ40.
This was Boise State's final season as a WAC member. Amid a realignment of NCAA conferences, the school announced on June 11, 2010 that it would leave the WAC for the Mountain West Conference effective July 1, 2011.
During the WAC's football preview on July 26 in Salt Lake City, Boise State was selected by both the coaches and media as favorites to win the conference. They received 42 of a possible 43 first place votes in the media poll with Nevada coming in second and receiving the other first place vote. The Broncos received eight of nine first place votes in the coaches poll, but Boise State head coach Chris Petersen was not allowed to vote for his own team in first place, thus the Broncos received all 8 possible first place votes.
Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore was selected as the preseason offensive player of the year and Nevada defensive end Dontay Moch was selected as the preseason defensive player of the year. Moore and Moch were the 2009 WAC players of the year.
WAC teams finished the season 5âÂÂ9 against teams from BCS conferences. Boise State and Fresno State defeated two each with Nevada gaining the other win.
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-Hawaii). 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.
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ESPN's College GameDay broadcast from inside Bronco Stadium on the blue turf for the No. 3 Boise State vs Oregon State game. This is the first time that College Gameday was broadcast from a WAC school.
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Chris AultâÂÂNevada
During the season Boise State, Hawaii, and Nevada were the only WAC teams to be ranked.