2010 Western Athletic Conference football season
The 2010 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) football season was an NCAA football season played from September 2, 2010 – 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 7–1 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 (12–1) was invited to the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas where  they defeated Utah 26–3. Hawaii (10–4) was invited to the Hawaii Bowl where they lost to Tulsa 35–62. Nevada (13–1) was invited to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl where they defeated Boston College 20–13. The only other WAC team to be bowl eligible was Fresno State (8–5), and they were invited to the Humanitarian Bowl where they lost to Northern Illinois 17–40. 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. Previous season. Boise State went 13–0 during the regular season, their second straight undefeated season, to win the conference championship for the second straight year and seventh time in eight years. They would be ranked No. 6 in the BCS at the end of the regular season and received an invitation to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl to become the first team from a non-automatic qualifying conference to receive an at-large berth to a BCS bowl (other non-AQ teams had received automatic bids under BCS rules). The Broncos faced BCS No. 4 ranked TCU in the first  matchup of two teams from non-AQ conferences in a BCS bowl. They defeated the Horned Frogs 17–10 and finished the season No. 4 in AP and coache's polls. Other bowl-eligible teams in 2009 were Nevada (8–4), Fresno State (8–4), and Idaho (7–5). Nevada was invited to play in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, where they lost 45–10 to SMU. Fresno State was invited to play in the New Mexico Bowl for the second straight year where they lost to Wyoming 35–28 in 2 overtimes. Idaho was invited to play in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl where they defeated  Bowling Green 43–42. Preseason. WAC media days. 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 vs. BCS matchups. WAC teams finished the season 5–9 against teams from BCS conferences. Boise State and Fresno State defeated two each with Nevada gaining the other win. 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-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. Week one. Players of the Week Week two. Players of the Week Week three. Players of the Week Week four. 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. 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 All-WAC Teams. Coach of the year. Chris Ault–Nevada Rankings. During the season Boise State, Hawaii, and Nevada were the only WAC teams to be ranked. 2010 Western