2009 Western Athletic Conference football season

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 Hawaii Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, and Humanitarian Bowl, respectively. Nevada lost to SMU and Fresno State lost to Wyoming, while Idaho beat Bowling Green.

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), Hawaii (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. Hawaii was invited to play in the Sheraton Hawaii 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

 * 1) Boise State – 64 (8)
 * 2) Nevada – 55 (1)
 * 3) Fresno State – 45
 * 4) Louisiana Tech – 45
 * 5) Hawaii – 36
 * 6) San Jose State – 34
 * 7) Utah State – 21
 * 8) New Mexico State – 13
 * 9) Idaho – 11

Media poll

 * 1) Boise State – 519 (55)
 * 2) Nevada – 444 (3)
 * 3) Fresno State – 365
 * 4) Louisiana Tech – 360
 * 5) Hawai'i – 275
 * 6) San Jose State – 263
 * 7) Utah State – 170
 * 8) Idaho – 110
 * 9) 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 Trophy, 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
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Week three
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Week four
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Week five
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Week six
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Week seven
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Week eight
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Week nine
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Week ten
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Week eleven
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Week twelve
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Week thirteen
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Week fourteen
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First Team

 * Offense
 * QB Kellen Moore- Boise State
 * RB Ryan Mathews- Fresno State
 * RB Vai Taua- Nevada
 * WR Austin Pettis- Boise State
 * WR Titus Young- Boise State
 * WR Greg Salas- Hawai'i
 * TE Dennis Morris- La Tech
 * OL Nate Potter- Boise State
 * OL Andrew Jackson- Fresno State
 * OL John Estes- Hawai'i
 * OL Mike Iupati- Idaho
 * OL Alonzo Durham- Nevada


 * Defense
 * DL Ryan Winterswyk- Boise State
 * DL Chris Carter- Fresno State
 * DL D'Anthony Smith- La Tech
 * DL Dontay Moch- Nevada
 * LB Ben Jacobs- Fresno State
 * LB Blaze Soares- Hawai'i
 * LB Adrien Cole- La Tech
 * LB Bobby Wagner- Utah State
 * DB Kyle Wilson- Boise State
 * DB Shiloh Keo- Idaho
 * DB Davon House- New Mexico State
 * DB Duke Ihenacho- San Jose State


 * Specialists
 * PK Kevin Goessling- Fresno State
 * P Robert Malone- Fresno State
 * ST Titus Young- Boise State

Second Team

 * Offense
 * QB Colin Kaepernick- Nevada
 * RB Jeremy Avery- Boise State
 * RB Daniel Porter- La Tech
 * RB Robert Turbin- Utah State
 * WR Seyi Ajirotutu- Fresno State
 * WR Max Komar- Idaho
 * WR Brandon Wimberly- Nevada
 * WR Kevin Jurovich- San Jose State
 * TE Virgil Green- Nevada
 * OL Kenny Wiggins- Fresno State
 * OL Aaron Kia- Hawai'i
 * OL Irv Stevens- Idaho
 * OL Rob McGill- La Tech
 * OL Kenneth Ackerman- Nevada


 * Defense
 * DL Billy Winn- Boise State
 * DL Aaron Lavarias- Idaho
 * DL Kevin Basped- Nevada
 * DL Carl Ihenacho- San Jose State
 * LB Winston Venable- Boise State
 * LB JoJo Dickson- Idaho
 * LB James-Michael Johnson- Nevada
 * LB Justin Cole- San Jose State
 * DB Jeron Johnson- Boise State
 * DB Lorne Bell- Fresno State
 * DB Moses Harris- Fresno State
 * DB Jonathon Amaya- Nevada


 * Specialists
 * PK Trey Farquhar- Idaho
 * P Philip Zavala- San Jose State
 * ST Phillip Livas- La Tech

Players of the year

 * Offense
 * Kellen Moore- Boise State


 * Defense
 * Dontay Moch- Nevada


 * Freshman
 * Brandon Wimberly- Nevada

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.