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.

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.

Media poll

 * 1) Boise State – 386 (42)
 * 2) Nevada – 333 (1)
 * 3) Fresno State – 300
 * 4) Idaho – 207
 * 5) Louisiana Tech – 200
 * 6) Utah State – 196
 * 7) Hawai'i – 166
 * 8) New Mexico State – 81
 * 9) San Jose State – 66

Coaches poll

 * 1) Boise State – 64 (8)
 * 2) Nevada – 55 (1)
 * 3) Fresno State – 50
 * 4) Utah State – 37
 * 5) Hawai'i – 36
 * 6) Idaho – 33
 * 7) Louisiana Tech – 26
 * 8) New Mexico State – 14
 * 9) San Jose State – 9

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
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Week two
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Week three
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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
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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
 * QB Colin Kaepernick–Nevada
 * RB Doug Martin–Boise State
 * RB Vai Taua–Nevada
 * WR Austin Pettis–Boise State
 * WR Titus Young–Boise State
 * WR Greg Salas–Hawaii
 * TE Virgil Green–Nevada
 * OL Thomas Byrd–Boise State
 * OL Nate Potter–Boise State
 * OL Kenny Wiggins–Fresno State
 * OL Rob McGill–Louisiana Tech
 * OL John Bender–Nevada


 * Defense
 * DL Shea McClellin–Boise State
 * DL Ryan Winterswyk–Boise State
 * DL Chris Carter–Fresno State
 * DL Logan Harrell–Fresno State
 * DL Dontay Moch–Nevada
 * LB Winston Venable–Boise State
 * LB Ben Jacobs–Fresno State
 * LB Corey Paredes–Hawaii
 * LB Bobby Wagner–Utah State
 * DB George Iloka–Boise State
 * DB Jeron Johnson–Boise State
 * DB Mana Silva–Hawaii
 * DB Davon House–New Mexico State


 * Specialists
 * PK Kevin Goessling–Fresno State
 * P Bobby Cowan–Idaho
 * ST Phillip Livas–Louisiana Tech

Second Team

 * Offense
 * QB Bryant Moniz–Hawaii
 * RB Alex Green–Hawaii
 * RB Lennon Creer–Louisiana Tech
 * WR Jamel Hamler–Fresno State
 * WR Kealoha Pilares–Hawaii
 * WR Eric Greenwood–Idaho
 * WR Rishard Matthews–Nevada
 * TE Daniel Hardy–Idaho
 * OL Bryce Harris–Fresno State
 * OL Lupepa Letuli–Hawaii
 * OL Adrian Thomas–Hawaii
 * OL Chris Barker–Nevada
 * OL Ailao Eliapo–San Jose State


 * Defense
 * DL Billy Wynn–Boise State
 * DL Kaniela Tuipulotu–Hawaii
 * DL Aaron Lavarias–Idaho
 * DL Matt Broha–Louisiana Tech
 * LB Byron Hout–Boise State
 * LB Travis Brown–Fresno State
 * LB Adrien Cole–Louisiana Tech
 * LB James-Michael Johnson–Nevada
 * LB Kevin Smigh–San Jose State
 * DB Brandyn Thompson–Boise State
 * DB Desia Dunn–Fresno State
 * DB Shiloh Keo–Idaho
 * DB Isaiah Frey–Nevada
 * DB Curtis Marsh–Utah State


 * Specialists
 * PK Scott Enos–Hawaii
 * P Harrison Waid–San Jose State
 * ST Taveon Rogers–New Mexico State

Players of the year

 * Offense
 * Kellen Moore–Boise State
 * Colin Kaepernick–Nevada


 * Defense
 * Chris Carter–Fresno State


 * Freshman
 * Keith Smith–San Jose State

Coach of the year
Chris Ault–Nevada

Rankings
During the season Boise State, Hawaii, and Nevada were the only WAC teams to be ranked.