The 2012 Fresno State Bulldogs football team represented California State University, Fresno in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs were led by first-year head coach Tim DeRuyter and played their home games at Bulldog Stadium. This was their first year as a member of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 9–4, 7–1 in Mountain West play to share the conference championship with Boise State and San Diego State. They were invited to the Hawaii Bowl where they were defeated by SMU.