What Is 2007 Nevada Wolf Pack football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2007 Nevada Wolf Pack football team represented the University of Nevada, Reno during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 9-4 record under head coach Chris Ault and winning the Hawaii Bowl 49-48 over UH.

Key Facts

The 2007 Nevada Wolf Pack finished the season with a 9-4 overall record
They played in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and went 7-1 in conference play
Head coach Chris Ault led the team, marking his final season before retirement
Nevada won the 2007 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl 49-48 against the Hawaii Warriors
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick emerged as a key player, throwing for 2,158 yards and 14 TDs

Overview

The 2007 Nevada Wolf Pack football team represented the University of Nevada, Reno in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), the team was led by head coach Chris Ault, who was in his final year before retirement.

Under Ault's leadership, Nevada posted a strong 9-4 overall record and a 7-1 mark in conference play, finishing second in the WAC behind Hawaii. The season culminated in a thrilling victory in the Hawaii Bowl, one of the most memorable games in program history.

Record: The team finished with a 9-4 overall record, including a 7-1 performance in WAC games, showcasing their dominance in conference play.
Head Coach:Chris Ault, the architect of the Pistol offense, coached his final season in 2007 before retiring, leaving a lasting legacy on college football.
Bowl Game: Nevada won the 2007 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on December 24, defeating the Hawaii Warriors 49-48 in a high-scoring, back-and-forth contest.
Quarterback:Colin Kaepernick started all 13 games, throwing for 2,158 yards and 14 touchdowns while also rushing for 827 yards and 8 scores.
Offensive Scheme: The Wolf Pack ran the Pistol offense, a formation developed by Ault that combined elements of the spread and single-wing, revolutionizing college football.

How It Works

The 2007 Nevada Wolf Pack season exemplified the effectiveness of the Pistol offense and player development under long-term coaching stability. This section breaks down key components of the team's structure and performance.

Pistol Offense:Developed by Chris Ault, the Pistol places the quarterback in a short shotgun formation with a running back directly behind, enabling both read-option and pass plays.
Colin Kaepernick: As a redshirt freshman, Kaepernick started all 13 games, showing dual-threat capability that would define his future NFL career.
Defensive Performance: Nevada's defense allowed 27.5 points per game on average, struggling against high-powered offenses like Hawaii’s in the bowl game.
WAC Competition: The Wolf Pack defeated strong teams like Boise State (50-49) and Fresno State, proving their competitiveness in a tough conference.
Bowl Victory: In the Hawaii Bowl, Nevada overcame a 24-14 halftime deficit to win 49-48, with Kaepernick throwing four touchdown passes.
Season Timeline: The team lost three straight late-season games to ranked opponents (Boise State, Hawaii, and BYU) but rebounded to win the bowl.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 2007 Nevada Wolf Pack compared to other notable WAC teams that season:

Team	Overall Record	WAC Record	Bowl Result	Key Player
Nevada Wolf Pack	9-4	7-1	Won Hawaii Bowl (49-48)	Colin Kaepernick
Hawaii Warriors	12-4	7-1	Lost Sugar Bowl (41-10)	Colt Brennan
Boise State Broncos	10-3	6-1	Won Poinsettia Bowl (17-7)	Jared Zabransky
Fresno State Bulldogs	7-6	5-3	Won New Mexico Bowl (30-27)	Tom Brandstater
Idaho Vandals	4-8	3-5	Did not qualify	Jeff Tuel

The table highlights Nevada’s strong conference performance and dramatic bowl win. Despite losing key games to Hawaii and Boise State, the Wolf Pack’s consistency earned them a top-tier bowl berth and national recognition for their offensive innovation.

Why It Matters

The 2007 season was pivotal for Nevada football, marking both the end of an era with Chris Ault’s retirement and the beginning of a new one with Kaepernick’s emergence. The team’s success helped elevate the profile of mid-major programs nationwide.

Legacy of Chris Ault: Ault’s retirement marked the end of a 28-year tenure as head coach, during which he transformed Nevada into a competitive FBS program.
Innovation in Football: The Pistol offense gained national attention, with other programs adopting variations of the scheme in subsequent years.
Player Development: Colin Kaepernick’s breakout season laid the foundation for a successful NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers.
Bowl Significance: Winning the Hawaii Bowl gave Nevada its first 10-win season since 1947, had they won their final regular-season game.
Program Momentum: The 2007 season built momentum for future success, including 13-win seasons in 2010 and 2011.
Mid-Major Impact: Nevada’s performance demonstrated that non-Power Five teams could compete with and defeat top-tier programs using innovative systems.

The 2007 Nevada Wolf Pack remains a landmark team in college football history, symbolizing innovation, resilience, and the rise of the Pistol offense on the national stage.