WESTERN MICHIGAN (5-3, 3-1 MAC)
vs. CENTRAL MICHIGAN (4-4, 2-2 MAC)
Waldo Stadium (30,200) • Kalamazoo, Mich.
8 PM ET • ESPN2 • 96.5 FM
All-Time Series: 48-37-2, WMU has won last three in a row


ESPN2 TALENT:
Chris Cotter - Play-by-Play
Desmond Howard - Analyst
Quint Kessenich - Reporter

COACHING FACTS
WMU Head Coach: Tim Lester (Western Michigan, 2000)
Record at WMU: 5-3, 3-1 MAC (1st Season)
Overall record: 45-26 (7th season)

Head Coach: John Bonamego
Record at CMU: 17-17, 11-9 MAC (3rd Season)  
Overall record: same

THE TROPHIES AT STAKE
The two compete in the Mid-American Conference, battling each other in the West Division. In addition to conference standings and possible division titles and conference championships on the line, the two fight each year for the "Battle of the Cannon Trophy" and the "Michigan MAC Trophy."

ALL-TIME SERIES
The storied football history between Western Michigan and Central Michigan dates back to the early 1900's. These arch rivals first met in 1907, with Western Michigan posting a 27-0 victory. Entering this Wednesday's game, the Broncos own a 48-37-2 record against their opponents from the north. WMU is 5-1 against CMU over the last six seasons with the one loss in that span coming in 2013 (27-22 in Kalamazoo).

The two in-state rivals have faced one another for 44 consecutive years, dating back to 1973. Since 1973, the outcome of the game has been decided by 10 points or fewer 23 times, and on 12 occasions by 5 points or less, in addition to one tie (18-18, 1982). The only overtime contest came in 2004, with CMU winning 24-21. Western Michigan won last year's meeting in Mount Pleasant 49-10 in front of a crowd of 30,411; the largest ever to take in a MAC game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

SENIORS LOOKING TO LEAVE THEIR LEGACY IN THE RIVALRY
The current Western Michigan senior class is attempting to accomplish a feat never done before in school history, go a perfect undefeated 4-0 against Central Michigan during their careers. WMU's three-game winning streak vs. CMU matches a three-year run between 2001-2003. WMU heavily dominated the all-time series 1907 through 1970, but that was prior to freshmen eligibilty. Likewise, with a loss Central Michigan's senior class would be the first in their school history to go 0-4 against the Broncos.

BATTLE FOR THE CANNON
Wednesday the Broncos and the Chippewas will battle it out for the Cannon Trophy, which was established in 2008 between the student governments at Western Michigan and Central Michigan. Both teams fire off cannons after scores at their respective home games, so it seemed natural that a cannon should represent the rivalry. This is the 10th season for the trophy. WMU has etched its name five times on the trophy, while CMU has four. Central Michigan claimed the trophy each of the first three seasons of its existence. The Broncos have claimed victory in five of the last six years.

The Broncos have been in possession of the Cannon Trophy since 2014 winning three-straight in the series; the trophy resides in a glass case in the lobby of the Bill Brown Football Center, with a clock counting down to the next meeting between the two rivals.

Battle for the Cannon Trophy Recipient
2008 - CMU (38-28)
2009 - CMU (34-23)
2010 - CMU (26-22)
2011 - WMU (44-14)
2012 - WMU (42-31)
2013 - CMU (27-22)
2014 - WMU (32-20)
2015 - WMU (41-39)
2016 - WMU (49-10)

MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY
Each year, the three Michigan Mid-American Conference universities - Western Michigan, Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan compete for the Michigan MAC Trophy. The trophy is presented to the team with the best record against the other two teams. In the event of a tie the Michigan MAC Trophy remains with the previous holder until one of the other rivals claims the title.

Each of the three schools have claimed the trophy four times. WMU won it in its inaugural year in 2005. The Broncos regained the trophy in 2014 and since have retained it going 2-0 against CMU and EMU each of the last three seasons. A win over Central Michigan on Wednesday would also clinch the Michigan MAC trophy again for Western Michigan who is coming off a 20-17 overtime win at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 21.

WMU: 2005, 2014, 2015, 2016
EMU: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012
CMU: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013

The Michigan MAC Trophy was created in 2005 by the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. A similar trophy is also awarded in the sport of men's basketball.

COACHES' HISTORY
The Broncos' Tim Lester will face Central Michigan for the first time as a head coach at Western Michigan. As a quarterback at WMU from 1996-99, Lester went 2-2 against the Chippewas under center, winning 38-24 as a sophomore in 1997 and 38-16 in 1999. Both wins were at home. During his time as an assistant coach at Western Michigan during the 2005 and 2006 seasons the Broncos and Chippewas also split the two meetings. WMU won 31-24 at home in 2005.

John Bonamego is in his third year leading Central Michigan's program and is 0-2 as head coach against WMU. Bonamego played at Central Michigan in the mid-80's, as a QB and WR, joining the team as a walk-on and going on to earn varsity letters in 1985 & 1986. CMU defeated WMU both of those seasons.

PROXIMITY OF THE SCHOOLS
Western Michigan and Central Michigan are separated by approximately 2.5 hours, roughly 134 miles, with WMU being located in the southwest region of the state in Kalamazoo, Mich., and CMU being located in Mount Pleasant in the middle of Michigan's lower peninsula, north east of Kalamazoo.

LESTER LEADING THE CHARGE
Tim Lester is in his first season as head coach at WMU and is one of 21 FBS coaches leading their alma mater. Lester was an All-MAC quarterback for the Broncos, playing from 1996-99. He was the 1996 MAC Freshman of the Year and led WMU to the 1999 MAC Championship game. Lester threw for 11,299 yards and 87 career TDs. This will be his 72nd game as a head coach, also coaching at the Division II and III levels. Lester was an assistant coach at Western Michigan from 2005-06 and most recently was the QB coach at Purdue during the 2016 season.

RECORDS FALL TO FRANKLIN
Senior RB Jarvion Franklin currently has 52 overall career touchdowns (48 rushing, 4 receiving), tying last year's No. 5 overall NFL draft pick Corey Davis' school record for overall career TDs. Franklin has put together three-straight 100-yard rushing yard games (19 career) and broke Robert Sanford's school record of 4,219 career rushing yards at Eastern Michigan. Franklin currently has 4,281 career rushing yards. Sanford was teammates with WMU head coach Tim Lester.

GODDARD SET TO MAKE FIRST START
True freshman Reece Goddard is set to make is first career start at quarterback against Central Michigan following the injury to Jon Wassink. Goddard made his first career appearance at No. 4 USC in the season opener and has played in four games leading up CMU. He completed his first passes taking over in the fourth quarter vs. Eastern Michigan, going 2-for-3 and also rushing for 20 yards. As a high school senior Goddard led Kirkwood (Mo.) to the Class 6 state championship and 12-1 record. He threw for 2,612 yards and 24 touchdowns while running for 781 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior. Over his high school career, Goddard scored 44 career touchdowns to eclipse the program record set by NFL All-Pro receiver Jeremy Maclin.

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan is 4-4 this season and 2-2 in the MAC. The two MAC wins have come over Ohio (26-23) and Ball State (56-9), while the losses have been to Miami (31-14) and Toledo (30-10).

Shane Morris, a graduate transfer quarterback from Michigan, is second in the Mid-American Conference in total offense. He is averaging 259.4 total yards of offense per game and enters Week 9 with 2,075 total yards – 109 rushing yards and 1,966 passing. Toledo quarterback Logan Woodside is first in the MAC at 296.6 yards of total offense per game. Eighteen CMU players have caught a pass this season. Senior wide receiver Mark Chapman is the most frequent target for Shane Morris and Tony Poljan with 43 catches for 590 yards. Senior defensive end Joe Ostman leads the FBS with 10 sacks this season after his four-sack game at Ball State. He picked up his first sack of the season at Kansas. He recorded two against Miami and had two more against Ohio. He had one sack against Toledo.