WESTERN MICHIGAN (5-4, 3-2 MAC)
vs. KENT STATE (2-7, 1-4 MAC)
Waldo Stadium (30,200) • Kalamazoo, Mich.
7 PM ET • CBSSN • 96.5 FM
All-Time Series: WMU leads, 34-20-1


CBSSN TALENT:
Ben Holden - Play-by-Play
Jay Feely - Analyst
John Schriffen - Reporter

COACHING FACTS
WMU Head Coach: Tim Lester (Western Michigan, 2000)
Record at WMU: 5-4, 3-2 MAC (1st Season)
Overall record: 45-27 (7th season)

Head Coach: Paul Haynes
Record at KSU: 114–42, 9–27 MAC (5th Season)
Overall record: same

BRONCOS LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK
Western Michigan is looking to bounce back from a 35-28 setback to Central Michigan last Wednesday. The Broncos led 21-7 at halftime and 28-14 heading into the fourth quarter, but Central Michigan scored 21 unanswered points to stun WMU. The Broncos have won each of their three road MAC games this season, but both losses have come at home, also falling to Akron on Sunday, Oct. 15, 14-13.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 56th all-time meeting between Western Michigan and Kent State, with the Broncos leading the all-time series, 34-20-1. WMU is 2-3 against Kent State over the past five meetings, winning in Kalamazoo in 2010 (38-3) and last year in Ohio (37-21). The Broncos won 12-straight in the series from a span over 1989 to 2005.

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 73rd 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.

SENIOR DAY - FINAL HOME GAME
Wednesday marks the final home game of the 2017 season for Western Michigan. The Broncos will honor its 14 seniors prior to the game. WMU is on the road at Northern Illinois next Wednesday and plays at Toledo on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

RECORDS FALL TO FRANKLIN
This season senior RB Jarvion Franklin has broken two major school records in the past few weeks. He broke Robert Sanford's school record of 4,219 career rushing yards at Eastern Michigan. Franklin currently has 4,509 career rushing yards. Sanford was teammates with WMU head coach Tim Lester. Against Central Michigan, Franklin broke Corey Davis' career overall touchdown record of 52. Franklin currently has 54 career TDs (50 rushing and 4 receiving). Franklin also holds the school record for career rushing touchdowns and single season rushing touchdowns (24, 2014).

SUCCESS IS IN THE NUMBERS
WMU leads the MAC with 244.4 rushing yards a game which also ranks 17th most in the nation. The Broncos are also fourth nationally in fumbles recovered with 11.

GOING BOWLING
The Broncos have made bowl appearances in three-straight seasons: Idaho Potato Bowl (2014), Popeye's Bahamas Bowl (2015), Goodyear Cotton Bowl (2016). One more win in the 2017 season would make WMU bowl eligible for a fourth-straight year.

SCOUTING KENT STATE
Kent State's two wins this season have both been at home, coming against Howard (38-31) in non-conference play and Miami (17-14) in week three of Mid-American Conference action. The Golden Flashes have struggled on offense and used three different quarterbacks this year. KSU ranks last in the MAC in scoring offense (10.7 ppg), total offense (253.4 ypg) and passing offense (105.3 ypg). Defensively, Kent State is second to last in the conference defending the run, allowing 221.4 ypg.