KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Rivalries are at the heart of college football and the rivalry between Western Michigan and Central Michigan marks one of the best in the nation. The Broncos and Chippewas will line up against one another once again in the 87th all-time meeting and this year's Mid-American Conference opener on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

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.

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 archrivals first met in 1907, with Western Michigan posting a 27-0 victory. Entering this weekend's game, the Broncos own a 47-37-2 record against their opponents from the north. WMU is 4-1 against CMU over the last five years.

The two have faced one another for 43 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 Kalamazoo, 41-39.

COACHES' HISTORY
Western Michigan's P.J. Fleck is 2-1 as a head coach against the Chippewas. CMU narrowly defeated WMU in Kalamazoo, 27-22, Fleck's first year in 2013. In 2014, Western Michigan defeated Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant, 32-20, and last year, the Broncos claimed a 41-39 victory in Kalamazoo. During his collegiate playing career at Northern Illinois, Fleck went 4-0 against CMU from 1999-2003.

John Bonamego is in his second year leading Central Michigan's program and is 0-1 as head coach against WMU. Bonamego played at Central Michigan in the mid-80's, joining the team as a walk-on in and going on to earn varsity letters in 1985 & 1986. CMU defeated WMU both of those seasons.

BATTLE FOR THE CANNON
Saturday the Broncos and the Chippewas will duke 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 ninth season for the trophy, and each school has their name etched four times on the trophy.

The Broncos have been in possession of the Cannon Trophy since the 2014; 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)

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.

Western Michigan has housed the Michigan MAC trophy the last two years, after going 2-0 against Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan in 2014 and 2015.

The Michigan MAC Trophy was created in 2005 by the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, with Western Michigan winning it in its inaugural year. A similar trophy is also awarded in the sport of men's basketball.