Monmouth (0-0; 8-3 in 2018) vs Western Michigan (0-0; 7-6 in 2018)
August 31, 2019 • 7:00 PM • ESPN3
Kalamazoo, Mich. • Waldo Stadium (30,200 • FieldTurf)

• In the season lid-lifter for both squads, Western Michigan kicks off its 114th season of football by hosting Monmouth on Saturday, August 31 ... Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., as the Broncos celebrate Arbor Financial Youth Day
• Western Michigan will wear gold shoelaces for Saturday's game as part of Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer ... The Broncos are continuing their partnership with the Go4theGoal, a national pediatric cancer non-profit with the mission to improve the lives of children battling cancer by providing financial support, developing and implementing unique hospital programs, funding innovative research, and granting personal wishes ... In Michigan, Go4theGoal has supportive relationships with Helen DeVos Children's Hospital and Mott's Children's Hospital
• Western Michigan owns an all-time record of 569-453-24 in 113 seasons
• In 2018, the Broncos went 7-6 overall and 5-3 in MAC play ... Western Michigan dropped its first two games before ripping off six consecutive victories ... Following a three-game losing streak, the Broncos capped the regular season with a 28-21 victory against Northern Illinois to clinch a bowl trip ... Monmouth posted an 8-3 ledger a season ago with a 4-1 record versus Big South Conference foes, falling only to FCS No. 2 Kennesaw State in conference play
• Saturday's game will mark the first meeting between the two programs
• The Broncos have reached bowl eligibility in five consecutive seasons, the longest streak in program history
• Under head coach Tim Lester, the Broncos are 0-2 in season openers, falling at No. 4 USC 49-31 to kick off the 2017 campaign and dropping a 55-42 decision to Syracuse in 2018 ... The Broncos' last season-opening win was a 22-21 victory at Northwestern on September 3, 2016
• WMU won its home opener in 2017 by downing Idaho 37-28, but has not won its home opener that also served as a season opener since defeating Tennessee Martin on September 2, 2004, the last time the program opened the season with a non-Power 5 program
• The Broncos are looking for their first August victory since defeating Indiana State 28-17 on August 29, 2002
• Western Michigan QB Jon Wassink is back on the field after suffering season-ending injuries in each of the last two years ... The Broncos own a 10-5 record in games he has finished

39 — Consecutive games started by C Luke Juriga, every game of career entering 2019
20 — Western Michigan's league-high selections to the Academic All-MAC football squad in 2018 followed by Ball State (19), Toledo (19), Ohio (15), Eastern Michigan (12), Kent State (12), Miami (12), Akron (10), Central Michigan (10), Northern Illinois (10), Bowling Green (9) and Buffalo (7) ... Juriga and TE Giovanni Ricci are three-time Academic All-MAC honorees
8 — Contests missed in the last two seasons by starting QB Jon Wassink with a fractured collarbone (2017/4 games) and foot injury (2018/4 games)
5 — New members on the full-time coaching staff in 2019: assistant coach/cornerbacks James Adams, assistant coach/linebackers Trevor Andrews, assistant coach/running backs Mike Bath, assistant coach/wide receivers Keith Gaither & special teams coordinator Joe Palcic
5 — Bowl game appearances for Western Michigan in the past eight seasons ... The Broncos had just four bowl trips in school history prior to 2011 ... WMU's last bowl win came in the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl
3 — Returning 2018 All-MAC honorees in RB LeVante Bellamy (1st team), Juriga (1st team) and Ricci (3rd team)

#LetsRide