CLEVELAND – The Western Michigan football team was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference West division, as voted on by the media representatives who cover the league on Thursday.   

Amongst 24 media members the Broncos tallied 89 points with three first-place votes. WMU is predicted to finish behind Ball State who received 93 points and four first-place votes and Toledo with 118 points and seven first-place votes. Central Michigan is predicted to win the MAC West for the second straight year with 119 points and 10 first-place votes.  

In the East division, Buffalo was picked to finish first with 135 points and 19 first-place votes. Buffalo was also picked to win the MAC Championship with 14 votes followed by Central Michigan (4), Toledo (3), Ball State (2) and Kent State (1).

On Wednesday the Broncos were picked to finish second in the MAC West Preseason Coaches' poll with 53 points and two first-place votes. WMU is just one point behind Toledo who was picked to win the MAC West with 54 points and four first-place votes.

Since 2015 WMU has recorded 28 conference victories, the most in the MAC. WMU seeks its fourth MAC West title and first since 2016.  The Broncos open up the season on the road at Akron on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 6:00 p.m. with the game being streamed on ESPN3.

Below is the 2020 MAC Football Preseason Media Poll:

West Division Predicted Order of Finish (first place votes in parenthesis)
1. Central Michigan (10) – 119 points
2. Toledo (7) – 118 points
3. Ball State (4) – 93 points
4. WESTERN MICHIGAN (3) – 89 points
5. Eastern Michigan – 46 points
6. Northern Illinois – 39 points

East Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Buffalo (19) – 135 points
2. Miami (3) – 107 points
3. Ohio (1) – 101 points
4. Kent State (1) – 85 points
5. Bowling Green – 50 points
6. Akron – 26 points

Predicted MAC Champion: Buffalo (14), Central Michigan (4), Toledo (3), Ball State (2), Kent State (1)