KALAMAZOO, Mich. – It is senior night at Waldo Stadium on Tuesday as Western Michigan football team will close out its home schedule against Akron in a Mid-American Conference battle at 7 p.m. The Broncos are 15-5 all-time against the Zips, and have won four of the last five meetings.
 
|| GAME INFORMATION

• Tuesday, Nov. 9 | 7 p.m. ET
• Waldo Stadium – Kalamazoo, Mich.

 
|| BROADCAST INFORMATION

• CBS Sports Network – Dave Ryan (PxP), Corey Chavous (Analyst)
• Bronco Radio Network 106.5 FM (Robin Hook & John Creek)

 
BRONCOS vs. ZIPS
 

• Tuesday night will be the 21st all-time meeting between Western Michigan and Akron. The Broncos hold a 15-5-0 series lead.
• Since 2010, WMU has won four of the last five meetings, and have averaged 47.2 points per game in those five matchups.
• The Zips came away with a 14-13 win at Waldo in 2017, but the last four wins from the Broncos in the series have been by an average of 45.3 points.
• The series dates back to 1938, but 17 of the 20 meetings have been played since 1987.

 
SCOUTING AKRON (2-7, 1-4 MAC East)
 

• The Zips went 1-3 in non-conference play with losses at Auburn (60-10), vs. Temple (45-24) and at Ohio State (59-7). They defeated Bryant at home 35-14.
• In conference play, Akron opened with a 34-17 setback at home aginst Ohio, then came away with a 35-20 win at Bowling Green. Since then, the Zips have losses at Miami, and at home to Buffalo and Ball State.
• Akron is coming off a devastating home loss to Ball State last Tuesday. The Zips trailed 28-10 in the second half, and were in the midst of driving to take the lead with 1:32 left in the game, but Ball State forced a fumble at the goal line to hang on for a 31-25 victory.
• Oscar Rodriguez Jr. was named interim head coach on Nov. 4, 2021. He is in his third season as inside linebackers coach, and was elevated to associate head coach in the summer of 2021.

 
THE LAST MEETING
 

• Western Michigan opened the COVID season last year at Akron on Nov. 4, 2020 and rolled to a 58-13 victory.
• Kaleb Eleby threw three touchdown passes and was12-for-16 for 262 yards. Senior wide receiver D'Wayne Eskridge caught three passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns, while Jaylen Hall caught a 68-yard touchdown.
• The Broncos' three-pronged rushing attack of La'Darius Jefferson, Sean Tyler and Jaxson Kincaide combined for 180 yards, with each scoring a touchdown.
• The Zips took a 7-3 lead in the first quarter on a 14-yard touchdown connection from Zach Gibson to Micha Mathison. However, a five-yard pass from Eleby to Eskridge on the ensuing possession gave WMU the lead, 10-7. The Broncos finished the game, including that score, on a 55-6 run. Since 2010, WMU has won four of the last five meetings, and have averaged 47.2 points per game in those five matchups.
• The Zips came away with a 14-13 win at Waldo in 2017, but the last four wins from the Broncos in the series have been by an average of 45.3 points.
• The series dates back to 1938, but 17 of the 20 meetings have been played since 1987.

Prior to the game, Western Michigan will honor its 18 seniors: Ralph Holley, Mark Brooks, Mike Caliendo, Ali Fayad, Brett Borske, Zonterio Weekley, A.J. Thomas, Kainoa Fuiava, Bricen Garner, Jake Moertl, Therran Coleman, Wesley French, Jaylen Hall, Bryce Nunnelly, Jaxson Kincaide, Ra'Sean Davie, Thiago Kapps and Parker Sampson.