KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan football team heads on the road for the first ever meeting between the Broncos and the University of Pittsburgh on Saturday at 12 p.m. 

|| GAME INFORMATION

• Saturday, Sept. 18 | 12 p.m. ET
• Heinz Field (68,400/Natural Grass), Pittsburgh, Pa.

|| BROADCAST INFORMATION

• RSN/ACC Network Plus (Tom Werne, James Bates, Lyndsay Rowley)
• Bronco Radio Network (Robin Hook & John Creek)

BRONCOS VS. PANTHERS
This is the first meeting between Western Michigan and the University of Pittsburgh.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Pittsburgh is coached by Pat Narduzzi. Narduzzi has a record of 44-34 in his seven seasons at the helm.  

Pitt enters Saturday's showdown on the back of a 41-34 road win at Tennessee. The Panthers opened the season with a 51-7 home win over UMass back on Sept. 4.
The Panthers rank 24th in the nation in total offense, averaging 497.5 yards per game. The attack is led by senior quarterback Kenny Pickett. Through the two games this season Pickett has completed 69.9 percent of his passes (51-for-73) and thrown four touchdowns. On the ground Israel Abanikanda leads the team with 73 yards on 19 carries. Sophomore wide receiver Jordan Addison leads the team with 11 receptions and two touchdowns. 

Pitt's defense ranks 38th in the nation, allowing 291.5 yards per game and just 20.5 points per game. The team has recorded 10 total sacks in the first two games with the trio of John Petrishen, Calijah Kancey and Habakkuk Baldonado each recording two. 

CROOMS COMING INTO HIS OWN
Sophomore Corey Crooms had a career-high six catches in the win over Illinois State, giving him 10 for the season and 118 yards. 
Prior to this season he had played in 16 career games and recorded just 14 catches for 184 yards. He needs just two more receptions to tie his personal-best of 12 from his freshman season. 

BALL HOGS
Western Michigan ranks 15th national in time of possession, averaging 34:30 per game so far.  Against the Wolverines WMU had the ball for 31:51 and increased it to 37:08 in the win over Illinois State. 

50 PERCENT
Junior running back La'Darius Jefferson has now played eight games in his Western Michigan career since transferring from Michigan State. Jefferson rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns in WMU's recent win over Illinois State. It was the fourth time in his eight games that he has surpassed the century mark.

FRESH LEGS
WMU's ability to run the ball led to the team recording a season high 37:08 in time of possession in the win over Illinois. This led to the Bronco defense appearing in just 47 plays.  Because the defense was on the field for so few plays, no Bronco recorded more than five tackles in the game. Adding to the fresh legs was the defense's ability to get off the field early. Illinois State converted just one of 13 third downs.  

SACK ATTACK
Last season the Broncos averaged 3.17 sacks per game.  In the opening game of the season they recorded just one sack against the University of Michigan but rebounded in the win over Illinois State to finish the game with five. Defensive ends Marshawn Kneeland and Ali Fayad lead the team with 1.5 sacks each.