KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan football team hosts Illinois State on Saturday at 5 p.m. for CommUniverCity game.
|| GAME INFORMATION
- Saturday, Sept. 11 | 5 p.m. ET
- Waldo Stadium (30,200/FieldTurf), Kalamazoo, Mich.
|| BROADCAST INFORMATION
- ESPN3 (Jason Ross, Marcus Ray)
- Bronco Radio Network (Robin Hook & John Creek)
HOME OPENER
The Western Michigan football team is 3-1 in home openers under head coach
Tim Lester. The Broncos won their home opener last season in thrilling fashion in a fake spike touchdown pass against Toledo.
BRONCOS VS REDBIRDS
Saturday is the ninth meeting between the two programs with the Broncos leading the all-time series at 7-1. The two teams have not met since 2001, a 48-7 Bronco victory at Waldo Stadium. The 1980's was a popular time for the series, with half of the games being played in that decade.
SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS (1-0)
Illinois State is coached by Brock Spack, who is in his 13th season with the Redbirds. Under Spack ISU has went 86-43, won two Missouri Valley Football Conference Championships, and appearance in the 2014 NCAA FCS Championship game and eight FCS playoff appearances.
ISU posted a 1-3 record in its COVID-19 shortened season this past spring. Prior to that the Redbirds went 10-5 in 2019 and reached the FCS Quarterfinals. Illinois State returns 19 total starters with 10 on offense and nine on defense. Junior center Drew Bones has started 21 games in his career, the most on the offense. The Redbirds opened the season with a 49-7 drubbing of Butler. ISU put up 294 yards on the ground with five rushing touchdowns. Cole Mueller rushed for 11 yards on just eight carries, with two touchdowns, to lead the team. Bryce Jefferson threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 37 and two touchdowns.
LIGHT IT UP
Tim Lester's offense clicked on all cylinders at the direction of QB
Kaleb Eleby in 2020. The Broncos ranked among the top-10 nationally in yards per completion, passing efficiency, scoring offense and sacks allowed per game.
ELEBY TAKES OVER
In his first season as the starting QB,
Kaleb Eleby ranked among the nation's leaders in several categories. Eleby owns the top passer rating in FBS among returning quarterbacks after his 2020 mark of 195.1 trailed only Alabama's Mac Jones and BYU's Zach Wilson. He led the nation in yards per pass attempt last season, while also leading the MAC in passing TDs and passing yards/completion.
SPREADING THE LOVE
Eleby hit six different receivers in the game against Michigan. Senior transfer
Bryce Nunnelly was his favorite target, catching the ball a game-high seven times.
Corey Crooms had a career-best four grabs, including a TD reception.
Last season Eleby hit on average five different receivers per game with a high of eight against Akron and a low of two against Northern Illinois. All six had at least two receptions.
RIGHT BACK WHERE HE LEFT OFF
A.J. Thomas finished second on the team in tackles last year with 46, averaging 7.6 per game. Against Michigan he had a team-high 10 tackles. His performance against the Wolverines also marked his fifth career double-digit tackle game.
OLD FACES IN NEW PLACES
Redshirt sophomore
DaShon Bussell made his collegiate debut at cornerback against Michigan. Bussell had been a wide receiver for the past two seasons, amassing 470 yards on 29 catches and two touchdowns in two seasons.
Bussell had three tackles against the Wolverines and drew an offensive pass interference call.
