GAME 2:
WESTERN MICHIGAN (0-1, 0-0 MAC) AT BALL STATE
 
Date: Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022
Kickoff: 2:02 p.m. EDT
Location: Muncie, Ind.
Stadium: Scheumann Stadium (22,500)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Bronco Radio Network
Live Stats: ballstatesports.com
All-Time Series: WMU leads 26-22
Last Meeting: Oct. 9, 2021 | Kalamazoo, Mich. | BSU 45, WMU 20

FIRST AND FIVE
THIS WEEK
Western Michigan begins Mid-American Conference play, heading to Ball State to take on the Cardinals on Saturday at 2 p.m. This will be the 49th meeting between the two programs. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Ryan Cavanaugh on the call. Robin Hook and John Creek will have the call on the Bronco Radio Network. 

EARLY #MACTION
The Broncos will be thrust into conference action this week against MAC West foe Ball State. It's the earliest in the season that WMU has played a conference game (other than the 2020 COVID season, which was only conference games) since 2008, when WMU defeated Northern Illinois in week two. 

This is the earliest the two teams have met in the history of the series, with the previous earliest being on Sept. 18, 1971. The game will also be only the fifth in the month of September between the Broncos and the Cardinals.

DAZZLING DEBUTS
Redshirt freshman tight end Blake Bosma made five catches for 35 yards in his collegiate debut against Michigan State. Bosma was targeted five times by Salopek in the game and finished with the third-most receiving yards on the team in the game. His five receptions were also the most by a WMU tight end since Giovanni Ricci had five receptions against Bowling Green back on Oct. 26, 2019.

True freshmen kicker Palmer Domschke started off his collegiate career going 2-for-2 on field goal attempts, connecting from 27 and 42 yards. He was also perfect on his lone extra point attempt. 

Transfer wide receiver Jehlani Galloway also had a strong debut. In his first game as a Bronco he had a team-high 70 yards receiving on four catches, including a team-long catch of 22 yards. 

SLINGING IT
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jack Salopek had 36 passing attempts in his first collegiate start. Salopek, who completed 21 of them for 193 yards, had the most passing attempts in a first career start since Alex Carder went 27-for-49 in his first career start at Michigan State on Sept. 4, 2010. 

SELIG THE STOPPER
Senior linebacker Ryan Selig led the Broncos with nine tackles against the Spartans. It's the second-highest in his career since he had 11 at Toledo on Oct. 23, 2021. It's the fourth time in his career that he's had more than eight tackles since he won the starting linebacker position last season.