GAME 8:
WESTERN MICHIGAN (2-5, 1-2 MAC) vs. OHIO (5-2, 2-1 MAC)
Date: Oct. 21, 2023
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ohio
Stadium: Peden Stadium (24,000)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: Bronco Media Network
Live Stats: https://www.wmustats.com
All-Time Series: WMU leads 34-30-1
THIS WEEK
Western Michigan heads to Ohio University for its first of back-to-back Mid-American Conference road games on Saturday at 12 p.m. The game can be watched live on CBS Sports Network, with Jason Knapp and Ross Tucker on the call. Robin Hook and John Creek will have the call over on the Bronco Media Network.
THE MATCH UP
- Saturday is the 66th meeting between Western Michigan and Ohio.
- The Broncos lead the all-time series by a slim margin at 34-30-1. The Bobcats got the best of WMU last season in Kalamazoo, 33-14. The road team has won each of the last four regular season games between the two teams.
- WMU is still searching for its first win on the road this season, while Ohio is 3-0 at home.
BOBCAT CONNECTION
Western Michigan wide receivers coach Jordan Read is a graduate of Ohio University and played wide receiver for the Bobcats. Reid played from 2013-16 and graduated with 133 career catches for 1,658 yards and 12 touchdowns. Reid also played in the 2016 MAC Championship game against Western Michigan, finishing with three receptions for 22 yards and two touchdowns in the loss (sorry, not sorry) to the Broncos.
STREAKING
Western Michigan's defense (and special teams) have produced turnovers in each of the last five games. The streak started with two interceptions at Iowa. The Broncos then forced five turnovers at Toledo and a forced fumble and recovery against Ball State. WMU's kick off team forced a fumble and recovery at Mississippi State, while last Saturday the Broncos had both an interception and fumble recovery. During the streak the Broncos have scored 24 points off of those turnovers.
GOING IN ON THE GROUND
After rushing touchdowns by
Zahir Abdus-Salaam and
Hayden Wolff on Saturday against Miami, the Broncos now have 14 on the season. WMU has managed to get at least one touchdown on the ground in six of the seven games this season, with only Iowa keeping the Broncos from getting across the goal line. Ten of the 14 touchdowns come from Abdus-Salaam and
Jalen Buckley, each contributing five.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
- Ohio had a five-game winning streak snapped after falling at Northern Illinois, 23-13, last Saturday. The Bobcats now sit behind Miami in second place in the MAC East.
- Senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke leads the Ohio offense that has averaged 22.9 points per game so far this season. He has completed 63.2 percent of his passes (98-for-155) for 1,068 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions. Rourke through three of the five last Saturday at NIU.
- The Bobcats have three wide receivers with at least 20 catches. Sam Wiglusz leads the team with 29 for a team-best 285 yards. Miles Cross has 20 receptions and leads the team with four touchdowns, while Tyler Walton also has 20.
- Reigning MAC Freshman of the Year Sieh Bangura leads the team in rushing with 362 yards and two touchdowns. O'Shaan Anderson is just behind him with 282, while quarterback Parker Navarro leads the team in yards per carry at 10.7.
- Simply put, Ohio's defense is one of the best in the nation. The Bobcats are sixth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 13.4 points per game. OU is fourth in the nation it total defense, allowing just 245.1 yards per game. The rushing and passing defense both rank seventh in the country.
- The Bobcats have intercepted quarterbacks nine times on the season, sixth-most in the country.
- Senior linebacker Bryce Houston leads the defense with 70 tackles, with 8 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Houston's tackle total is nearly double linebacker Keye Thompson's 38, which is second on the team. Defensive tackle Rayyan Buell leads the team with 3.5 sacks, while Bradley Weaver has three.
