GAME 5: 
WESTERN MICHIGAN (2-3, 1-1 MAC) vs. MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-3, 0-3 SEC)
 
Date: Oct. 7, 2023
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Starkville, Ms.
Stadium: Davis Wade Stadium (61,337)
TV: SEC Network/ESPN+
Radio: Bronco Media Network
Live Stats: https://www.wmustats.com
All-Time Series: First meeting

THIS WEEK
The Western Michigan football team heads on the road for its final non-conference game, making the trek down to Starkville, Ms., to take on Mississippi State on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network and on ESPN+ with Lowell Galindo, Derek Mason and Taylor Davis on the call. Robin Hook and John Creek will have the call on the Bronco Media Network. 

THE MATCH UP
- This is the first meeting between Western Michigan and Mississippi State. 
- The Broncos have not played a team from the SEC since a 55-26 loss at Florida on Sept. 4, 1999.
- This is the third Power 5 opponent WMU will play this season, the first time it has done in a regular season since 2013. That season the Broncos played at Michigan State, Northwestern and Iowa. 

HIGHS AND LOWS
- In the win over the Cardinals, WMU set new season highs in passing yards (328), points scored (42), averages yard per play at 6.1 and sacks (6). 
- The Broncos also had a season low zero turnovers in the win, along with tying a season low of just one sack allowed. 
- Individually, redshirt freshman quarterback Treyson Bourguet had career highs in completions (24), passing attempts (39), passing yards (328) and passing touchdowns (3). Junior wide receiver Anthony Sambucci had career highs in receptions (5), receiving yards (73), and receiving touchdowns (3).

TOP 25
- Two Broncos rank in the top 25 in the nation in statistical categories. Redshirt freshman Jalen Buckley is seventh in the nation in rushing yards with 557. He also ranks 10th in rushing yards per game with 111.4 and rushing touchdowns with 5. Safety Tate Hallock is 22nd in the nation in interceptions from his two against Toledo.
- As a team, WMU ranks 23rd in the nation in team sacks with 3.0 per game.

GOOD THINGS COME IN 3's
- WMU's win over Ball State was the third time this season the Broncos have rushed for at least three touchdowns in a game. 
- It was the third straight game that WMU has forced a turnover, with two fumble recoveries and four interceptions in the last three. 
- Anthony Sambucci's three touchdown receptions marked the first time a Bronco receiver had caught three in a game since Skyy Moore caught four in a win over Northern Illinois on Nov. 23, 2021. 

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
- Mississippi State is led by head coach Zach Arnett, who is the youngest head coach in FBS at the age of 37. Arnett was previously the defensive coordinator at MSU before the tragic passing of college football coaching legend Mike Leach.
- The Bulldogs have lost each of their past three games, falling to No. 14 LSU, at South Carolina and to No. 12 Alabama. MSU's wins have come against SE Louisiana and Arizona, both at home. 
- Senior quarterback Will Rogers has played all but one snap so far this season, already throwing for 1,086 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Lideatrick Griffin has nearly double the catches of anyone else on the team (25) and nearly triple the yardage (409). He averages 16.4 yards per catch and also 26.7 yards per kick return. Senior Jo'Quavious Marks is the team's top rusher with 420 yards on 72 carries and has four touchdowns. 
- The Bulldogs have recorded 14 sacks in five games, led by linebacker Jett Johnson and his four. Johnson also leads the team in total tackles with 59 and interceptions with two.