GAME 11: 
WESTERN MICHIGAN (4-6, 3-3 MAC) vs. NORTHERN ILLINOIS  (4-6, 3-3 MAC)
 
Date: Nov 14, 2023
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Dekalb, Ill. 
Stadium: Huskie Stadium (24,000)
TV: ESPNU
Radio: Bronco Media Network
Live Stats: https://www.niuhuskies.com
All-Time Series: WMU leads 27-21-0

THIS WEEK
Western Michigan heads on the road for the final time this season, heading west to take on Northern Illinois on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The game can be watched live on ESPNU with Connor Onion and former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray on the call. Robin Hook and John Creek will handle to broadcast on the Bronco Media Network.

THE MATCH UP
- Tuesday is the 50th meeting between Western Michigan and Northern Illinois. 
- The Broncos fell to the Huskies last season, 24-21, but hold the all-time series lead at 27-21-0. WMU has won three of the last five. 
- Huskie Stadium has been a tough place to play for Western Michigan. WMU has won on the road just twice since 2000, including a 42-21 win in 2021. The other win came back in 2007 in a tight 17-13 decision. 
 
PHENOMENAL FRESHMAN
Redshirt freshman running back Jalen Buckley had his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season in the win over Central Michigan. The Aurora, Ill., native is now tied for the third-most 100-yard rushing games by a freshman in program history with Jamauri Bogan. Buckley could still tie the record by a freshman of seven, originally set by WMU Hall of Famer Robert Sanford in 1997 and then tied by Jarvion Franklin in 2014, if he were to reach 100 yards in the final two regular season games and a potential bowl game.
 
TREMENDOUS TIGHT ENDS
WMU tight end Austin Hence is third on the team with 23 receptions, while Blake Bosma is tied for fifth with 18. Add in one reception by Kadinn Morris and WMU's tight end unit has caught 42 balls on the season, the most by Bronco tight ends since the 2019 season. Individually, Hence's 23 are the most by a tight end since the 2019 season when Giovanni Ricci had 51. 
 
TALKIN' TURNOVERS
After forcing two turnovers in the win over CMU, the Bronco defense is now up to 16 on the season. WMU now has a +0.50 turnover ratio for the year, the highest since the 2019 season of +0.62. It has also been a 50/50 split, with the Broncos picking off eight passes and recovering eight fumbles. 
 
The 16 turnovers also pushed WMU in to the top 25 in the nation in turnovers gained, ranking 24th overall and now third in the MAC. WMU has forced turnovers in seven of the 10 games so far this season. 
 
SKYY'S THE LIMIT
Sophomore wide receiver Kenneth Womack is now up to 66 receptions on the season and leads the MAC with 6.6 per game, also ranking him 18th in the nation. It's the most receptions in a season since Super Bowl Champion Skyy Moore caught 95 in 2021. Leroy Thomas, Austin Hence and Malique Dieudonne are second, third and forth on the team with a combined 68 catches. 

COMEBACK KIDS
Tuesday's win over Central Michigan was the first time this season that the Broncos had been victorious while trailing heading into the fourth quarter. CMU had scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter to flip the scoreboard and give the Chippewas their only lead of the game. 

FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME
Western Michigan had a 100-yard rusher, 100-yard receiver and 300-yard passer all in one game for the first time this season. Redshirt freshman running back Jalen Buckley rushed for 117 yards on 23 carries, with two touchdowns. Redshirt junior quarterback Hayden Wolff threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns, while redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kenneth Womack had 135 yards receiving on 12 catches. Wolff's 300-yard passing performance was just the second by a WMU quarterback this season, joining Treyson Bourguet's 323-yard game against Ball State.