GAME 10: 
WESTERN MICHIGAN (3-6, 2-3 MAC) vs. CENTRAL MICHIGAN  (5-4, 3-2 MAC)
 
Date: Nov. 7, 2023
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Stadium: Waldo Stadium (30,000)
TV: ESPNU
Radio: Bronco Media Network
Live Stats: https://www.wmustats.com
All-Time Series: WMU leads 52-39-2

THIS WEEK
Western Michigan hosts Central Michigan on Tuesday at 7 p.m. for The Battle for the Cannon. ESPNU will have the television broadcast, with Robin Hook and John Creek having the call on the Bronco Media Network.
 
THE MATCH UP
- Tuesday is the 94th all-time meeting between the Broncos and the Chippewas. After WMU's 12-10 victory in a blizzard in Mount Pleasant last season, WMU holds the all-time series lead at 52-39-2.
- Typically a high scoring affair, last season's 12-10 score was the lowest combined point total since a 10-0 win by CMU back in 1979. The 2021 game at CMU featured the highest combined point total in the history of the series at 96, with a 52-44 win by the Broncos.
- The Broncos have won seven of the last 10 games, but the road team has won each of the last two.
 
THE BATTLE FOR THE CANNON
Although the rivalry dates back to 1907, the Victory Cannon Trophy goes back to the 2008 season. WMU has held The Victory Cannon nine times to CMU's six. 

A WMU coach in his first time in The Battle for the Victory Cannon has never been victorious. Bill Cubit had been WMU's head coach prior to the creation of the trophy, but the Broncos fell in the first-ever game for it 38-28 in 2008. P.J. Fleck's 2013 team lost 27-22 and Tim Lester's debut in 2017 did not go WMU's way, falling 35-28. 

MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY
Coming into the season, Eastern Michigan was the holder but lost at Central Michigan back on Sept. 30. With WMU's win over the Eagles last weekend, it means that only the Broncos or the Chippewas can earn the trophy. Western Michigan has won the trophy the most, winning it seven times and going 2-0 against CMU and EMU in five of them. The Chippewas have won the trophy six times, going 2-0 in each of those years. Eastern Michigan has won the trophy five times, going 2-0 in three of those years. 

The trophy was created back in 2005 by the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. 

TEMPO
Through five Mid-American Conference games, Western Michigan leads the league in total offensive plays with 377. WMU is 22 ahead of second-place Buffalo and 39 ahead of third-place Central Michigan. The Broncos have also scored the third-most touchdowns with 19 and have the third-best total offense at 390.6 yards per game. 

GO-TO GUY
Sophomore wide receiver Kenneth Womack currently leads the MAC in receptions per game with 6.0. That figure also ranks him 24th in the nation. In the last four games alone, he has racked up 36 receptions, which is 13 more than the second-most total receptions by a Bronco at 23 by Leroy Thomas. With three games left, Womack needs just two receptions to pass the season-best total from last year of 57 by Corey Crooms. 

TWO-POINTER
Western Michigan's defense recorded two safeties in the win over Eastern Michigan. The Broncos had not had two safeties in a season since 2011. 

HAVOC
In addition to the safeties, WMU's defense also scored a touchdown after a strip-sack by Marshawn Kneeland led to a fumble recovery and three-yard return by defensive end Corey Walker. The Bronco defense wreaked havoc on Eastern Michigan, tying its season-high with 10.0 tackles for loss. The Broncos also had four sacks, four turnovers, a season-high five quarterback hurries and six pass breakups.