GAME 3:
WESTERN MICHIGAN (1-1) vs. #25/24 IOWA (2-0)
 
Date: Sept. 9, 2023
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. EDT
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Stadium: Kinnick Stadium (69,250)
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: Bronco Media Network
Live Stats: https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?t=1&gid=wmu
All-Time Series: WMU leads 2-1

THIS WEEK
Western Michigan heads back on the road, this time to Big Ten country, to take on No. 25/24 Iowa on Saturday at 3:30 PM EST.  The game can be watched live on the Big Ten Network with Portage, Mich., native Lisa Byington, Anthony Herron and Shane Sparks on the call. Robin Hook and John Creek will have radio coverage on the Bronco Media Network. 

THE MATCH UP
- Saturday is the fourth meeting all-time between the Broncos and the Hawkeyes, with all four taking place in Iowa City.
- WMU leads the all-time series at 2-1, with wins back in 2000 and 2007. UI won the last meeting, 59-3, back on Sept. 21, 2013/
- Western Michigan's last win over a Big Ten team came back on Sept. 3, 2016 at Northwestern, 22-21.
- WMU is 1-32 all-time against opponents ranked in the Associated Press Poll. The lone win came on the road at No. 24 Toledo on Nov. 27, 2015. The Broncos downed the Rockets 35-30.

SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES
- The Iowa offense is led by Michigan transfer Cade McNamara. Through two games he has 314 yards passing on 29-for-52 throwing, with two touchdowns and one interception. Sophomore Kaleb Johnson is the top rusher on the team with 91 yards on 34 carries, averaging 2.7 yards per rush and one touchdown.  Junior tight end Luke Lachey leads the team in receptions with 10 and yards with 131. The 6-foot-6 target is averaging 13.1 yards per catch.
- Iowa's defense is allowing just 309.5 yards per game and just 13.5 points per game through two games this season. Linebacker Jay Higgins is the team's top tackler with 23 so far this season. UI has caused two turnovers so far, both interceptions. 

YOU'RE THE BEST, AROUND
Through just two games this season, redshirt freshman running back Jalen Buckley is already leaving his mark both nationally and in the Mid-American Conference. Buckley has rushed the ball 38 times for 281 yards and two touchdowns. The Batavia, Ill., native ranks third in the nation in rushing yards per game at 140.5 and fourth in the nation in total rushing yards. He is also 15th in the nation in yards per carry at 7.39. Buckley is at the top of the MAC in all three categories. 

BACK-TO-BACK
Fifth-year senior Tate Hallock has led the Broncos in tackles both games this season. In his WMU debut against St. Francis he had seven. Last Saturday at Syracuse he had 10, his first time reaching double-digit tackles in his collegiate career. Hallock played four seasons at Michigan State and has already set new career marks. 

FIVE YEARS
Eighth-year tight end Austin Hence had a Bronco-best seven catches at Syracuse. The mark matches his collegiate career high that he first set on Sept. 22, 2018 against Indiana (PA), while at Mercyhurst. Hence joined the Broncos in 2020 after Mercyhurst did not field a team during the COVID-19 pandemic. He missed two seasons due to injury before making his WMU debut in the season-opener against St. Francis (Pa.).

IN THE BACKFIELD
Through two games this season the Broncos have recorded five sacks. Redshirt junior linebacker Boone Bonnema leads the team with 1.5, while Mason Nelson, Nate Norris and Donald Willis each have 1.0. Through two games the Broncos have 15 total tackles for loss, led Keni-H Lovely, Marshawn Kneeland and Bonnema each with two.