DATE | Oct. 12, 2024
TIME | 3:30 PM ET
LOCATION | Kalamazoo, Mich.
VENUE | Waldo Stadium (30,000)
TV | ESPN+ 
RADIO | Bronco Radio Network
LIVE STATS | WMUSTATS.com

THIS WEEK
Western Michigan welcomes Akron to Waldo Stadium on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+. Fans can also listen live on the Bronco Media Network. Tickets are available at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets.

THE SERIES
The Broncos and the Zips have not met since the 2021 season, with WMU winning 45-40 in a Tuesday night Midweek #MACtion game. Saturday is just the 22nd match up between the two teams, with Western Michigan holding the all-time series lead at 16-5-0. 

SCOUTING THE ZIPS
Akron (1-5, 0-2 MAC) is still searching for its first MAC win. UA took Bowling Green to the wire last Saturday, with the Falcons scoring a touchdown with under two minutes left to play to take a 27-20 lead. The Zips drove down the field and into BGSU territory but were unable to find the endzone. 

Akron's offense is led by fifth-year quarterback Ben Finley. The former Cal Bear and N.C. State Wolfpack transfer has thrown for 1,061 yards on 110-for-185 passing, with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. Sophomore wide receiver Adrian Norton leads the team in receiving yards with 373 on 20 catches, with three touchdowns. Norton's 18.6 yards per catch leads the MAC. Sophomore tight end Jake Newell has been Finley's favorite target, with 27 catches so far. Newell has more than doubled his total from last season, after making 13 receptions as a freshman. 

Junior linebacker Bryan McCoy had 95 tackles last season and is track to surpass that, with 57 in five games this season, second-most in the MAC. Bennett Alder and CJ Nunnally IV are tied for the team lead with three sacks each, with the Zips making 11 sacks so far this season. Devonte Golden-Nelson leads the team with four passes defended, while Darrian Lewis has three and the team's lone interception. 

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
Junior running back Jaden Nixon has now rushed for at least 100 yards in each of the last three games. He's the first Bronco to do so since LeVante Bellamy in 2019. Bellamy rushed for 192 yards at Georgia State, 165 at Syracuse and 105 against Central Michigan. Nixon rushed for 189 against Bethune Cookman, 146 at Marshall and 124 against Ball State. Nixon also ran for six touchdowns in those three games. 

Should Nixon put up 100 against Akron, he'd be the first Bronco to rush for 100 in four straight games since…. LeVante Bellamy in 2019. Bellamy rushed for 100 in four straight games later on in the 2019 season. 

OPE, JUST GOING TO SLIDE RIGHT BY YOU
Heading into last week, Ball State's Kadin Semonza led the MAC in completion percentage. After WMU's win over the Cardinals, Hayden Wolff jumped him and now leads the conference at 69.7 percent. Wolff went 26-for-29 to help the Broncos earn their first MAC win of the season. Wolff also jumped Toledo's Tucker Gleason in pass efficiency, now leading the conference at 157.1. 

In his past three games, Wolff has gone 56-for76 (73.7 percent) for 695 yards and seven touchdowns. 

CAREER YEAR, ALREADY
Western Michigan senior wide receiver Anthony Sambucci set a new career-high in receptions in a season in the win over Ball State. Sambucci had nine catches for 74 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals. His nine receptions were a new single game career-high, but he also surpassed his season-best with 22 catches. Sambucci had 20 receptions in 2022 and 21 receptions in an injury-riddled 2023 season.