DATE | Oct. 26, 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 Kent State on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+. Saturday is also Homecoming, Family Weekend, and the annual WMU Athletics Hall of Fame game. Tickets are on-sale at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets. 

THE SERIES
Saturday will be the 57th between Western Michigan and Kent State, with the Broncos leading the all-time series at 36-20-1. The teams last met in on Oct. 16, 2021 in Kalamazoo for WMU's Homecoming game, defeating the Golden Flashes 64-31. Western Michigan has won the last three games of the series, dating back to 2016. The last win by KSU was in Kalamazoo in 2013, 32-14.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State is still searching for its first win of the season, having dropped all seven contests so far and all three of its MAC games.
 
KSU's offense had struggled to score early on in the season but found its footing when it entered conference play, posting 30+ points in back-to-back games against Eastern Michigan and Ball State. Junior Tommy Ulatowski was a big part of that surge in offensive production. Ulatowski saw limited playing time until starting against Eastern Michigan, where he threw for 345 yards and three touchdowns. Against the Cardinals, a 37-35 loss, he threw for 394 yards and four touchdowns. KSU's offense struggled against Bowling Green in the 27-6 loss. Wide receiver Chrishon McCray ranks second in the MAC and eighth in the country with seven touchdown receptions and has 543 yards receiving. He had a career-high 213 yards on eight catches and three touchdowns against Ball State.
 
Junior defensive end Kameron Olds leads the conference with five sacks on the season and also has one interception. Junior linebacker Rocco Nichol has a team-high 58 tackles, while Naim Muhammed has a team-best three passes defended and a defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery and return. KSU's total defense sits at the bottom of the MAC, allowing 536.6 yards per game and 45.5 points per game.
 
THREE, IT'S A MAGIC NUMBER
Junior running back Jaden Nixon ran for three touchdowns for the second time this season. His other three touchdown game came against Ball State. Donning the No. 3, Nixon eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the fourth time this season, but it was the third time he did so in under 20 carries. The Las Colinas, Texas, native rushed for 112 yards on just 14 carries, boosting his season yards per carry average to a MAC-best and 20th in the nation, 6.43.
 
HISTORY
Western Michigan has a long history of producing talented tight ends: Greg Flaska, Keith Pretty, Greg Cowser, Dennis Dilley, John Fielder, Kelly Spielmaker, Jake Moreland, Mobolaji Afariogun, Tony Scheffler, Brandon Ledbetter, Donne Ernsberger and Giovanni Ricci. But none of them accomplished what redshirt junior tight end Blake Bosma did in WMU's win over Buffalo. Bosma became the first tight end to catch three touchdown passes in a game. The Holland, Mich., native had six catches for 85 yards to go along with his three scores.
 
The game also boosted Bosma's career-high for receptions in a season to 24. He also has a career-high with five touchdown catches and needs just 47 more yards to match his career-best in a season at 317.
 
#DISCIPLINE
Western Michigan heads into Saturday ranked first in the MAC and fourth in the nation in fewest penalties, with just 27 through seven games this season. WMU's 34.14 penalty yards per game also ranks seventh in the nation and best in the MAC.
 
It is quite the departure from previous teams. Last season, WMU finished 116th in penalties per game. In 2022, it was 89th. You have to go back to the 2016 season for the last time the Broncos finished in the top 25 in the category. WMU's magical undefeated regular season saw the Broncos rank 23rd in fewest penalties per game.
 
TWO OF THE VERY BEST
On Friday night two of Western Michigan football's all-time greats will be inducted into the Western Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame, along with four others for the 2024 class.
 
Before there was Skyy Moore, D'wayne Eskridge, Corey Davis, Jordan White, Jamarko Simmons and Greg Jennings; there was Steve Neal. Neal, a wide receiver from Benton Harbor, Mich., starred for the Broncos from 1998-2001. He was a three-time First Team All-MAC selection. Neal was the first receiver in program history to break 1,000 yards. He had 14 career 100-yard receiving games and left WMU with career records in receptions (235), receiving yards (3,599), and touchdown receptions (27). He also set season records in receptions (74), receiving yards (1,113 and 1,121) and touchdown receptions (11). Neal helped WMU to an appearance in the 2000 MAC Championship Game.
 
Tight end Tony Scheffler is the first at his position to be inducted into the WMU Athletics Hall of Fame. Scheffler, a native of Chelsea, Mich., starred from 2002-05 and was a two-time First Team All-MAC selection. He finished his career ranked second in WMU history among tight ends in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,345). Scheffler had 13 career touchdown receptions and in 2005 was the first Bronco to ever be named a finalist for the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end, finishing fourth in voting. Scheffler, who also was a three-year letter winner in baseball, was drafted in 2006 in the second round by the Denver Broncos and played eight seasons with the Broncos and the Detroit Lions.