DATE | Oct. 5, 2024
TIME | 2:00 PM ET
LOCATION | Muncie, Ind.
VENUE | Schuemann Stadium (30,475)
TV | ESPN+ 
RADIO | Bronco Radio Network
LIVE STATS | BallStateSports.com

THIS WEEK
Western Michigan opens up Mid-American Conference play on the road at Ball State on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+ and heard live on the Bronco Radio Network. 

THE SERIES
- Saturday is the 51st meeting between the Broncos and the Cardinals, with WMU leading the all-time series at 28-22.
- WMU won the last two meetings, including a 42-24 victory in Kalamazoo last season for head coach Lance Taylor's first career MAC win. 
- WMU is 12-13 all-time in Muncie.

QUICK NOTES ON THE CARDINALS
- Redshirt freshman quarterback Kadin Semoza leads the MAC in completion percentage at 69.1, which is also good for 13th-best in the nation.
- Ball State is sixth in the nation in time of possesion and tops in the MAC. The Cardinals average 33:58 per game with the ball. 
- Running back Braeden Sloan has 45 percent of the team's rushing attempts at 59, with 282 yards and two touchdowns. No other player on the team has rushed the ball more than 13 times. (excluding Semoza due to sacks).
- BSU dropped its MAC-opener on the road at Central Michigan, 37-34. The Cardinals had a 34-30 lead late but gave up a touchdown with 16 seconds left to play to the Chippewas.
 
MOVIN' ON UP
After another stellar performance, junior running back Jaden Nixon has moved up in the national and conference rankings. Nixon currently leads the MAC in yards per carry at 6.67, which also ranks 20th in the nation. 

With his receiving and kick returning prowess, along with his ability to run the ball, Nixon has also moved up to second in the MAC in all-purpose yards per game with 138.0. His 194 all-purpose yards against Marshall helped him move up to 16th in the nation in the category. Over the past two games, Nixon has totaled 401 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. 

MORE THAN HALFWAY THERE
Senior cornerback Bilhal Kone nearly matched his career high in tackles against Marshall, making nine. His career-high of 10 was set in the season-opener against Wisconsin. The Apple Valley, Min., native has 26 tackles in the first four games after making 42 in 12 games in 2023. Kone also leads the Broncos in passes defended, with four. 

JUST ABOUT THERE
But it's not just Kone who is over halfway to his 2023 season total. Senior linebacker Donald Willis has nearly matched his tackle output from last season. In 2023, the Cleveland, Ohio, native had 40 tackles. Through four games this season, he has 34. Willis also has 3.5 tackles for loss to tie for the team lead, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble that resulted in a turnover against Marshall. 

WELCOME BACK, WELCOME BACK, WELCOME BACK
Senior wide receiver Kenny Womack missed the first three games of the season due to an injury he sustained in fall camp. Womack made his season debut at Marshall and made an immediate impact. The First-Team All-MAC selection in 2023 made six catches for 43 yards against the Thundering Herd. The six stand out as the most catches in a single game by a Bronco this season, and he immediately moved up to third on the team in receptions behind Blake Bosma (8) and Anthony Sambucci (13).