THIS WEEK
#MACtion continues for the Western Michigan football team as the Broncos head to Bowling Green to take on the Falcons on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and can be heard live on the Bronco Media Network.
THE SERIES
Tuesday is the 58th all-time meeting between the Broncos and the Falcons. BGSU leads the series at 34-20-3. Bowling Green has taken the last two meetings, with a 13-9 win in 2022 and a 34-10 win in Kalamazoo last season.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Bowling Green has won its last three games and four of its last five heading into Tuesday. Like the Broncos, the Falcons are one of four teams with a 4-1 record in the MAC.
BGSU's offense is averaging 26.7 points per game, with the attack led by senior quarterback Connor Bazelak. Bazelak has 68.2 completion percentage, has thrown for 2,022 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bazelak's favorite target is junior Harold Fannin Jr., the top tight end in the nation. Fannin Jr's 73 receptions is the most by any tight end in the nation and second overall among all receivers. He has 1,033 yards and six touchdown catches. The Falcons also have a strong running game, led by Terion Stewart. Stewart has rushed for 674 yards on the season, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and five touchdowns. Stewart recently eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the third time this seasons in BGSU's most recent win at Central Michigan.
The Falcons are second in the MAC in third down conversion defense, with opponents picking up first downs just 32.8 percent of the time. The team also has the third-best scoring defense in the conference, giving up just 21.0 points per game. BGSU boasts the second-best passing defense, allowing 168.3 yards per game. Linebacker Joseph Sipp Jr. leads the team with 59 total tackles, with 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Sipp Jr. is one of three players that have at least four sacks on the BGSU defense. Cornerback Jordan Oladokun has five passes defended and two interceptions, including a pick six.
TURNOVER TROUBLE
Western Michigan turned the ball over three times in its loss to Northern Illinois. The total was a season-high. Prior to that the Broncos had turned it over more than once since the opening game of the season at Wisconsin. WMU also had not turned it over more than twice since Sept. 23, 2023 in a loss at Toledo.
ON 16, GOING ON 17
With three games left on the regular season schedule,
Jaden Nixon has a chance to be the 17th running back in program history to rush for over 1,000 yards. Nixon just needs 153 yards to reach the mark and join teammate
Jalen Buckley in the WMU history books. Buckley rushed for 1,003 yards last season, reaching the 1,000-yard mark in the final game of the season…. against Bowling Green.
