GAME #1
DATE | Aug. 30 , 2024
TIME | 9:05 PM ET
LOCATION | Madison, Wis.
VENUE | Camp Randall Stadium (75,882)
TV | FS1
RADIO | Bronco Radio Network
LIVE STATS | WMUSTATS.com

THIS WEEK
Team 119 takes the field to open the 2024 season on the road at Wisconsin on Friday at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. The game can be watched lived on FS1 and heard live on the Bronco Media Network. 

SERIES
• This is the sixth meeting all-time between Western Michigan and Wisconsin. The last meeting came in the 2016 Cotton Bowl, with the Badgers defeating the Broncos 24-16.  
• WMU is 1-4 all-time against UW and is 1-3 in Madison. The lone win came back in 1988 by a score of 24-14.  
• Western Michigan has played a game against an opponent from the Big 10 in 18 of the last 20 seasons. Only 2005 and the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season saw the league absent from the Broncos' schedule.  
• With WMU playing at Ohio State next week, 2024 will be the seventh season in those 20 in which the Broncos have played two teams from the Big 10.

SERIES HISTORY
1963 - @ - L, 0-41
1981 - @ - L, 10-21
1988 - @ - W, 24-14
2000 - @ - L, 7-19
2017 - N - L, 16-24 (2017 Cotton Bowl)

I'M GETTING CLOSER TO MY HOME
Western Michigan has four Wisconsin natives on its roster this season. Redshirt junior offensive lineman Calvin Muraski hails from Green Bay. Redshirt senior offensive tackle Adam Vandervest is from Verona. Redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Chad Schuster is from Franklin, while junior defensive lineman Marcel Tyler is from Racine.  

IT ALWAYS FEELS LIKE SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME
Senior center Jacob Gideon has seen his name scattered all over the award watch lists for offensive linemen during the preseason. The Union, Ky., native is on the watch lists for the Lombardi Award (nation's best linemen and linebackers), Rimington Trophy (nation's top center), and the Outland Trophy (nation's top interior lineman). Gideon, along with senior guard Addison West, also earned spots on the Senior Bowl Watch List.  Gideon, West and senior wide receiver Kenneth Womack were named part of the Shrine Bowl 1,000
 
Senior linebacker Boone Bonnema also earned a spot on the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, college football's premiere community service award. Senior quarterback Hayden Wolff was also named to the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List. 

GROUND AND POUND
Redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Buckley was one of 45 players to run for at least 1,000 yards last season.  Buckley is just one of 27 of those that will play collegiately in 2024.  

The Aurora, Ill., native rushed for 1,003 yards and 10 touchdowns to pace the Broncos. He was fifth in the MAC in rushing yards and was one of only two freshmen in the nation that reached 1,000 yards.

INTO THE BACKFIELD
Last season, the Bronco defense recorded 62.0 tackles for loss and 24.0 sacks.  

When it comes to getting to the quarterback, WMU returns most of its numbers. Marshawn Kneeland led the team with 4.5 sacks last season and is now impressing with the Dallas Cowboys, but the next six players with the highest sack totals all return. Linebacker Donald Willis is the top returner after making 3.5 last season and is followed by Mason Nelson at 3.0, defensive end Corey Walker and linebacker Boone Bonnema at 2.5, and defensive tackle Isaiah Green at 2.0.  

The same goes for stopping the ball in the backfield. The Broncos return 45.5 of those tackles for loss, including last year's leader in Walker, who had a career-high 8.5. Willis and fellow linebacker Jacob Wahlberg each had 6.5, while Nelson returns with 5.0. Green had 4.5 in his first season of FBS football, while Bonnema had 3.5. Cornerback Bilahl Kone, and defensive ends Tyson Lee and Marcel Tyler each had 2.0.