DATE | Sept. 14, 2024
TIME | 6:30 PM ET
LOCATION | Kalamazoo, Mich.
VENUE | Waldo Stadium (30,000)
TV | ESPN+ 
RADIO | Bronco Radio Network
LIVE STATS | WMUSTATS.com


THIS WEEK
Western Michigan hosts Bethune-Cookman on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The game can be watched live on ESPN+ and heard live on the Bronco Media Network. 

SERIES
This is the first meeting between the Broncos and the Wildcats. 

AGAINST HBCUs
This is the third-ever game against a HBCU for Western Michigan. The Broncos played North Carolina Central for their first meeting with a HBCU back in 2016, winning 70-21. The most recent meeting came against Delaware State in 2018, a 68-0 win. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE WILDCATS
The Wildcats enter Saturday's game 0-2 after dropping their season-opener to South Florida, 48-3. Last weekend they hosted Mercer, falling 31-2. Redshirt junior quarterback Cam'Ron Ransom started both games for BCU, with 212 yards passing and a 54.2 completion percentage. Ransom, who is in his second year with Bethune-Cookman after previously playing McNeese State and Georgia Southern, is also a threat to run.

Sixth-year running back Courtney Reese has amassed 21 carries in the first two games, while also making a team-high six catches. Sophomore wide receiver Lorenzo Jenkins has a team-best 53 yards receiving on five catches. 

Raymond Woodie III leads the team with 13 tackles. The senior safety also has one interception. Sophomore defensive end Ejike Brown has 2.5 sacks to lead the Wildcats, while three others on the team have one each. 

LOCKING IT DOWN
Western Michigan opponents may start throwing in the opposite direction of senior cornerback Bilhal Kone. Through two games, Kone has four passes defended (interceptions + pass deflections). That's the third-most in the nation and top of the Mid-American Conference. 

Kone, who transferred in from Indiana State prior to the 2023 season, had nine total passes defended last season, with eight breakups and one interception while playing in all 12 games. The Apple Valley, Min., native has also stepped up his physicality, with 14 total tackles in WMU's two games. 

DONALD'S DOMINATION
Redshirt senior linebacker Donald Willis has been a tackling machine in the first two games for Western Michigan. Against the Badgers he had a career-high 10 tackles and then surpassed that with 11 against Ohio State. It's the first time in his career that he has had double-digit tackles. His 10.5 tackles per game ranks him 15th in the nation and second in the MAC.

The Cleveland, Ohio, native has also made his name known in pass defense as well, making three pass breakups so far this season.  

PASS PROTECTION
In two games against Power 4 opponents, the Western Michigan offensive line has only given up four sacks. In three games last season, the Broncos allowed eight sacks.