DATE | Oct. 11, 2025
TIME | 3:30 PM ET
LOCATION | Kalamazoo, Mich.
VENUE | Stafford-Smith Field at Waldo Stadium
TV | ESPN+
RADIO | Bronco Media Network
LIVE STATS | WMUBroncos.com
THIS WEEK
Western Michigan welcomes Ball State on Saturday for its annual Homecoming/Hall of Fame Game at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are on-sale at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets.
THE SERIES
The Broncos hold a slight edge over the Cardinals, 29-22, in the all-time series. WMU has won the last three games and seven of the last 10. Head Coach Lance Taylor is 2-0 against Ball State, including his first career MAC win.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Ball State won its MAC-opener, 20-14, at home over Ohio last weekend. The Cardinals rallied from a 14-0 deficit, scoring 20 unanswered points with the game-winning 43-yard touchdown pass from Kiael Kelly to Quin Magwood coming with just 0:57 left to play.
Kelly leads an offense that has averaged 19.6 points per game and 289.0 yards. In his performance against the Bobcats, he threw for 185 yards and one touchdown and then ran for 96 and a score. Kelly eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for his career in that game. Kennesaw State transfer running back Qua Ashley leads the team with 316 yards on 64 carries and three touchdowns and also has a team-high 14 receptions. Qian Magwood has a team-high 174 yards receiving.
The Cardinals allow 29.40 points per game and 415.0 yards. That defense is led by Nathan Voorhis, who followed BSU head coach Mike Uremovich from Butler. Voorhis, a defensive lineman, leads the nation in sacks with 8.0 and had 3.5 of them in the win over Ohio. He is also tied with Alfred Chea for the team lead in tackles with 23. The Cardinals have yet to get an interception this season and have forced just one turnover overall.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
- Western Michigan's defense held the UMass offense scoreless in the second half, the second time that has happened this season. WMU held MSU's offense scoreless in the second half of the season-opener.
- Broc Lowry had a career-high 18 completions in the win and a career-high 92 yards rushing. He also had his second-straight game with a completion percentage above 70.0.
- Former Colgate quarterback and converted tight end Michael Brescia caught his first collegiate touchdown, giving the Broncos the lead in the second quarter.
- Defensive end Nadame Tucker had two sacks in the win, bringing his season total to 5.0 and his tackle for loss total to 9.0
- Domanick Moon had his first career interception.
RED-DEAD-ZONE
During Western Michigan's three-game winning streak, opponents have had 12 trips into the Red Zone, scoring only five times (41.7%). Only two of those trips ended up as touchdowns and the other three were field goals. The Bronco defense has recorded four red-zone interceptions during that time and three turnovers on down. Conversely, Western Michigan is 11-for-12 (90.9%) with eight touchdowns and three field goals.
TICK TOCK
During the winning streak the Broncos have dominated time of possession, averaging 34:08 per game. In WMU's first three games of the season, all losses, it averaged 29:26.
THIS NOTE GOES TO 11
The Western Michigan defense has recorded 14 sacks over the past three games. Eleven different Broncos have contributed at least 0.5 sacks, with Nadame Tucker leading the way with 2.5. Marcel Tyler and Will Gerig each have 2.0. Rodney McGraw and Kershawn Fisher sit at 1.5. James Camden, Joshua Franklin and Tyson Lee each have 1.0, while Tate Hallock, Joey Pope and Dakari Frazier have 0.5.
FINDING THE ENDZONE
Western Michigan quarterback Brock Lowry scored his sixth rushing touchdown of the season in the win at UMass. The last one to reach that mark was Kaleb Eleby back in the 2021 season.
The last Bronco quarterback to reach seven rushing touchdowns in a season was Zach Terrell. Dating back to 1976, only one quarterback has eclipsed Terrell's total. Albert Little rushed for 12 touchdowns during the 1978 season.
