THIS WEEK
Western Michigan kicks off #MACtion on Tuesday, hosting Ohio at 8 p.m. The game can be watched live on ESPN2 and listened to live on the Bronco Media Network. Tickets are on-sale at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets
 
THE SERIES
Tuesday is the 67th meeting between Western Michigan and Ohio.  The Bobcats won the last meeting 20-17 in Athens back on Oct. 21, 2023. That brought the all-time series to a much slimmer margin for the Broncos at 34-31-1.
 
2 TROPHIES, 1 GAME
In last weekend's 24-21 win over Central Michigan, the Broncos secured the Victory Cannon Trophy and the Michigan MAC Trophy. The Victory Cannon was claimed for the 11th time since it was created back in 2008. Western Michigan has also won seven of the last 10 against the Chippewas.
 
WMU retains the Michigan MAC Trophy despite not playing Eastern Michigan yet. With CMU defeating EMU earlier in the season, the Broncos can either go 1-1 or 2-0 against their in-state rivals. WMU retained the trophy last season, and if there is a tie in the standings the holder gets to keep it. Western Michigan has the trophy for the 10th time, leading its rivals in the 21-year history of it.
 
THERE GOES THAT MAN, AGAIN
Western Michigan senior defensive end continues to be a dominant force in the Mid-American Conference. In the win over Central Michigan he recorded six total tackles and a strip-sack. The sack and fumble jump-started the Broncos after a slow first quarter and led directly to WMU's first points of the game, a rushing touchdown by Broc Lowry. Tucker earned his second MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors thanks to the performance.
 
Tucker is tied for second nationally in tackles for loss with 15.0. In MAC play, he ranks second with 9.0, trailing Ball State's Nathan Voorhis by 1.0. Both are tied for the conference lead with 6.5 sacks in MAC games. Tucker's season-total of 9.5 sacks is the most by a Bronco since edge-rusher Ali Fayad had 13 in 2021, with Fayad going on to win MAC Defensive Player of the Year that season.
 
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Graduate transfer wide receiver Tailique Williams had a career-high seven receptions in the win over Central Michigan. That seventh reception was the game-winning touchdown with 2:08 to play. Quarterback Broc Lowry rolled out on a fourth-and-five from the CMU 7 and found Williams in the right corner of the endzone. The TD reception was just the second on the season for Williams.
 
The former Georgia State Panther made an immediate impact for the Broncos, leading the team with six catches and 74 yards in the season-opener at Michigan State. The Pine Mountain, Ga., native leads the team with 32 catches for 403 yards and is one of three Broncos with two touchdown catches on the year.
 
IF TRENDS CONTINUE...
Through five conference games this season, Western Michigan has allowed just 12.60 points per game, sitting just behind Toledo at 11.6. The Broncos have not finished a season allowing fewer than 20 points per game since the undefeated 2016 season. That year, WMU allowed 18.38 points per game in MAC play.