DATE | Oct. 31, 2026
TIME | 12:00 PM ET
LOCATION | Kalamazoo, Mich.
VENUE | Stafford-Smith Field at Waldo Stadium
TV | CBS Sports Network
RADIO | Bronco Media Network
LIVE STATS | WMU.Statbroadcast.com

THIS WEEK
The Western Michigan welcomes Bowling Green for a Mid-American Conference showdown on Saturday at 12 p.m. The game can be watched live on CBS Sports Network and heard live on the Bronco Media Network. 

THE SERIES
Saturday is the 59th meeting between the Broncos and the Falcons. BGSU holds the all-time series lead at 35-20-3 and have won each of the last three meetings. The previous meeting was on Nov. 11, 2024 in Bowling Green, a 31-13 win by the Falcons. WMU head coach Lance Taylor is 0-2 against BGSU, while Falcon's head coach Eddie George has yet to play against them. 

SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Bowling Green (2-6) is under the second season of head coach Eddie George and have already matched its MAC win total from last season. The Falcons opened conference play with wins at Miami and at home against Sacramento State. Since then, BGSU has dropped two tight games against Ball State (32-31, OT) and at Buffalo (31-24). 

Bowling Green's offense averages 18.8 points per game and 287.8 yards per game. Jay Kastantin earned the starting quarterback job out of camp and has started every game this season. The former Assumption University (DII) transfer ranks second in the MAC in completion percentage at 67 percent. Kanstatin has throw for 1,418 yards and 10 touchdowns and has also rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown. Austyn Dendy has a team-high 371 yards rushing and four touchdowns. The Falcons have four different receivers with at least 20 catches, led by tight end Jeremiah Scoby's 27. Wide receiver Winn Sharp leads the team with 305 yards. 

BGSU defensive end Myles Brady is fourth in the nation in sacks per game at 1.0 and his 8.0 total sacks also ranks fourth, while leading the MAC in both categories. Defensive end Eriq George, son of Eddie, was a preseason All-MAC selection by several publications and was the OVC Freshman of the Year at Tennessee State before transferring. He has 3.5 sacks, 36 tackles and 8.0 tackles for loss. With its troublesome pass rush, the Falcons have the top passing defense in the MAC and allow just 168.4 yards per game through the air. 

NOTES ON LAST WEEK
- Senior defensive back Joshua Franklin's 92-yard kick off return for a touchdown was the first since Sean Tyler returned one 90 yards at San Jose State on Sept. 24, 2022.
- WMU's defense allowed a season-high 595 yards of total offense.
- Aveion Chenault had a career-high 105 yards receiving and his second career 100 yard receiving game of his career. Both have come this season.
- Austin Alexander had a career-high 2.5 sacks in the loss. 
- Baylin Brooks caught his fourth touchdown of the season. He has 19 receptions this season, with 21 percent of those going for touchdowns. 

CELEBRATING SENIORS
Prior to the start of Saturday's game, Western Michigan will honor its 18 seniors. Blair Alexander, Jori Benson, Jalen Buckley, Kouri Crump, Palmer Domschke, DeJuan Echoles Jr., Dakari Frazier, Joshua Franklin, Will Gerig, AJ Green, Nate Levicki, Domanick Moon, Dillon Moore, Chad Schuster, Jarvarius Sims, Brandon Smith, Jordan Thomas and Hunter Whitenack will all be celebrated. WMU will also recognize senior equipment assistant Hannah Bunker and video assistant Chad Goodrich. 

HISTORY ON HALLOWEEN
Saturday's game will be the 12th game all-time on Halloween for Western Michigan. The Broncos are 4-7 all-time but are 4-2 in the last six. WMU's last time playing on Halloween was a 26-14 loss at Kent State.

1936 - L, 19-7 vs. DePaul
1953 - L, 67-12 vs. Ohio
1954 - L, 48-0 @ Miami
1959 - L, 12-8 @ Ohio
1964 - L, 16-7 @ Marshall
1970 - W, 52-23 vs. Ohio
1981 - W, 23-12 vs. Northern Illinois
1987 - L, 30-27 @ Central Michigan
1992 - W, 13-7 vs. Northern Illinois
1998 -  W, 48-23 vs. Kent State
2009 - L, 26-14 @ Kent State

THE CLIMB CONTINUES
Redshirt senior running back Jalen Buckley is inching closer up the all-time career rushing ladder at Western Michigan. After his 92-yard rushing performance against Toledo, he now has 3,350 career rushing yards, the sixth-most in program history. He surpassed Jamauri Bogan (2015-18) with 3,327 and Shawn Falkner (1980-83) at 3,341 in the last game. Next above him sits Brandon West (2006-09) with 3,671 yards.  

His rushing touchdown against the Rockets have bumped him up to fourth all-time with 36, surpassing Levante Bellamy (2016-19) who he was tied with heading into the game. Above him sits Jerome Persell (1976-78) with 39. 

SACKS ALL OVER
Western Michigan has spread out its sack production this season. Austin Alexander and Scoop Gardner Jr. each have 4.0, while linebacker Dillon Moore sits just behind them at 3.50. KJ Burley has 2.0 and DeJuan Echoles Jr. has 1.50 just behind him.  Gardner Jr., Alexander and Burley each have at least five quarterback hurries, led by Gardner Jr.s 7. 

THE LBs ARE DOING IT BETTER, SO FAR
Western Michigan's defense has produced four interceptions this season. Three of those four have come from linebackers. Senior linebacker Dillon Moore leads the team with two, while Gabe Welch has one. The only non-linebacker interception came from Daeh McCullough on the last play of the Central Michigan.