DATE | Oct. 10, 2026
TIME | 3:30 PM ET
LOCATION | Kalamazoo, Mich.
VENUE | Stafford-Smith Field at Waldo Stadium
TV | ESPN+
RADIO | Bronco Media Network
LIVE STATS | WMU.Statbroadcast.com
THIS WEEK
Western Michigan welcomes Kent State for its annual Homecoming/Hall of Fame Weekend, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The game can be watched live on ESPN+ and heard live on the Bronco Media Network.
THE SERIES
- Saturday is the 59th meeting between the Broncos and the Golden Flashes. Western Michigan leads the all-time series 37-20-1.
- WMU has won each of the last four games, averaging 50.25 points per game.
- Bronco head coach
Lance Taylor is 1-0 against KSU, earning a 52-21 win back in 2024.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State is 1-1 in MAC play with 26-13 win over Ball State and fell in a tight 13-10 loss against Ohio last weekend. Western Michigan will be KSU's first road game in conference play.
The Golden Flashes are averaging 15.0 points per game and 277.2 yards on offense. Junior quarterback Dru DeShields leads the offense and has thrown for 757 yards and three touchdowns this season. DeShields is also the team's leading rusher with 183 yards on 39 carries with three touchdowns. Graduate student Mason King is second on the team in rushing with 166 yards. Senior wide receiving Da'Realyst Clark leads the team with 246 yards receiving on 19 catches and one touchdown. Clark is the reigning MAC Special Teams Player of the Year and was on several Preseason All-American lists as a kick returner after returning two for a touchdown last season and averaging 28.3 yards per return.
Kent State's defense has racked up 12 sacks in five games, led by senior linebacker Rocco Nicholl and his 3.0. Nicholl is also tied for the team-lead in tackles with 24 and tackles for loss with 4.0. Four different Golden Flashes have intercepted passes this season, while the defense has allowed 31.40 points per game and 361.8 yards.
NOTES FROM LAST WEEK
- Tight end
Nate Levicki had a standout game for the Broncos with four catches for 76 yards in the win over Buffalo. Both were highs for him as a Bronco.
- Wide receiver
Aveion Chenault returned from injury to catch a team-high five passes for 56 yards.
- Linebacker
Justyce Betts had nine tackles to lead the Broncos and a crucial pass breakup during the final goal-line stand. The junior college transfer now leads the team with 35 total tackles.
- Six players combined for 5.0 sacks in the win over the Bulls, a season-high for the Broncos.
- Dating back to last season, the Broncos area 4-1 in MAC road games.
- WMU is now 3-1 in MAC openers under head coach
Lance Taylor
JUMP IN PRODUCTION
Sophomore wide receiver
Aveion Chenault leads the Broncos in receptions (18) and receiving yards (272) despite only playing in four of the five games. Chenault returned to action against Buffalo, making five catches for 56 yards. In his four games, Chenault has had at least 50 yards in each of them. His 272 yards on the season are just five shy of his season total from last season. The Lexington. Ky., native also needs just five more catches to match his output from last season.
BACK TO GOOD
Western Michigan responded well after its 32-7 loss against Boise State. At Buffalo, WMU increased its offensive output by 104 yards and had held the ball for over eight minutes more than they did against BSU. The biggest area that the Bronco defense improved was in its pass rush, recording as season-high five sacks. WMU also halved the amount of third down conversions it allowed, going from 10 against Boise State to five against the Bulls.
LIMITED LAUNDRY
Western Michigan had just one penalty in the win over Buffalo. So far this season, the Broncos have averaged just 2.4 penalties per game. WMU had four against Monmouth for this season's high mark, a number WMU did not reach at all last season.
BALL HOG
In the win over Buffalo, the Broncos held the ball for 31:55 and has averaged 31:16 so far this season. Since the start of the 2025 season, Western Michigan has posted 30 minutes or more in time of possession in 14 of the 19 games. The Broncos are 12-2 in those games.
