DETROIT - The Western Michigan University football program was picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference West Division according to the MAC News Media Association Preseason Poll (MNMA). The Broncos earned 143 total points, including a pair of first-place votes and one vote to win the MAC Championship Game.
The Broncos, who finished 5-7 overall and 3-4 in the MAC in 2007 were selected third in the division behind reigning back-to-back MAC Champions Central Michigan and Ball State, respectively. The Chippewas led all teams with 207 points and received 29 first-place votes. The Cardinals, with 168 points, received five first-place votes. CMU and Ball State received 24 and five championship game votes, respectively.
"The closeness in points throughout the conference and the number of teams that received first-place votes shows the parity in the MAC and should tell the fans of this league that they are in store for a very exciting season of football in 2008," commented WMU head football coach Bill Cubit.
Western Michigan is predicted to finish ahead of Toledo, Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois, which finished with 98, 80 and 60 points, respectively.
WMU finished with the sixth-highest point total of all teams behind CMU, Bowling Green (206), Miami (202), BSU and Buffalo (145). The Falcons were predicted to capture the MAC East title by amassing four more points than Miami. BGSU received 17 first-place votes followed by the Red Hawks with seven and Buffalo with three. Ohio also garnered three first-place votes, while Akron, Kent State and Temple received two apiece.
Western Michigan return 32 letterwinners, including 20 starters and nine All-MAC honorees, from a squad that played the 10th-toughest non-BCS schedule in the country this past season. WMU battled both West Virginia, ranked third at the time, and Missouri. These two teams were each a win away from the BCS Championship Game this past January. The Broncos also traveled to Iowa, defeating the Hawkeyes, 28-19, on their own turf to keep the Big Ten opponent out of a bowl game. Half of the teams Western Michigan played in 2007 ended the season bowl eligible.
The Broncos open preseason camp with player check-in on Sunday, Aug. 3, with practice beginning on Monday, Aug. 4. WMU will open its 2008 schedule 26 days later in Lincoln, Neb., against Big 12 opponent Nebraska. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. (ET) and will be available to a televised audience on a pay-per-view basis. Western Michigan opens its home and MAC schedule on Sept. 6 when West Division rival Northern Illinois comes to town for CommUniverCity Night.
The MAC also announced its MAC Games of the Week and ESPN Regional television packages on Tuesday. WMU's showdown at Central Michigan on Oct. 18 is on the slate as is the Broncos' home game at Ford Field against Illinois. It is possible the game against the Illini may move to another network within the ESPN family of networks but details are not available at this time.
MNMA Preseason Poll
West Division (6-5-4-3-2-1 Point System)
Central Michigan - 207 (29)
Ball State - 168 (5)
Western Michigan - 143 (2)
Toledo - 98
Eastern Michigan - 80
Northern Illinois - 60
East Division (7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Point System)
Bowling Green - 206 (17)
Miami - 202 (7)
Buffalo - 145 (3)
Kent State - 137 (2)
Temple - 120 (2)
Ohio - 119 (3)
Akron - 78 (2)
