2023 Western Michigan Broncos football team
2023 Western Michigan Broncos football | |
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Conference | Mid-American Conference |
Division | West Division |
Record | 4–8 (3–5 MAC) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Billy Cosh (1st season) |
Defensive coordinator | Lou Esposito (7th season) |
Home stadium | Waldo Stadium |
Seasons |
| Conf | Overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Miami (OH) xy$ | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ohio | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bowling Green | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Buffalo | 3 | – | 5 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Akron | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kent State | 0 | – | 8 | 1 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Toledo xy | 8 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northern Illinois | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eastern Michigan | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Central Michigan | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ball State | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Michigan | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Miami (OH) 23, Toledo 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2023 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos played their home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and competed in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).[1] They were led by first-year head coach Lance Taylor who was the offensive coordinator for Louisville in 2022.[2] They finished the season 4–8 and 3–5 in conference play[3]
Preseason
Preseason polls
Coaches Poll
On July 20, the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Western Michigan was picked to finish last in the West.[4]
East | ||
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
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1 | Ohio | 63 (9) |
2 | Miami | 52 (2) |
3 | Buffalo | 51 (1) |
4 | Bowling Green | 35 |
5 | Akron | 26 |
6 | Kent State | 19 |
West | ||
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
---|---|---|
1 | Toledo | 66 (11) |
2 | Eastern Michigan | 55 (1) |
3 | Northern Illinois | 38 |
4 | Central Michigan | 37 |
5 | Ball State | 27 |
6 | Western Michigan | 23 |
Coaches poll (MAC Championship) | ||
Rank | Team | Votes |
---|---|---|
1 | Toledo | 7 |
2 | Ohio | 4 |
3 | Buffalo | 1 |
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | Saint Francis (PA)* | ESPN+ | W 35–17 | 19,432 | |||
September 9 | 3:30 p.m. | at Syracuse* | ACCNX/ESPN+ | L 7–48 | 32,637 | |||
September 16 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 25 Iowa* | BTN | L 10–41 | 69,250 | |||
September 23 | 1:30 p.m. | at Toledo | ESPN+ | L 31–49 | 19,068 | |||
September 30 | 3:30 p.m. | Ball State |
| ESPN+ | W 42–24 | 21,880 | ||
October 7 | 12:00 p.m. | at Mississippi State* | SECN | L 28–41 | 47,158 | |||
October 14 | 3:30 p.m. | Miami (OH) |
| ESPN+ | L 21–34 | 20,039 | ||
October 21 | 12:00 p.m. | at Ohio | CBSSN | L 17–20 | 16,048 | |||
October 28 | 1:00 p.m. | at Eastern Michigan | ESPN+ | W 45–21 | 16,297 | |||
November 7 | 7:00 p.m. | Central Michigan |
| ESPNU | W 38–28 | 17,841 | ||
November 14 | 7:00 p.m. | at Northern Illinois | ESPNU | L 0–24 | 6,417 | |||
November 21 | 7:00 p.m. | Bowling Green |
| ESPNU | L 10–34 | 8,901 | ||
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Game summaries
Saint Francis (PA)
at Syracuse
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Orange | 17 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 48 |
at JMA Wireless Dome • Syracuse, NY
- Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Indoor
- Game attendance: 32,637
- Referee: Jeremy Valentine
- TV: ACCNX
Game information |
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No scoring plays |
Statistics | WMU | SYR |
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First downs | 15 | 26 |
Total yards | 318 | 496 |
Rush yards | 97 | 153 |
Passing yards | 221 | 343 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 30:57 | 29:03 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Western Michigan | Passing | Jack Salopek | 15/22, 110 yards, INT |
Rushing | Jalen Buckley | 8 carries, 87 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Kenneth Womack | 4 receptions, 67 yards | |
Syracuse | Passing | Garrett Shrader | 19/30, 286 yards, TD |
Rushing | Juwaun Price | 16 carries, 68 yards | |
Receiving | Donovan Brown | 3 receptions, 89 yards, TD |
at No. 25 Iowa
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Statistics | WMU | IOWA |
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First downs | 8 | 19 |
Total yards | 239 | 387 |
Rushing yards | 117 | 254 |
Passing yards | 122 | 133 |
Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
Time of possession | 26:07 | 33:53 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Western Michigan | Passing | Treyson Bourguet | 5/16, 124 yards, TD |
Rushing | Treyson Bourguet | 8 carries, 32 yards | |
Receiving | Kenneth Womack | 2 receptions, 11 yards | |
Iowa | Passing | Cade McNamara | 9/19, 103 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Leshon Williams | 12 carries, 145 yards | |
Receiving | Steven Stilianos | 2 receptions, 29 yards |
at Toledo
Ball State
at Mississippi State
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Michigan | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
Mississippi State | 10 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 41 |
at Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS
- Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
- Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 62 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 47,158
- Referee: Scott Walker
- TV announcers (SECN/ESPN+): Lowell Galindo (play-by-play), Derek Mason (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline)
Game information |
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Statistics | WMU | MSST |
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First downs | 21 | 25 |
Total yards | 77–413 | 65–440 |
Rushing yards | 32–116 | 33–194 |
Passing yards | 297 | 246 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 33–45–1 | 23–32–0 |
Time of possession | 28:46 | 31:14 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Western Michigan | Passing | Hayden Wolff | 27/35, 262 yards, 3 TD, INT |
Rushing | Zahir Abdus-Salaam | 18 carries, 60 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Kenneth Womack | 12 receptions, 113 yards | |
Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 16/22, 189 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Seth Davis | 10 carries, 65 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Freddie Roberson | 5 receptions, 68 yards, TD |
Miami (OH)
at Ohio
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Michigan | 0 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 17 |
Ohio | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
at Peden Stadium • Athens, OH
Game information |
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Statistics | Western Michigan | Ohio |
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First downs | 21 | 28 |
Total yards | 369 | 460 |
Rushes/yards | 22/79 | 39/185 |
Passing yards | 290 | 275 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 30–42–1 | 24–39–0 |
Time of possession | 24:25 | 35:35 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Western Michigan | Passing | Hayden Wolff | 30/42, 290 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | CJ Hester | 5 rushes, 26 yards | |
Receiving | Kenneth Womack | 14 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD | |
Ohio | Passing | Kurtis Rourke | 24/39, 275 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Sieh Bangura | 15 rushes, 86 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Sam Wiglusz | 10 receptions, 155 yards, 1 TD |
at Eastern Michigan
Central Michigan
at Northern Illinois
Bowling Green
NFL Draft
The NFL draft was held at Campus Martius Park in Detroit, Michigan, on April 25–27, 2024. Additionally Keni'h Lovely signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent.
Broncos who were picked in the 2024 NFL Draft:
Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 56 | Marshawn Kneeland | DE | Dallas Cowboys |
References
- ^ "Football Ticket, Game Day & Waldo Stadium Information". Western Michigan Athletics.
- ^ "Western Michigan hires Louisville OC Lance Taylor as coach". ESPN.
- ^ "MAC College Football Standings - 2023". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked to win conference championship; BGSU tabbed to finish fourth in MAC East". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 20, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2023 Western Michigan Football Schedule".
- ^ "Western Michigan Broncos Schedule 2023/season/2023". ESPN.