GAME INFORMATION
Boise State at Western Michigan
Series: First meeting
Date: Saturday, Sept. 26
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Stafford-Smith Field at Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, Mich.
TV: ESPN2 (WATCH)
Live Stats: Link
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan returns home Saturday for one of the biggest nonconference games on its schedule, welcoming Boise State to Stafford-Smith Field at Waldo Stadium for a nationally televised matchup between two programs looking to make a statement.
Saturday’s matchup gives Western Michigan an opportunity to make a national statement at home. Boise State arrives in Kalamazoo after opening the season with a competitive road game at No. 2 Oregon and wins over Memphis and South Dakota, while Western Michigan enters riding a two-game winning streak.
The first-ever meeting between Western Michigan and Boise State sets the stage for a marquee nonconference matchup, with the Broncos looking to close the nonconference portion of their schedule with another strong performance on a national stage.
Western Michigan is receiving votes in the latest Associated Press Top 25, earning 27 votes to rank 28th nationally.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, with the game airing nationally on ESPN2.
For Western Michigan, the opportunity comes at an important point in the season.
Western Michigan posted a 49-14 victory over Monmouth in Week 2 before traveling to Rice last week and earning a 28-21 road win. Now, the Broncos return to Waldo Stadium with a chance to close the nonconference portion of their schedule with another nationally relevant performance.
Western Michigan’s formula has been built around a physical rushing attack and a defense that has already shown it can compete against high-level competition.
Running back Jalen Buckley enters Saturday coming off a season-high 117 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries against Rice. He broke a 66-yard run during the victory and has been a consistent centerpiece of the Western Michigan offense. Quarterback Broc Lowry provides another dimension with his ability to make plays both through the air and on the ground. Against Rice, Lowry completed 14 of 20 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown while adding 39 rushing yards and a score.
The Broncos also showed their ability to control a game on the ground last week. Western Michigan put together a 16-play, 72-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter that consumed 8:27, setting the tone in what became a seven-point road victory.
Defensively, Western Michigan has already faced a major test this season. The Broncos held Michigan to 13 points and forced three turnovers in the season opener before limiting Rice to 330 total yards. Against the Owls, Western Michigan held Rice to 1-of-10 on third down and came up with several critical stops in the second half.
Boise State enters Saturday at 2-1 after opening the season with a 34-27 road loss at No. 2 Oregon before winning consecutive games over Memphis and South Dakota. The Broncos have scored 38 points in each of their last two games and enter the matchup with one of the nation’s more productive rushing attacks.
Junior running back Dylan Riley has been a major part of that production, rushing for 454 yards through three games. He posted a career-high 206 yards against Memphis and followed that with 198 yards against South Dakota. Fifth-year quarterback Maddux Madsen has also provided stability for the Boise State offense, entering the matchup with 610 passing yards and six touchdowns without an interception.
Saturday’s matchup provides Western Michigan with an opportunity to add another marquee performance to its nonconference résumé, this time in front of its home crowd and a national television audience.
