2024 Western Michigan Broncos football team

2024 Western Michigan Broncos football
2024 Western Michigan Broncos football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	5–4 (4–1 MAC)
Head coach	Lance Taylor (2nd season);
Offensive coordinator	Walt Bell (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Scott Power (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Waldo Stadium
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Mid-American Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Bowling Green	4	–	1	5	–	4
Miami (OH)	4	–	1	5	–	4
Ohio	4	–	1	6	–	3
Western Michigan	4	–	1	5	–	4
Buffalo	3	–	2	5	–	4
Toledo	3	–	2	6	–	3
Eastern Michigan	2	–	3	5	–	4
Ball State	2	–	3	3	–	6
Northern Illinois	2	–	3	5	–	4
Central Michigan	1	–	4	3	–	6
Akron	1	–	4	2	–	7
Kent State	0	–	5	0	–	9
Championship: December 7, 2024
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant As of November 7, 2024 Rankings from AP Poll

The 2024 Western Michigan Broncos football team will represent Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos are led by Lance Taylor in his second year as the head coach. The Broncos will play home games at Waldo Stadium, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan.^[1]

Preseason

Preseason polls

Coaches Poll

On July 19 the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Western Michigan was picked to finish seventh in the conference. They received zero votes to win the MAC Championship.^[2]^[3]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
MAC Coaches poll
1	Miami	119 (9)
2	Toledo	109 (3)
T3	Bowling Green	92
T3	Northern Illinois	92
5	Ohio	81
6	Eastern Michigan	64
7	Western Michigan	60
8	Central Michigan	59
9	Ball State	42
10	Buffalo	37
11	Akron	24
12	Kent State	13

Predicted finish	Team	Votes
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
1	Miami	10
2	Toledo	2

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	9:00 p.m.	at Wisconsin*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	FS1	L 14–28	75,158
September 7	7:30 p.m.	at No. 2 Ohio State*	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	BTN	L 0–56	102,665
September 14	6:30 p.m.	Bethune–Cookman*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN+	W 59–31	23,476
September 28	3:30 p.m.	at Marshall*	Joan C. Edwards Stadium Huntington, WV	ESPN+	L 20–27	18,723
October 5	2:00 p.m.	at Ball State	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+	W 45–42	10,342
October 12	3:30 p.m.	Akron	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN+	W 34–24	19,507
October 19	3:30 p.m.	at Buffalo	UB Stadium Buffalo, NY	ESPN+	W 48–41	18,487
October 26	3:30 p.m.	Kent State	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN+	W 52–21	23,537
November 6	7:00 p.m.	Northern Illinois	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN2	L 28–42	10,346
November 12	7:00 p.m.	at Bowling Green	Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH	ESPN2
November 19		at Central Michigan	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI (rivalry, Michigan MAC Trophy)	ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/CBSSN
November 30		Eastern Michigan	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI (Michigan MAC Trophy)
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

^[4]

Game summaries

at Wisconsin

Game One – Western Michigan Broncos (0-0) at Wisconsin Badgers (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	7	0	7	14
Badgers	0	10	3	15	28

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

Date: Friday August 30, 2024
Game time: 8:00 p.m.
Game weather: Cloudy 71 F; Wind: North West 6 mph
Game attendance: 75,158
Referee: Greg Sujack
TV announcers (FS1): Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst), and Josh Sims (sideline)

Game information

First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter

WIS – Chez Mellusi 9-yard run (Nathanial Vakos kick), 11:48 Wisconsin 7–0 Drive: 16 plays, 93 yards, 6:29.
WMU – Jalen Buckley 1-yard run (Palmer Domschke kick), 3:02 Tied 7–7 Drive: 16 plays, 78 yards, 8:40.
WIS – Nathanial Vakos 33-yard field goal, 13:45. Wisconsin 10–7. Drive: 14 plays, 68 yards, 2:58.

Third quarter

WIS – Nathanial Vakos 23-yard field goal, 7:56. Wisconsin 13–7. Drive: 14 plays, 59 yards, 6:55.

Fourth quarter

WMU – Jalen Buckley 1-yard run (Palmer Domschke kick), 14:15 Western Michigan 14–13 Drive: 6 plays, 34 yards, 2:51.
WIS – Tawee Walker 6-yard run (Trech Kekahuna pass from Tyler Van Dyke), 10:35 Wisconsin 21–14 Drive: 4 plays, 20 yards, 1:46.
WIS – Tyler Van Dyke 6-yard run (Nathanial Vakos kick), 3:17 Wisconsin 28–14 Drive: 8 plays, 50 yards, 4:37.

Statistics	WMU	WISC
First downs	13	27
Total yards	261	388
Rushing yards	120	196
Passing yards	141	192
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	12-19-1	21-36-0
Time of possession	24:42	35:18

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Michigan	Passing	Hayden Wolff	12/18, 141
	Rushing	Jalen Buckley	16-64, 2 TD
	Receiving	Malique Dieudonne	2-45
Wisconsin	Passing	Tyler Van Dyke	21/36, 192
	Rushing	Chez Mellusi	19-74, TD
	Receiving	Will Pauling	6-60

at Ohio State

Game Two – Western Michigan Broncos (0–1) vs No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (1–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	0	0	0	0
No. 2 Buckeyes	21	14	14	7	56

at Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio

Date: September 7
Game time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Clear, 64 °F (18 °C)
Game attendance: 102,665
Referee: Jeffrey Servinski
TV announcers (BTN): Jeff Levering (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst), and Brooke Fletcher (sideline reporter)

Game information

First quarter

(11:04) OSU – TreVeyon Henderson 3-yard run (Jayden Fielding kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards, 2:35; Ohio State 7–0)
(4:00) OSU – Jeremiah Smith 70-yard pass from Will Howard (Jayden Fielding kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 2:28; Ohio State 14–0)
(1:02) OSU – Quinshon Judkins 23-yard run (Jayden Fielding kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 73 yards, 1:39; Ohio State 21–0)

Second quarter

(8:28) OSU – Quinshon Judkins 23-yard run (Jayden Fielding kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 65 yards, 1:17; Ohio State 28–0)
(4:20) OSU – Will Howard 6-yard run (Jayden Fielding kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 2:34; Ohio State 35–0)

Third quarter

(6:44) OSU – TreVeyon Henderson 16-yard run (Jayden Fielding kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 40 yards, 3:15; Ohio State 42–0)
(0:05) OSU – James Peoples 12-yard run (Jayden Fielding kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 81 yards, 4:13; Ohio State 49–0)

Fourth quarter

(5:01) OSU – Bennett Christian 55-yard pass from Julian Sayin (Austin Snyder kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 64 yards, 2:05; Ohio State 56–0)

Statistics	WMU	OSU
First downs	6	30
Plays–yards	48–99	72–683
Rushes–yards	31–28	39–273
Passing yards	71	410
Passing: comp–att–int	8–17–0	25–33–0
Time of possession	25:24	34:36

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Michigan	Passing	Hayden Wolff	8/15, 71 yards
	Rushing	Keshawn King	8 carries, 22 yards
	Receiving	Anthony Sambucci	3 receptions, 41 yards
Ohio State	Passing	Will Howard	18/26, 292 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Quinshon Judkins	9 carries, 108 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Jeremiah Smith	5 receptions, 119 yards, 1 TD

Bethune–Cookman (FCS)

Game Three – Bethune–Cookman Wildcats (FCS) (0–2) at Western Michigan Broncos (0–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats (FCS)	0	0	0	0	0
Broncos	0	0	0	0	0

at Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI

Date: September 14, 2024
Game time: 6:30 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	BCU	WMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bethune–Cookman	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Marshall

Game Four – Western Michigan Broncos (1–2) at Marshall Thundering Herd (1–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	3	0	14	3	20
Thundering Herd	7	10	3	7	27

at Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV

Date: September 28, 2024
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C)
Game attendance: 18,723
Referee: Greg Sujack
TV announcers (ESPN+): Keith Morehouse (play-by-play) and Mark Martin (analyst)
Pregame line: Marshall –3.5

Game information

First quarter

(13:08) MRSH – Toby Payne 32 yard pass from Stone Earle, Rece Verhoff kick (Drive: 5 plays, 69 yards, 1:43; Marshall 7–0)
(6:09) WMU – Luka Zaruk 45 yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 42 yards, 1:51; Marshall 7–3)

Second quarter

(12:18) MRSH – Rece Verhoff 20 yard field goal (Drive: 16 plays, 77 yards, 8:48; Marshall 10–3)
(2:41) MRSH – Carl Chester 7 yard pass from Stone Earle, Rece Verhoff kick (Drive: 6 plays, 86 yards, 1:51; Marshall 17–3)

Third quarter

(10:41) WMU – Jaden Nixon 36 yard run, Luka Zaruk kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:19; Marshall 17–10)
(5:52) MRSH – Rece Verhoff 28 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 58 yards, 4:51; Marshall 20–10)
(0:53) WMU – Blake Bosma 3 yard pass from Hayden Wolff, Luka Zaruk kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:59; Marshall 20–17)

Fourth quarter

(12:47) WMU – Luka Zaruk 45 yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 1:58; Tied 20–20)
(7:39) MRSH – Christian Fitzpatrick 34 yard pass from Stone Earle, Rece Verhoff kick (Drive: 3 plays, 70 yards, 1:03; Marshall 27–20)

Statistics	WMU	MRSH
First downs	21	20
Total yards	318	420
Rushing yards	192	243
Passing yards	126	177
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–28–0	15–25–0
Time of possession	31:29	28:31

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Michigan	Passing	Hayden Wolff	15/28, 126 yards, TD
	Rushing	Jaden Nixon	23 carries, 146 yards, TD
	Receiving	Anthony Sambucci	4 receptions, 56 yards
Marshall	Passing	Stone Earle	15/25, 177 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	A. J. Turner	9 carries, 124 yards
	Receiving	Elijah Metcalf	4 receptions, 52 yards

at Ball State

Game Five – Western Michigan Broncos (1–3) at Ball State Cardinals (1–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	0	0	0	0
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0

at Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, IN

Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
Game time: 2:00 p.m.
TV announcers (ESPN+): Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play) and Tyoka Jackson (analyst)

Statistics	WMU	BALL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Akron

Game Six – Akron Zips (1–5) at Western Michigan Broncos (2–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Zips	0	0	0	0	0
Broncos	0	0	0	0	0

at Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI

Date: October 12, 2024
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN+): Shawn Kenney (play-by-play) and Charlie Strong (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	AKR	WMU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Akron	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Buffalo

Game Seven – Western Michigan Broncos (3–3) at Buffalo Bulls (2–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	0	0	0	0
Bulls	0	0	0	0	0

at UB Stadium, Amherst, NY

Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
TV announcers (ESPN+): Anthony Lima (play-by-play) and Je'Rod Cherry (analyst)

Statistics	WMU	UB
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Buffalo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Kent State

Game Eight – Kent State Golden Flashes (0–7) at Western Michigan Broncos (4–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Flashes	0	0	0	0	0
Broncos	0	0	0	0	0

at Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI

Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN+): Shawn Kenney (play-by-play) and Charlie Strong (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	KENT	WMU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Northern Illinois

Game Nine – Northern Illinois Huskies (4–4) at Western Michigan Broncos (5–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Huskies	0	0	0	0	0
Broncos	0	0	0	0	0

at Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI

Date: Wednesday November 6, 2024
Game time: 7:00 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN2): Lowell Galindo (play-by-play) and Fozzy Whittaker (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NIU	WMU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Bowling Green

Game Ten – Western Michigan Broncos (5–4) at Bowling Green Falcons (5–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	0	0	0	0
Falcons	0	0	0	0	0

at Doyt Perry Stadium, Bowling Green, OH

Date: Tuesday November 12, 2024
Game time: 7:00 p.m.
TV: ESPN2

Statistics	WMU	BGSU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bowling Green	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Central Michigan (rivalry)

Game Eleven – Western Michigan Broncos (0–0) at Central Michigan Chippewas (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	0	0	0	0
Chippewas	0	0	0	0	0

at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, MI

Date: Tuesday November 19, 2024
Game time: TBD

Statistics	WMU	CMU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Central Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Eastern Michigan

Game Twelve – Eastern Michigan Eagles (0–0) at Western Michigan Broncos (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	0	0	0	0
Broncos	0	0	0	0	0

at Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI

Date: Saturday November 30, 2024
Game time: TBD
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV: ESPN2

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	EMU	WMU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Eastern Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "2024 Football Coaching Staff". Western Michigan University Athletics. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
^ "Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
^ "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
^ "2024 Western Michigan Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.

[1] "2024 Football Coaching Staff". Western Michigan University Athletics. Retrieved January 31, 2024.

[2] "Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.

[3] "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.

[4] "2024 Western Michigan Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e Western Michigan Broncos football
Venues	Waldo Stadium (1939–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Central Michigan Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan: Michigan MAC Trophy
Culture & lore	Buster Bronco Bronco Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
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