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American college football season
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]
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)
|
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
|
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
| 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 | - Waldo Stadium
- Kalamazoo, MI
| 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) | - Waldo Stadium
- Kalamazoo, MI
| 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
|
| 7:00 p.m. | Central Michigan | | ESPNU | W 38–28 | 17,841
|
| 7:00 p.m. | at Northern Illinois | | ESPNU | L 0–24 | 6,417
|
| 7:00 p.m. | Bowling Green | - Waldo Stadium
- Kalamazoo, MI
| ESPNU | L 10–34 | 8,901
|
- *Non-conference game
Homecoming- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
[5][6]
Game Two – Western Michigan Broncos (1–0) at Syracuse Orange (1–0)
Quarter |
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
|
- First Quarter
- (14:30) WMU - Jalen Buckley 74 yd run (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:30; WMU 7-0)
- (10:55) SYR - Brady Denaburg 36 yd Field Goal (Drive: 13 plays, 54 yards, 3:28; WMU 7-3)
- (8:55) SYR - LeQuint Allen 1 yd run (Brady Denaburg kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 50 yards, 1:18; SYR 10-7)
- (5:03) SYR - Donovan Brown 86 yd pass from Garrett Shrader (Brady Denaburg kick) (Drive: 1 play, 86 yards, 0:18; SYR 17-7)
- Second Quarter
- (14:52) SYR – Garrett Shrader 18 yd run (Brady Denaburg kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 2:53; SYR 24–7)
- (10:28) SYR - LeQuint Allen 1 yd run (Brady Denaburg kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 73 yards, 2:17; SYR 31-7)
- (1:19) SYR - LeQuint Allen 2 yd run (Brady Denaburg kick) (Drive: 14 plays, 99 yards, 3:38; SYR 38-7)
- (0:00) SYR - Jason Simmons Jr. 84 yd Interception (Brady Denaburg kick) (SYR 45-7)
- Third Quarter
- (2:43) SYR - Brady Denaburg 33 yd Field Goal (Drive: 9 plays, 33 yards, 3:49; SYR 48-7)
- Fourth Quarter
No scoring plays
|
Statistics |
WMU |
SYR
|
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
|
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
|
Western Michigan at No. 25 Iowa
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Broncos |
7 |
3 | 0 | 0 |
10 |
• No. 25 Hawkeyes |
0 |
14 | 17 | 10 |
41 |
- Date: September 16
- Location:
Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA - Game start: 2:40 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:51
- Game attendance: 69,250
- Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C), Cloudy, Wind NW 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
- Referee: Gregory Blum
- TV announcers (BTN): Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), and Shane Sparks (sidelines)
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
| 1 | 5:40 | WMU | Anthony Sambucci 64-yard pass from Treyson Bourguet (Palmer Domschke kick) | WMU 7–0 |
| 2 | 8:26 | Iowa | Diante Vines 3-yard pass from Cade McNamara (Drew Stevens kick) | Tied 7–7 |
4:45 | WMU | Palmer Domschke 27-yard field goal | WMU 10–7 |
1:29 | Iowa | Leshon Williams 25-yard pass from Cade McNamara (Drew Stevens kick) | Iowa 14–10 |
| 3 | 7:30 | Iowa | Safety, blocked punt through the end zone | Iowa 16–10 |
4:02 | Iowa | Kamari Moulton 3-yard run (Erick All pass from Cade McNamara) | Iowa 24–10 |
2:10 | Iowa | Kamari Moulton 1-yard run (Drew Stevens kick) | Iowa 31–10 |
| 4 | 5:20 | Iowa | Drew Stevens 31-yard field goal | Iowa 34–10 |
0:30 | Iowa | Max White 2-yard run (Drew Stevens kick) | Iowa 41–10 |
|
Statistics |
WMU |
IOWA
|
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
|
Game Five – Ball State Cardinals (1–3) at Western Michigan Broncos (1–3) – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Ball State |
3 |
7 |
7 | 7 | 24 |
Western Michigan |
7 |
21 |
7 | 7 | 42 |
at Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI
- Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: -
- Game attendance: 21,880
- TV: ESPN+
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (8:37) BALL – Jackson Courville 27-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 4:25; Ball State 3–0)
- (5:06) WMU – Anthony Sambucci 18-yard pass from Treyson Bourguet (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:31; Western Michigan 7–3)
- Second quarter
- (13:06) WMU – Zahir Abdus-Salaam 1-yard run (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 92 yards, 3:57; Western Michigan 14–3)
- (7:50) WMU – Jalen Buckley 12-yard run (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 43 yards, 2:29; Western Michigan 21–3)
- (5:04) BALL – Maximus Webster 2-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, 2:45; Western Michigan 21–10)
- (0:01) WMU – Anthony Sambucci 2-yard pass from Treyson Bourguet (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 1:27; Western Michigan 28–10)
- Third quarter
- (11:52) BALL – Qian Magwood 32-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:08; Western Michigan 28–17)
- (10:14) WMU – Anthony Sambucci 31-yard pass from Treyson Bourguet (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:38; Western Michigan 35–17)
- Fourth quarter
- (14:15) BALL – Ahmad Edwards 57-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 69 yards, 1:38; Western Michigan 35–24)
- (8:53) WMU – Zahir Abdus-Salaam 2-yard run (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 85 yards, 3:22; Western Michigan 42–24)
|
Statistics |
BALL |
WMU
|
First downs |
19 |
26
|
Total yards |
63–364 |
75–461
|
Rushing yards |
26–48 |
36–133
|
Passing yards |
316 |
328
|
Passing: Comp–Att–Int |
26–37–0 |
24–39–0
|
Time of possession |
29:37 |
30:23
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Ball State |
Passing |
Layne Hatcher |
26/37, 316 yards, 3 TD
|
Rushing |
Marquez Cooper |
15 carries, 82 yards
|
Receiving |
Qian Magwood |
9 receptions, 110 yards, TD
|
Western Michigan |
Passing |
Treyson Bourguet |
24/39, 328 yards, 3 TD
|
Rushing |
Zahir Abdus-Salaam |
8 carries, 53 yards, 2 TD
|
Receiving |
Anthony Sambucci |
5 receptions, 73 yards, 3 TD
|
at Mississippi State
[edit]
Game Six – Western Michigan Broncos (2-3) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (2–3) – Game summary
Quarter |
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
|
- First quarter
- (10:09) MSST – Kyle Ferrie 31-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 34 yards, 2:45; Mississippi State 3-0)
- (6:04) MSST – Jordan Mosley 15-yard pass from Will Rogers (Kyle Ferrie kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 54 yards, 2:30; Mississippi State 10-0)
- Second quarter
- (4:03) MSST – Creed Whittemore 16-yard pass from Will Rogers (Kyle Ferrie kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 53 yards, 3:03; Mississippi State 17-0)
- (0:52) WMU – Austin Hence 10-yard pass from Hayden Wolff (Palmer Dornschke kick) (Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 3:11; Mississippi State 17-7)
- Third quarter
- (12:18) MSST – Mike Wright 3-yard run (Kyle Ferrie kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 61 yards, 2:41; Mississippi State 24-7)
- (8:57) WMU – Blake Bosma 23-yard pass from Hayden Wolff (Palmer Dornschke kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:21; Mississippi State 24-14)
- (6:44) MSST – Seth Davis 5-yard run (Nick Barr-Mira kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 51 yards, 2:12; Mississippi State 31-14)
- (3:23) WMU – Zahir Abdus-Salaam 11-yard run (Palmer Dornschke kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:21; Mississippi State 31-21)
- Fourth quarter
- (12:31) MSST – Freddie Roberson 36-yard pass from Will Rogers (Nick Barr-Mira kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 59 yards, 1:44; Mississippi State 38-21)
- (10:48) WMU – Leroy Thomas 25-yard pass from Hayden Wolff (Palmer Dornschke kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:43; Mississippi State 38-28)
- (4:12) MSST – Nick Barr-Mira 49-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 26 yards, 2:07; Mississippi State 41-28)
|
Statistics |
WMU |
MSST
|
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
|
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
|
Western Michigan Broncos (2–5) vs. Ohio Bobcats (5–2)
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Western Michigan |
0 |
0 |
10 | 7 | 17 |
Ohio |
3 |
3 |
7 | 7 | 20 |
at Peden Stadium • Athens, OH
- Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: sunny
- Game attendance: 16,048
- Referee: William Williams
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Jason Knapp, Russ Tucker
- Pregame line: Ohio -16.5; O/U 52.0 • Ohio notes, boxscore
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- (08:49) OHIO - Gianni Spetic 28 yd FG 13 plays, 57 yards, TOP 04:51 (OHIO 3–0)
- Second Quarter
- (00:02) OHIO - Gianni Spetic 19 yd FG 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:37 (OHIO 6–0)
- Third Quarter
- (07:07) WMU - Palmer Domschk 43 yd FG 6 plays, 52 yards, TOP 02:29 (OHIO 6–3)
- (02:36) OHIO - Sieh Bangura 1 yd run (Gianni Spetic kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:31 (OHIO 13–3)
- (00:18) WMU - Hayden Wolff 3 yd run (Palmer Domschk kick) 5 plays, 41 yards, TOP 02:07 (OHIO 13–10)
- Fourth Quarter
- (04:36) OHIO - Sam Wiglusz 7 yd pass from Kurtis Rourke (Gianni Spetic kick) 8 plays, 78 yards, TOP 05:05 (OHIO 20–10)
- (00:18) WMU - Kenneth Womack 8 yd pass from Hayden Wolff (Palmer Domschke Kick) 8 plays, 68 yards, TOP 02:09 (OHIO 20–17)
|
Statistics |
Western Michigan |
Ohio
|
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
[edit]
at Northern Illinois
[edit]
Game Twelve – Bowling Green Falcons (6-5) at Western Michigan Broncos (4-7) – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bowling Green |
10 |
21 |
3 | 0 | 34 |
Western Michigan |
0 |
3 |
0 | 7 | 10 |
at Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI
- Date: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 40 °F (4 °C) • Wind: NW 9 mph (14 km/h)
- Game attendance: 8,901
- Referee: Greg Sujack
- TV announcers (ESPNU): Connor Onion, Aaron Murray
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (12:04) BGSU – Alan Anaya 35-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 2:56; Bowling Green 3-0)
- (10:55) BGSU – Jaylon Tillman 35-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 1 play, 34 yards, :07; Bowling Green 10-0)
- Second quarter
- (13:54) BGSU – Jordan Oladokun 53-yard interception return (Alan Anaya kick) (Bowling Green 17-0)
- (07:12) BGSU – Odieu Hiliare 3-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Drive: 5 plays, 43 yards, 2:21; Bowling Green 24-0)
- (00:57) BGSU – Ta'ron Keith 7-yard run (Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 4:28; Bowling Green 31-0)
- (00:00) WMU – Palmer Domschke 48-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 45 yards, :57; Bowling Green 31-3)
- Third quarter
- (08:59) BGSU – Alan Anaya 25-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 26 yards, 3:55; Bowling Green 34-3)
- Fourth quarter
- (04:44) WMU – Jalen Buckley 16-yard run (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive:15 plays, 80 yards, 9:24; Bowling Green 34-10)
|
Statistics
|
Bowling Green
|
Western Michigan
|
First downs |
21 |
16
|
Plays–yards |
360 |
258
|
Rushes–yards |
28–132 |
41–135
|
Passing yards |
228 |
123
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
19–28–1 |
17–27–2
|
Time of possession |
29:09 |
30:51
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Bowling Green
|
Passing |
Connor Bazelak |
18/26, 217 yards, 2 TDS
|
Rushing |
Ta'ron Keith |
13 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Harold Fannin Jr. |
8 receptions, 99 yards
|
Western Michigan
|
Passing |
Hayden Wolff |
17/27, 123 yards, 2 INTS
|
Rushing |
Jalen Buckley |
18 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Kenneth Womack |
8 receptions, 44 yards
|
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:
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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