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2023 Western Michigan Broncos football team

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2023 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record4–8 (3–5 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBilly Cosh (1st season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorLou Esposito (7th season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
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
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

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] The Western Michigan Broncos football team drew an average home attendance of 17,619 in 2023.

Preseason

[edit]

Preseason polls

[edit]

Coaches Poll

[edit]

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

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
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
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
 ESPN+ W 42–2421,880
October 7 12:00 p.m. at Mississippi State*
SECN L 28–41 47,158
October 14 3:30 p.m. Miami (OH)dagger
  • 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
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 0–246,417
November 21 7:00 p.m. Bowling Green
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
 ESPNU L 10–34 8,901
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[5][6]

Game summaries

[edit]

Saint Francis (PA)

[edit]
See also: 2023 Saint Francis Red Flash football team

at Syracuse

[edit]
See also: 2023 Syracuse Orange football team
Game Two – Western Michigan Broncos (1–0) at Syracuse Orange (1–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 7 0 007
Orange 17 28 3048

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

at No. 25 Iowa

[edit]
See also: 2023 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
Western Michigan at No. 25 Iowa
1 234Total
Broncos 7 300 10
• No. 25 Hawkeyes 0 141710 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
15:40WMUAnthony Sambucci 64-yard pass from Treyson Bourguet (Palmer Domschke kick)WMU 7–0
28:26IowaDiante Vines 3-yard pass from Cade McNamara (Drew Stevens kick)Tied 7–7
4:45WMUPalmer Domschke 27-yard field goalWMU 10–7
1:29IowaLeshon Williams 25-yard pass from Cade McNamara (Drew Stevens kick)Iowa 14–10
37:30IowaSafety, blocked punt through the end zoneIowa 16–10
4:02IowaKamari Moulton 3-yard run (Erick All pass from Cade McNamara)Iowa 24–10
2:10IowaKamari Moulton 1-yard run (Drew Stevens kick)Iowa 31–10
45:20IowaDrew Stevens 31-yard field goalIowa 34–10
0:30IowaMax 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

at Toledo

[edit]
See also: 2023 Toledo Rockets football team

Ball State

[edit]
See also: 2023 Ball State Cardinals football team
Game Five – Ball State Cardinals (1–3) at Western Michigan Broncos (1–3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Ball State 3 7 7724
Western Michigan 7 21 7742

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]
See also: 2023 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team
Game Six – Western Michigan Broncos (2-3) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (2–3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Western Michigan 0 7 14728
Mississippi State 10 7 141041

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

Miami (OH)

[edit]
See also: 2023 Miami RedHawks football team

at Ohio

[edit]
See also: 2023 Ohio Bobcats football team
Western Michigan Broncos (2–5) vs. Ohio Bobcats (5–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Western Michigan 0 0 10717
Ohio 3 3 7720

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]
See also: 2023 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team

Central Michigan

[edit]
See also: 2023 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

at Northern Illinois

[edit]
See also: 2023 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

Bowling Green

[edit]
See also: 2023 Bowling Green Falcons football team
Game Twelve – Bowling Green Falcons (6-5) at Western Michigan Broncos (4-7) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bowling Green 10 21 3034
Western Michigan 0 3 0710

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

NFL Draft

[edit]
See also: 2024 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

[edit]
  1. ^ "Football Ticket, Game Day & Waldo Stadium Information". Western Michigan Athletics.
  2. ^ "Western Michigan hires Louisville OC Lance Taylor as coach". ESPN.
  3. ^ "MAC College Football Standings - 2023". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "2023 Western Michigan Football Schedule".
  6. ^ "Western Michigan Broncos Schedule 2023/season/2023". ESPN.
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