2023 Western Michigan Broncos football team

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]

2023 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record4–8 (3–5 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBilly Cosh (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorLou Esposito (7th season)
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
2023 Mid-American Conference football standings
ConfOverall
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

Preseason

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)
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
1Toledo7
2Ohio4
3Buffalo1

Schedule
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)
  • 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
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[5][6]

Game summaries

Saint Francis (PA)
See also: 2023 Saint Francis Red Flash football team

at Syracuse
See also: 2023 Syracuse Orange football team
Game Two – Western Michigan Broncos (1–0) at Syracuse Orange (1–0)
Period 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

StatisticsWMUSYR
First downs1526
Total yards318496
Rush yards97153
Passing yards221343
Turnovers10
Time of possession30:5729:03
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western MichiganPassingJack Salopek15/22, 110 yards, INT
RushingJalen Buckley8 carries, 87 yards, TD
ReceivingKenneth Womack4 receptions, 67 yards
SyracusePassingGarrett Shrader19/30, 286 yards, TD
RushingJuwaun Price16 carries, 68 yards
ReceivingDonovan Brown3 receptions, 89 yards, TD

at No. 25 Iowa
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
StatisticsWMUIOWA
First downs819
Total yards239387
Rushing yards117254
Passing yards122133
Turnovers12
Time of possession26:0733:53
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western MichiganPassingTreyson Bourguet5/16, 124 yards, TD
RushingTreyson Bourguet8 carries, 32 yards
ReceivingKenneth Womack2 receptions, 11 yards
IowaPassingCade McNamara9/19, 103 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingLeshon Williams12 carries, 145 yards
ReceivingSteven Stilianos2 receptions, 29 yards

at Toledo
See also: 2023 Toledo Rockets football team

Ball State
See also: 2023 Ball State Cardinals football team

at Mississippi State
See also: 2023 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team
Game Six – Western Michigan Broncos (2-3) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (2–3) – Game summary
Period 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)
StatisticsWMUMSST
First downs2125
Total yards77–41365–440
Rushing yards32–11633–194
Passing yards297246
Passing: Comp–Att–Int33–45–123–32–0
Time of possession28:4631:14
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western MichiganPassingHayden Wolff27/35, 262 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingZahir Abdus-Salaam18 carries, 60 yards, TD
ReceivingKenneth Womack12 receptions, 113 yards
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers16/22, 189 yards, 3 TD
RushingSeth Davis10 carries, 65 yards, TD
ReceivingFreddie Roberson5 receptions, 68 yards, TD

Miami (OH)
See also: 2023 Miami RedHawks football team

at Ohio
See also: 2023 Ohio Bobcats football team
Western Michigan Broncos (2–5) vs. Ohio Bobcats (5–2)
Period 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)
StatisticsWestern MichiganOhio
First downs2128
Total yards369460
Rushes/yards22/7939/185
Passing yards290275
Passing: Comp–Att–Int30–42–124–39–0
Time of possession24:2535:35
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western MichiganPassingHayden Wolff30/42, 290 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingCJ Hester5 rushes, 26 yards
ReceivingKenneth Womack14 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD
OhioPassingKurtis Rourke24/39, 275 yards, 1 TD
RushingSieh Bangura15 rushes, 86 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingSam Wiglusz10 receptions, 155 yards, 1 TD

at Eastern Michigan
See also: 2023 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team

Central Michigan
See also: 2023 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

at Northern Illinois
See also: 2023 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

Bowling Green
See also: 2023 Bowling Green Falcons football team

NFL Draft
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
256Marshawn KneelandDEDallas Cowboys

References
  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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