2023 Western Michigan Broncos football team explained

Year:2023
Team:Western Michigan Broncos
Sport:football
Conference:Mid-American Conference
Division:West Division
Short Conf:MAC
Record:4–8
Conf Record:3–5
Head Coach:Lance Taylor
Hc Year:1st
Off Coach:Billy Cosh
Oc Year:1st
Def Coach:Lou Esposito
Dc Year:7th
Stadium:Waldo Stadium

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]

Preseason

Preseason polls

Coaches Poll

On July 20, the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Western Michigan was picked to finish last in the West.[4]

East
1Ohio63 (9)
2Miami52 (2)
3Buffalo51 (1)
4Bowling Green35
5Akron26
6Kent State19
West
1Toledo66 (11)
2Eastern Michigan55 (1)
3Northern Illinois38
4Central Michigan37
5Ball State27
6Western Michigan23
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
1 Toledo 7
2 Ohio 4
3 Buffalo 1

Schedule

[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.

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 19/30, 286 yards, TD
Rushing Juwaun Price 16 carries, 68 yards
Receiving Donovan Brown 3 receptions, 89 yards, TD

at No. 25 Iowa

See also: 2023 Iowa Hawkeyes football team.

Statistics WMUIOWA
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 5/16, 124 yards, TD
Rushing Treyson Bourguet 8 carries, 32 yards
Receiving Kenneth Womack 2 receptions, 11 yards
Iowa Passing 9/19, 103 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Leshon Williams 12 carries, 145 yards
Receiving Steven Stilianos 2 receptions, 29 yards

at Toledo

See also: 2023 Toledo Rockets football team.

Ball State

See also: 2023 Ball State Cardinals football team.

Statistics BALLWMU
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 26/37, 316 yards, 3 TD
Rushing 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

See also: 2023 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team.

Statistics WMUMSST
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 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 16/22, 189 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Seth Davis 10 carries, 65 yards, TD
Receiving Freddie Roberson 5 receptions, 68 yards, TD

Miami (OH)

See also: 2023 Miami RedHawks football team.

at Ohio

See also: 2023 Ohio Bobcats football team.

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 24/39, 275 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Sieh Bangura 15 rushes, 86 yards, 1 TD
Receiving 10 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:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Football Ticket, Game Day & Waldo Stadium Information. Western Michigan Athletics.
  2. Web site: Western Michigan hires Louisville OC Lance Taylor as coach. ESPN.
  3. Web site: MAC College Football Standings - 2023. December 8, 2023. espn.com. ESPN.
  4. Web site: MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked to win conference championship; BGSU tabbed to finish fourth in MAC East. July 20, 2023. August 11, 2023. wtol.com. WTOL 11.
  5. Web site: 2023 Western Michigan Football Schedule.
  6. Web site: Western Michigan Broncos Schedule 2023/season/2023. ESPN.