Tag: Western Michigan

Western Michigan mauls Kennesaw State in Myrtle Beach Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Western Michigan ran for 303 yards, forced four turnovers and blasted Kennesaw State 41-6 in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Friday afternoon in Conway, S.C.

The Broncos (10-4) won their sixth straight game to reach double-digit wins for the second time in program history.

“This team deserves so much recognition,” Broncos coach Lance Taylor said. “What they did this season, a special season, one of the best teams in WMU history. We played to our standard, not to the score. I think you saw them do that on the field. All three phases, multiple guys stepped up and made plays today.”

Jalen Buckley started the game with a 65-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage. He finished with eight carries for 174 yards and a score, all in the first half. Devin Miles added 68 yards and a score on 19 carries.

Western Michigan quarterback Broc Lowry completed 12 of 19 passes for 120 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

The Owls (10-3) were only outgained 423-378 but saw two turnovers returned for touchdowns. Amari Odom completed 18 of 35 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions and two fumbles.

Kennesaw State’s Chase Belcher carried the ball 16 times for a career-high 148 yards, and Javon Rogers had three catches for 111 yards and a score.

Western Michigan jumped all over the Owls from the start, leading 14-0 just 76 seconds in and 27-0 before the end of the first quarter.

Rodney McGraw had a strip sack of Odom on Kennesaw State’s fourth play which Kershawn Fisher returned 47 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0.

The Broncos kept piling on from there, following up a pair of punts by the Owls with drives which ended in touchdown passes.

First, Lowry connected with Mareyohn Hrabowski for a 4-yard TD pass to make it 21-0 with 7:39 left in the first. Then he found Blake Bosma for a 3-yard score which made it 27-0.

Devin Miles capped off the first-half onslaught with a 2-yard TD run with 7:45 left in the half to make it 34-0.

The Broncos picked up right where they left off after halftime, with Joey Pope intercepting Odom on the opening possession and returning it 75 yards for a touchdown and a 41-0 lead.

Kennesaw State broke up the shutout in explosive fashion when Odom found Rogers for an 82-yard touchdown pass with 4:10 left in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Surging foes Western Michigan, Kennesaw State set for Myrtle Beach Bowl

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Kennesaw State and Western Michigan were somewhat surprising winners of their respective conferences this season.

Western Michigan (9-4) had a breakthrough in Lance Taylor’s third season as coach, beating Miami (Ohio) 23-13 for the Mid-American Conference title Dec. 6 after being picked seventh out of 13 teams in the league. It was the Broncos’ first conference championship since PJ Fleck’s final season in 2016.

Kennesaw State (10-3) was an even bigger surprise. The Owls won just two games in their first FBS season in 2024 and fired Brian Bohannon, who had been the program’s only head coach.

Just four of 24 voters in Conference USA’s preseason bowl confidence index thought Kennesaw State would even make a bowl in Jerry Mack’s first season as coach. The Owls proved that wrong when they went 7-1 in conference play and won 19-15 at Jacksonville State in the Conference USA championship game on Dec. 5.

These two overachievers will meet Friday in the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, S.C., in a battle of Group of Five conference champions. Each team is on a winning streak — Western Michigan at five games and Kennesaw State at three.

“Any time you can take two G5 conference champions, I think it makes for great TV, I think it makes for a great storyline, I think it makes for a great bowl matchup,” Taylor said. “I’m glad to see it. I hope we do more of this in the future.”

This will be Kennesaw State’s first bowl game, but the team has a history of postseason appearances despite this being just the program’s 11th season. The Owls made four straight FCS Playoff appearances from 2017-20, including quarterfinal appearances in 2017 and 2018.

The Broncos, meanwhile, are in a bowl for the second straight season and the fifth time in nine years since Fleck left to take the Minnesota job. They’ve never played in the Myrtle Beach Bowl and have lost four of their last five bowl games entering this matchup.

Kennesaw State’s offense is anchored by its passing game.

Sophomore quarterback Amari Odom, a Wofford transfer, has thrown for 2,385 yards and 18 touchdowns, with six interceptions. He also has 376 rushing yards and seven scores. In his last three games, he’s thrown for 847 yards with 10 touchdowns and no picks.

“Protecting the football,” Mack said of what led to Odom finishing the regular season strong. ” … His ability to protect the football is what transforms him, it transforms our team into the best version of ourselves.”

Odom’s favorite target, Gabriel Benyard, has had a breakout senior season in which he led CUSA with 898 receiving yards and was tied for the conference lead with nine touchdown catches.

Western Michigan’s offense, conversely, has been led by its ground attack. The Broncos ranked 11th in the MAC in passing offense (139.9 yards per game) but second in rushing offense (196.6).

Quarterback Broc Lowry, who had just 1,683 passing yards and seven passing TDs, is tied for the MAC lead with 14 rushing touchdowns and ranks fifth in rushing yards (940). He’s supplemented by Jalen Buckley, who had 829 yards and eight rushing TDs this season.

However, the Broncos’ defense is the real reason they won the MAC, ranking second in the conference in average yards (299.9) and points allowed (18.2) per game.

–Field Level Media

Western Michigan extends coach Lance Taylor through 2030

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Fresh off winning the 2025 MAC Championship in his third season at the helm, Western Michigan head coach Lance Taylor agreed to a five-year contract extension Monday that will keep him with the Broncos through the 2030 season.

The Detroit News first reported that Taylor’s new contract will pay him $1.2 million annually. He signed a five-year deal in December 2022 at $850,000 per season.

Taylor, 44, led Western Michigan to a 9-4 season after compiling a 10-15 record through his first two seasons at the school. The Broncos will play in a bowl game for the second straight season, facing Kennesaw State in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 19.

“Lance Taylor has brought a culture of excellence to the Bill Brown Alumni Football Center that is reflected in the program’s marked improvement in all areas since the start of his tenure,” vice president/director of athletics Dan Bartholomae said in a press release. “While the competitive accolades speak for themselves, Coach Taylor leads with heart and has shown a commitment to the development of our athletes as people, in the classroom and in the community.”

Named the 2025 MAC Coach of the Year, Taylor guided the Broncos to seven regular-season conference wins, one shy of the team’s 8-0 conference record in 2016. Western Michigan also produced the conference’s Offensive (QB Broc Lowry) and Defensive (DE Nadame Tucker) Players of the Year.

“I’m honored and excited to continue leading the Broncos,” Taylor said in a press release. “Western Michigan University is a truly special place, and the culture we’re building here is rooted in effort, attitude, and toughness. I’m incredibly proud of our staff, our players, and everyone in this program who shows up every day committed to those standards.”

Taylor began his coaching career at his alma mater, Alabama in 2007. He ascended to the pro ranks as an assistant with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers before returning to the college sidelines at Stanford (2014-16). After a stint at Notre Dame, he was named offensive coordinator at Louisville in 2022 and took the WMU position after one season with the Cardinals.

–Field Level Media

Western Michigan, Jalen Buckley defeat Miami (Ohio) to secure MAC title

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Jalen Buckley rushed for 193 yards on 19 carries, including two long-scoring runs, and Western Michigan claimed its first Mid-American Conference championship since 2016 with a 23-13 victory over Miami (Ohio) in Detroit on Saturday afternoon.

Broc Lowry completed eight of 13 passes for 111 yards and rushed for 65 yards on 23 carries for the Broncos (9-4), who also won the regular season title outright. Western Michigan’s defense recorded four sacks.

Jordan Brunson rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown for the RedHawks (7-6), who were making their third consecutive appearance in the title game.

The Broncos led 16-6 at halftime.

Buckley’s 67-yard touchdown run opened the scoring. Miami scored on a 1-yard run by Brunson. Palmer Domschke accounted for the rest of the scoring in the half with three field goals, including a season-best 50-yarder.

Buckley broke loose on a 64-yard touchdown run during the first two minutes of the second half.

Henry Hesson’s 6-yard scoring pass to Cole Weaver with 6:43 left cut the Broncos’ lead to 10 but couldn’t get any closer.

–Field Level Media

MAC Championship Preview: W. Michigan takes another shot at Miami

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Mid-American Conference Championship
Miami, Ohio (7-5) vs. Western Michigan (8-4)
Saturday, Noon ET (Ford Field, Detroit)

Western Michigan won the regular season conference title outright with a 7-1 record, ending a long absence in the championship game. The Broncos’ last appearance came during the 2016 season, when they defeated Ohio, 29-23.

Western Michigan has won eight of its last nine games after starting the season 0-3 against non-conference opponents.

Stout defense has been the key to the Broncos’ success. They only allowed 14.5 points per contest in MAC games, second best to Toledo (9.1). Offensively, they rely on a rushing attack that averaged 212 yards in conference play.

The RedHawks will be making their third straight appearance in the championship game. They defeated Toledo, 23-14, in 2023 and lost to Ohio, 38-3, last season. No team has gone to three title games in a row since Northern Illinois from 2010-15.

“There’s 18 teams that play this week. Fight for 11 months to be part of one of the nine games on Saturday,” RedHawks coach Chuck Martin said. “We lost 28 seniors, our top 15 offensive players and our whole entire offense, a ton of attrition during the year.”

Attrition is one word for what Miami has survived.

Quarterback Dequan Finn abruptly left the program with two games remaining to focus on the NFL draft. That pushed redshirt freshman Thomas Gotkowski to take over a backfield already hit hard by injuries.

“If you’d told me in August you’ll be playing Thomas Gotkowski, you’ll be down to your third, fourth, fifth tailback, (redshirt sophomore) Brock Uihlein is going to play the most snaps at linebacker in the two most pivotal games of the season,” Martin said, “I’d have said, ‘That’d be interesting. Not what we’re hoping for.’”

Miami (Ohio) handed Western Michigan its only conference loss on Oct. 25, scoring 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to notch a 26-17 victory.

The RedHawks tied for second place with Ohio and Toledo and lost to both teams but still snuck into the title game on a tiebreaker. Since Toledo and Ohio didn’t play each other, records against common opponents was used as the tiebreaker.

Ohio beat Miami in the championship game 38-3 last December.

Miami has a strong rushing defense (101.1 ypg in conference games) and held the Broncos to 3.7 yards per carry in their regular season meeting.

–Players to Know:
Miami (Ohio)
LB Jackson Kuwatch — Not only has Kuwatch made the second-most tackles on the team (87), he’s also second on the RedHawks in sacks (five).

RB Jordan Brunson — He’s led the RedHawks in rushing in each of the last seven games, including a 123-yard output against Buffalo on Nov. 19. 

Western Michigan
QB Broc Lowry — He’s a bigger threat as a runner than a passer. Lowry rushed for 875 yards and 14 touchdowns. He threw just seven touchdown passes but was only picked off twice.

DE Nadame Tucker — After playing sparingly for Houston in three seasons, Tucker took the MAC by storm, recording 12 sacks.

–MAC Championship Game history
Miami is 4-3 all-time in the MAC title game. Northern Illinois (nine times) is the only team to appear in more conference championship games than the RedHawks, who tie Toledo with their ninth appearance this week.

Western Michigan makes its fourth appearance in the MAC Championship. The Broncos last won the game in 2016.

–Field Level Media

Cowboys DE Marshawn Kneeland dead at 24

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Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died Thursday morning, the team announced.

He was 24. The Cowboys issued a statement but did not reveal the cause of death of the second-year player.

“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the statement said. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”

The Cowboys selected him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Western Michigan alum had 18 appearances (four starts) in his career, recording 26 tackles, four quarterback hits, one sack and one fumble recovery.

On Monday, in the Cowboys’ 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, he recovered a blocked punt in the second quarter to score his first career touchdown.

Agent Jonathan Perzley, of Sportstars Inc. issued a statement about his client.

“I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys. Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, practice, and every moment on the field,” the statement read. “To lose someone with his talent, spirit and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words. My heart aches for his family, his teammates and everyone who loved him. And I hope they feel the support of the entire football community during this unimaginable time. I ask that you please give his loved ones the privacy and compassion they need as they grieve this tremendous loss.

Kneeland experienced heartbreak a few years ago when his mother, Wendy Kneeland, died before the draft.

“It was definitely tough,” Kneeland said after the draft. “I just managed it. She helped me a lot in my younger years getting into football. I always had the dream. I always told her, ‘I’m going to the NFL’ and I made it.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Hank Beatty (80) is tackled by Western Michigan Broncos cornerback Aaron Wofford (5) in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Luke Altmyer, No. 9 Illinois rout Western Michigan 38-0

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Luke Altmyer threw for two touchdowns and rushed for a score Saturday night while Kaden Feagin added 100 rushing yards and a score as No. 9 Illinois pulled away from visiting Western Michigan 38-0 in Champaign.

Altmyer completed 17 of 26 passes for 196 yards for the the Fighting Illini (3-0), which outscored their nonconference opponents 135-22. They jump into the meat of Big Ten play next week with a trip to No. 22 Indiana and then a home game in two weeks against USC.

Illinois led just 10-0 at halftime but turned it on in the second half, rolling up 236 total yards and holding the Broncos (0-3) to 71 yards. Western Michigan’s leading rusher, Jalen Buckley, managed only 13 yards on six carries.

The Broncos played two quarterbacks but neither could get them into the end zone. Broc Lowry completed 10 of 16 passes for 78 yards, while Brady Jones was 3 of 8 for 13 yards. The Illini notched three sacks and recorded nine tackles for loss.

David Alano initiated the scoring for Illinois at the 8:47 mark of the first quarter, converting a 28-yard field goal to cap the game’s opening drive. Altmyer got the Illini into the end zone for the first time with 13:31 left in the half, finding Hank Beatty for a 6-yard touchdown pass.

Illinois blew it open in the second half by scoring on its first three possessions, cashing in two short fields and mixing in an 80-yard drive as well. Feagin powered in from the 3 with 10:59 remaining in the third quarter to finish a 53-yard drive.

Altmyer capped the next drive with a 2-yard touchdown run at the 2:48 mark of the period for a 24-0 advantage, then fired a 6-yard scoring strike to Ashton Hollins just 54 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Ca’Lil Valentine finished the scoring for the Illini on a 2-yard run with 5:15 left. He finished with 63 yards on 12 attempts.

–Field Level Media

Aug 29, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) runs the ball against the Western Illinois Leathernecks during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

No. 9 Illinois expects ‘best shot’ from winless Western Michigan

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These are heady times for Illinois football.

Back in the top 10 for the first time in 24 years, the ninth-ranked Fighting Illini conclude non-conference play Saturday night when Western Michigan makes the trip south to Champaign.

Illinois (2-0) has looked the part of a top 10 team so far, routing FCS opponent Western Illinois in its opener and then traveling to Durham, N.C., for a 45-19 victory last weekend at Duke. The game was close in the first half before the Illini blew it open in the second.

Illinois seems bent on following a 10-win 2024 with a more memorable 2025. It has displayed big-play ability on both sides of the ball, getting 296 passing yards from quarterback Luke Altmyer at Duke and also forcing five turnovers, four of which were fumbles.

Although the Illini are heavy favorites to go into next week’s Big Ten opener at No. 22 Indiana with an undefeated mark, coach Bret Bielema isn’t going to overlook a Mid-American Conference foe.

“Western Michigan is a very good team,” he said. “We know we’re going to get their best shot. Every week is an opportunity to improve.”

Altmyer has been efficient so far, completing 39 of his 52 passes for 513 yards and six touchdowns without an interception. Six-foot-3, 255-pound running back Kaden Feagin, a converted high school quarterback, leads a balanced rushing attack with 122 yards and two scores.

How long has it been since Illinois has been ranked this highly? It was in 2001 when the Illini finished the regular season with seven straight wins and went to the Sugar Bowl.

“Obviously very excited and there are a lot of great things for people to talk about,” Bielema said. “But I really do think these guys are all about the game in front of them.”

While the Illini are riding high, Western Michigan (0-2) still is seeking its first win after a 33-30 overtime loss last week to North Texas. The Broncos led 24-10 in the third quarter and 27-17 early in the fourth quarter but couldn’t finish the game out.

“We’ve got to put 60 minutes together,” Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor said. “Not 30 minutes, 35 minutes or 50 minutes. I know our players are preparing the right way, doing things the right way. The outcomes will take care of themselves.”

The bright spot was an offense which struggled in a season-opening 23-6 defeat at Michigan State. Former 1,000-yard rusher Jalen Buckley collected 112 yards on 30 carries and quarterback Broc Lowry ran for two touchdowns.

To have a chance at the upset, the Broncos will need to get a little production from the passing game. Lowry and Brady Jones have combined to complete 23 of 47 passes for 275 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Taylor said a decision on a starting quarterback will remain a week-to-week assessment.

Western Michigan could also use some of the pass rush it’s gotten in the first two games that’s led to seven sacks.

“We’re so much better than we were last year because of our techniques and fundamentals,” Taylor said.

Illinois holds a 4-2 record in the all-time series, although Western Michigan scored a 34-10 road victory when they last met in 2016.

–Field Level Media

Michigan State running back Makhi Frazier (5) runs for a touchdown against Western Michigan safety Jaden Lyles (16) during the first half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Friday, August 29, 2025.

Michigan State dominates on all fronts, takes out Western Michigan to start year

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Makhi Frazier rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown in his first career start and Aidan Chiles threw for 155 yards and a touchdown Friday night to help host Michigan State to a 23-6 victory over Western Michigan in the season-opener for both schools.

Chiles was shaken up with 5:40 to play in the game when he was sacked and fumbled the ball. He was replaced by Alessio Milivojevic on the next Michigan State drive.

The Spartans (1-0) have won 25 consecutive home openers against nonconference opponents, dating back to 1999.

Western Michigan (0-1) has lost 14 straight games to Michigan State dating back to 1921. Brady Jones, a transfer from Riverside Community College, started for the Broncos and completed 11 of 23 passes for 97 yards and one interception. Broc Lowry also completed 5 of 10 passes for 91 yards.

Michigan State scored its first two drives. After forcing Western Michigan to give up the ball on downs off the opening drive, the Spartans went ahead 7-0 when Brandon Tullis broke free on a 12-yard touchdown run with 5:30 left in the first quarter.

Chiles capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive in the second quarter when he tossed a touchdown pass to Nick Marsh, giving the Spartans a 14-0 lead. He later set up Michigan State’s next score when he ran 26 yards to the Broncos 9. One play later, Frazier pushed the margin to 21-0 with his 9-yard scoring run up the middle with 1:50 remaining in the half.

Michigan State’s defense, which forced Western Michigan to turn the ball over on downs three times, registered a safety with 8:01 left in the third quarter when Alex VanSumeren and Jalen Thompson stopped Broncos tailback Jalen Buckley in the end zone.

Western Michigan, which was held to 29 yards rushing, had an opportunity to score late in the third quarter but Hunter Smith missed a 46-yard field goal.

The Broncos only score came with 2:51 left when Milivojevic was intercepted by former Michigan State linebacker Tate Hallock and returned 32 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion failed.

–Field Level Media

Michigan State football head coach Jonathan Smith looks on during practice on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in East Lansing.

Michigan State motivated to shift trajectory, readies for Western Michigan

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When Michigan State kicks off its season Friday night in East Lansing against visiting Western Michigan, it won’t just be the start of another fall campaign. It’ll be a litmus test for Jonathan Smith, who kicks off his second year as head coach of the Spartans.

After his team lost four of its last five games and finished 5-7 in 2024, Smith is embracing the challenge of goals that include bowl eligibility and beyond for a program hungry for relevance.

“Our guys are focused in their prep of Western Michigan,” Smith said. “This is our first opportunity. We’re only guaranteed 12 of those (games). Obviously, we want to be playing more than 12, but we’re only guaranteed 12.”

A great deal of the Spartans’ success will depend on the improvement of quarterback Aidan Chiles. He followed Smith from Oregon State and became the Michigan State starter in 2024. He completed 59.4 percent of his throws for 2,415 yards and 13 touchdowns — with 11 interceptions — and rushed for 225 yards and three scores, with four lost fumbles.

Chiles showed flashes of promise last season but struggled with ball security — something Smith hopes will improve with another offseason in the system.

“I want (Chiles) to operate and trust what he sees, and take what they give you, get us in the right play and compete,” Smith said of his expectations in the opener.

Chiles will face a Broncos team that brought in 33 transfers and 14 freshmen during the offseason after finishing 6-7 last season.

“It’ll be a great challenge and opportunity for us on Friday night, one that we’re looking forward to embracing,” said Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor. “Our focus has really just been on worrying about the process of getting better every single day, and not trying to get too high or too low, riding that emotional roller coaster.”

With Hayden Wolff gone, the Broncos will rotate two quarterbacks: redshirt sophomore Broc Lowry and JUCO standout Brady Jones. Lowry, last year’s backup, brings familiarity with the system. Jones arrives from Riverside Community College, where he lit up defenses with 4,456 yards passing, including 44 touchdowns.

“They’ve both done an excellent job really commanding the offense, being great teammates, being great leaders, and when they’ve had opportunities, they’ve been efficient, they haven’t put the ball in jeopardy, and really done a nice job leading our offense,” Taylor said.

Western Michigan has lost 13 straight games to the Spartans.

–Field Level Media