Western Michigan Broncos 2026 College Football Preview
Posted June 11, 2026
2025 Recap
Record – 10-4
ATS – 11-3
“Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.”
<Dory> <Finding Nemo, 2003>
That was an exciting MAC Championship run!
The Broncos stumbled out of the gate at 0–3, then found themselves in a precarious 4–4 spot after a road loss to Miami Ohio. But they flipped the switch, reeled off six straight wins, and got their revenge on the RedHawks in the MAC Championship Game. Western Michigan kept the train rolling with a SPANKING of Kennesaw St in the Myrtle Beach Bowl to finish 10–4.
The defending MAC champions are riding high into 2026!
Western Michigan Broncos 2026 Outlook
OFFENSE
2025 By The Numbers:
- Scoring: 24.9 PPG (#88 FBS, #3 MAC)
- Total Offense: 342.7 YPG (#6 MAC)
- Rushing: 204.2 YPG (#16 FBS, #2 MAC)
- Passing: 138.5 YPG (#12 MAC)
- Sacks Allowed: 22 (#4 MAC)
The Broncos return the most dangerous backfield in the MAC, and it starts with QB Broc Lowry — the 2025 MAC Offensive Player of the Year. The dood threw for 1,800+ yards, rushed for nearly 1,000, and accounted for 23 total touchdowns while leading the team in carries. That’s a problem for opposing defenses.
Star RB Jalen Buckley (5‑11, 210) is also back. The rolling ball of BUTCHERS KNIVES churned out 1,003 yards and 9 TDs LY and has legit NFL upside. Cole Cabana brings some juice as a complementary piece, and they added a bigger body in AJ Green Jr., who transferred in from WOO PIG. The offensive line has impressive size and is loaded with experience. It’s quite clear this rushing attack has the potential to be absolutely DEVASTATING in MACtion. Get cho popcone.
The THROW GAME was a bit on the disgusting side last year. Nobody on the squad topped 500 receiving yards and WMU finished second‑last in the MAC in passing. The Broncos lost their top target in WR Talique Williams and the entire tight‑end group, including productive veteran Blake Bosma. WR Baylin Brooks is the top returning receiver, but our MAC PLAYMAKER INSIDERS are projecting a breakout from Aveion Chenault after he flashed as a freshman. We project better numbers from the WR group in 2026.
DEFENSE
2025 By The Numbers:
- Scoring Defense: 17.4 PPG (#2 MAC)
- Total Defense: 305.5 YPG (#2 MAC)
- Rush Defense: 125.6 YPG (#2 MAC)
- Pass Defense: 179.9 YPG (#3 MAC)
- Sacks: 43 (#4 FBS, #1 MAC)
Hold on to your helmets because the Broncos have some serious retooling to do on this side of the football after putting up outstanding numbers last year. The starting lineup at DL and LB will be completely new, and there’s a CHASM to fill with the departure of edge rusher Nadame Tucker — the 2025 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and league MVP — who racked up a ridiculous 14.5 sacks.
New DC Greer Martini steps into a tough spot after Chris O’Leary bolted for the LA Chargers, and he’s gonna have to work some magic. The good news is WMU went out and grabbed a pair of intriguing pass-rush transfers in DE KJ Burley (15.0 TFL at Keiser) and DL SCOOP Gardner Jr. who did a great job harrassing the QB when he wasn’t dodging communists at Long Island University last season (14.5 TFL). The Broncos also added some DL specimens from Power 4 programs who could make an impact.
The LB room looks like the clear weak link on defense, and they’ll need some transfer portal bodies to step up in a hurry. Domanick Moon (Purdue) and Brenden Anes (Tennessee) look promising and should appreciate the drop in class to the MAC. The secondary is clearly the strength of this defense, with a versatile and experienced group. Safety Kouri Crump (VMI transfer, made a tackle whilst you were reading this sentence) is a fine addition, and keep an eye on young CB John Peters as well.
SPECIAL TEAMS
There’s continuity in the kicking game with the return of PK Palmer Domschke (13/19 FG) and reliable punter Ryan Millmore, and note that the Broncos added a potential ROCKSTAR in the return game with the signing of WR/return specialist Kordell Gouldsby.
Schedule Analysis
Overall — The Broncos start out with a nasty one — an opener at the BIG HOUSE — and their non‑conference slate also includes a home date with Boise St. Not only will that be a battle of the Broncos, but it’s almost certainly a must‑win if Western Michigan has designs on making a run at a Group of Six CFP berth.
The MAC schedule is tough, as the only good team they miss is Ohio, and they’ve gotta face Toledo and Buffalo on the road. Note that five of their first seven games are ON THE HIGHWAY, but they’ve only got one road game after October 24.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot — at Toledo (Oct 24)
This is the second of back‑to‑back road affairs and the Broncos’ third road game in four weeks. It’s a YUUUGE game in the MAC standings, and note that Toledo will be looking for revenge after blowing a 13–0 lead in Kalamazoo last year.
Season Win Total
Market consensus – June 11
Over 7.5 +105
Under 7.5 -135
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
Even with losses to Michigan (LOCK) and Boise St (probably), they just need to go 6–2 in MACtion to hit the over. That seems reasonable. Of course, this hinges greatly on taking care of Rice on September 19.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Western Michigan’s original nickname wasn’t the Broncos. When the school was founded, the teams were known as the Hilltoppers because the campus sits on Prospect Hill. The name changed to Broncos in the late 1930s after a student contest/vote.
In 1942, the Glenn Miller Orchestra took the nation by storm with “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo,” a monster hit that reached #1 on the charts and even earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Miller blasted Kalamazoo into American pop culture with such force that it landed like a full‑blown swing‑era HOWITZER, turning the town into a national household name overnight.
HC Lance Taylor is a very impressive 24-15 ATS (62%) with the Broncos including 8-2 vs the number as a home favorite.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
The Broncos are the defending MAC champs, and they’ve built a sustainable culture and identity under Lance Taylor, who enters year four in Kalamazoo. The offense is going to be a major problem for MAC opponents, especially if they can uncover a gem or two at wide receiver. The question marks relate to a reloading stop unit with a new DC and a tricky schedule.
Nonetheless, we still think this is the team to beat in the MAC and expect to see them back in the conference title game once again this year.
Fight on, fight on for Western!