American college football season
The 2018 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University (WMU) in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season . They were led by second-year head coach Tim Lester and played their home games at Waldo Stadium as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference . They finished the season 7–6, 5–3 in MAC play to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the West Division. They were invited to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where they lost to BYU .
Previous season [ ]
The Broncos finished the 2017 season 6–6, 4–4 to finish in fourth place in the West Division. Despite being bowl eligible, the Broncos did not receive an invite to a bowl game.[1] [2]
Preseason [ ]
Award watch lists [ ]
Listed in the order that they were released
Preseason media poll [ ]
The MAC released their preseason media poll on July 24, 2018, with the Broncos predicted to finish in third place in the West Division.[8]
West Division
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Northern Illinois
133 (15)
2
Toledo
125 (7)
3
Western Michigan
87 (1)
4
Eastern Michigan
67
5
Central Michigan
58 (1)
6
Ball State
34
Schedule [ ]
The following table lists WMU's schedule.[9]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance 6:00 p.m. Syracuse * CBSSN L 42–5520,628
September 8 Noon at No. 21 Michigan * FS1 L 3–49110,814
September 15 7:00 p.m. Delaware State * Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI ESPN+ W 68–023,244
September 22 2:00 p.m. at Georgia State * Georgia State Stadium Atlanta, GA ESPN+ W 34–1515,264
September 29 3:30 p.m. at Miami (OH) ESPN+ W 40–3915,012
October 6 Noon Eastern Michigan ESPN+ W 27–2424,282
October 13 3:00 p.m. at Bowling Green ESPN+ W 42–3518,551
October 20 3:00 p.m. at Central Michigan ESPN+ W 35–1010,097
7:00 p.m. Toledo Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI ESPN2 L 24–5111,389
7:00 p.m. Ohio Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI ESPNU L 14–5911,935
6:00 p.m. at Ball State ESPN2 L 41–42 OT 5,503
7:00 p.m. Northern Illinois Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI ESPNU W 28–2118,278
4:00 p.m. vs. BYU * ESPN L 18–4918,711
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
Game summaries [ ]
Syracuse [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Orange
24
10
14
7
55
Broncos
7
0
28
7
42
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
First meeting
at Michigan [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Broncos
0
0
0
3
3
No. 21 Wolverines
21
14
7
7
49
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
0–6
2011
MICH, 34–10
[10]
Delaware State [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Hornets
0
0
0
0
0
Broncos
14
14
16
24
68
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
First meeting
at Georgia State [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Broncos
3
17
14
0
34
Panthers
0
9
6
0
15
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
First meeting
at Miami (OH) [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Broncos
14
0
13
13
40
RedHawks
17
10
6
6
39
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
21–37–1
2015
WMU, 35–13
Eastern Michigan [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Eagles
0
10
7
7
24
Broncos
7
7
0
13
27
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
33–18–2
2017
WMU, 20–17
at Bowling Green [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Broncos
0
7
21
14
42
Falcons
7
14
7
7
35
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
18–32–3
2015
BGSU, 41–27
at Central Michigan [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Broncos
7
14
0
14
35
Chippewas
0
0
10
0
10
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
48–38–2
2017
CMU, 35–28
Toledo [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Rockets
14
9
21
7
51
Broncos
7
10
7
0
24
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
30–42
2017
TOL, 37–10
Ohio [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Bobcats
21
24
7
7
59
Broncos
0
0
7
7
14
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
33–28–1
2016
WMU, 29–23
at Ball State [ ]
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
Broncos
7
10
3
15 6
41
Cardinals
7
14
7
7 7
42
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
25–19
2017
WMU, 55–3
Northern Illinois [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Huskies
7
0
14
0
21
Broncos
7
6
8
7
28
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
24–18
2017
NIU, 35–31
vs. BYU (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
7
0
28
14
49
Broncos
0
10
0
8
18
Series Record
Previous meeting
Result
2–3
1970
WMU, 35–17
References [ ]
^ "Central Michigan heads to Idaho Potato Bowl; Western Michigan left out" . Detroit Free Press . Retrieved 2017-12-19 .
^ "The 3 bowl-eligible teams that missed bowls" . SBNation.com . Retrieved 2017-12-19 .
^ "Rimington Trophy Press Release" . May 30, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018 .
^ "2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates" . July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018 .
^ "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF) . July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018 .
^ "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED" . July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018 .
^ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List" . July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018 .
^ "NIU & Ohio Picked As Divisional Winners In 2018 MAC Football Media Preseason Poll" . getsomemaction.com .
^ "2021 Football Schedule" . Western Michigan University Athletics .
^ "Western Michigan vs. Michigan - Game Summary - September 8, 2018" . ESPN . Retrieved 8 September 2018 .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons