2026 MAC Football Week 6 Game Preview: Kent State Golden Flashes at Western Michigan Broncos

Setting the scene

No MAC venue is rocking like Waldo Stadium this fall. The stadium has averaged over 27,000 spectators through two home games — over 6,000 more than the next closest in the conference.

Western Michigan's homefield advantage didn't go as planned during its last game in Kalamazoo against Boise State. But MAC play presents a new season for the Broncos, and they've won 10 of their last 11 against conference opponents, including their Week 5 victory over Buffalo on a goal line stand.

While Western Michigan has dominated Kent State throughout the College Football Playoff era, the Golden Flashes are no longer a pushover. Kent State has split its last 10 MAC games at 5-5 and came within a field goal of forcing overtime last week against Ohio.

Both teams are fresh off the closest of finishes. We'll see if we're in for another in this Week 6 matchup.

Game notes

• Time and date: Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. ET
• Network: ESPN+
• Location: Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, MI
• Spread: Western Michigan (-13.5)
• Over/under: 43.5
• All-time series: Western Michigan leads, 37-20-1
• Last meeting: Western Michigan 52, Kent State 21 (October 26, 2024)
• Current streak: Western Michigan, 4 (2016-24)

Kent State Golden Flashes outlook

Kent State (2-3, 1-1 MAC) came very close to its first 2-0 start to MAC play since 2021. The Golden Flashes were down three and driving against Ohio. The drive eventually stalled and they attempted a short field goal to force overtime, but it flew right of the uprights.

It was an excruciating loss for Kent State, but competing for 60 minutes with Ohio shows how far the Flashes have progressed under second-year head coach Mark Carney. One week prior, Kent State seamlessly handled Ball State in the MAC opener, and those two results showed this is a capable team in this conference.

Kent State will need an offensive spark from quarterback Dru DeShields. The junior has accounted for three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in the two wins, but zero scores in the three losses. DeShields has greatly improved as a runner this year and his 183 rushing yards are more than five times his output in 2024. However, Kent State can become even more dangerous if he approaches his touchdown-to-interception ratio of 18-to-3 from last year. Currently, he's at 3-to-5.

The Golden Flashes need more explosiveness from the passing game. They've plummeted from 8.1 yards per attempt in 2025 to 6.1 this fall, lacking the downfield presence it had last year. Meanwhile, the passing game has been more methodical. Rather than looking for the big play, DeShields has been successful connecting with Da'Realyst Clark and Wayne Harris on short to intermediate routes.

Still, the No. 1 element this 15.0 points per game scoring offense (134th in FBS) needs is running back support. Kent State is average just 116 yards per game on the ground, and DeShields is the leader with 183 yards. The Golden Flashes managed just 49 rushing yards against Ohio, and they'll look to jumpstart Mason King and Brandon White against a Western Michigan defense that allowed a 100-yard rusher a week ago.

Kent State's defense struggled mightily in 50+ point non-conference losses to South Carolina and Ohio State, but Cherokee Valeria's unit has looked like a different group since the dawn of MAC play. The defense has surrendered just 26 points and two touchdowns in the past two weeks, and both touchdown drives were of 50 yards or fewer.

Inside linebacker Rocco Nicholl has been excellent since returning to Kent State. He leads the defense in tackles (24), tackles for loss (4), and sacks (3) as an effective run stopper and blitzer. Saturday presents a perfect redemption opportunity for Nicholl, who suffered a season-ending injury in his last matchup in Kalamazoo in 2024.

Active hands have been a theme of this defense. Kent State is tied for eighth in the country with six forced fumbles, and all six belong to different defenders. Among them are outside linebacker Hayden Dawahare and free safety Joel Cordoba, who have been instrumental in Kent State's defensive success over the past two weeks.

Western Michigan Broncos outlook

Western Michigan (3-2*, 1-0 MAC) doesn't need aesthetically pleasing wins. It just needs wins. The Broncos are 9-2 (or 10-1 if you count the Michigan game as a win) over their last 11, yet only three of those wins were decided by more than 10 points — 35-19 over Northern Illinois last November, 41-6 over Kennesaw State in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, and 49-14 over FCS Monmouth in September.

Defensive end Scoop Gardner Jr. and cornerback Josh Franklin combined to stop Buffalo one yard away from the end zone on the final play last week, allowing Western Michigan to start its MAC title defense season 1-0. It was an incredible play, but going forward, the Broncos aim to gain more separation from their opponents.

That starts with establishing a stronger run game. Teams have gameplanned extraordinarily well against the Broncos' ground-heavy attack this year. Last season, Western Michigan had an 80-yard rusher in each of its final nine games. This year, only one Bronco has exceeded 62 rushing yards this year — Jalen Buckley with 117 against Rice.

Western Michigan hasn't found a rhythm with Buckley or mobile quarterback Broc Lowry like it did last November and December, and Kent State's run defense has provided enough resistance where Saturday won't be a walk in the park.

Lowry hasn't replicated his 963-yard, 14-touchdown season as a runner, but the reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Year has made the Broncos more lethal in the passing game. In 2025, he didn't attempt 20 passes in each of his final five starts. He has thrown at least 20 in all five games this year, and he's been highly efficient with four touchdowns to one interception and a 68.1 completion percentage.

Aveion Chenault has been the top target, as his 272 receiving yards more than double everyone else on the roster. But last week, tight end Nate Levicki stepped up with four receptions for 76 yards in Lowry's most productive performance of the season.

Western Michigan has been sharp defensively, Boise State game aside. The Broncos yield 19.4 points per game and are particularly effective against the passing game, with defensive backs Josh Franklin, Jarvarius Sims, and Joey Pope among the unit's top players. While the Broncos are stout in coverage, they need to create momentum-swinging plays. Western Michigan hasn't corralled an interception since the first half of the opener at Michigan, and this 103rd-ranked offense could really benefit from advantageous field position.

Even with the lack of takeaways, the Broncos' defense is improving up front. Western Michigan jumped from three sacks on the season to eight after registering five against Buffalo. Six different defenders generated at least a share of a sack in the victory, and the completely retooled front is demonstrating increased cohesiveness over time.

Prediction

The MAC is a defensive-oriented league this year, so most games will be on the lower-scoring side. These two teams have been solid defensively more often than not, and neither offense has managed more than 28 points against FBS competition this season.

It feels like a matter of time before Western Michigan's run game finally rediscovers its 2025 groove. The Broncos have been met with tremendous resistance so far this year, and Kent State may still force some issues. But the Golden Flashes require more than just a few stops to win this, as Western Michigan's defensive front may be too overwhelming for the Golden Flashes. This won't be the easiest matchup for Kent State to spark its own run game, and scoring frequently on the Broncos will be an arduous task.

With advantages in the trenches on both sides, Western Michigan defends homefield and cruises to its second MAC victory of the season.

Prediction: Western Michigan 27, Kent State 10