2026 MAC Football Week 9 Game Preview: Bowling Green Falcons at Western Michigan Broncos

Setting the scene

It's time to transition to Midweek MACtion. During this transition week, all but four MAC teams are on a bye in Week 9, and the conference only has one Saturday matchup on the docket.

This isn't Super Bowl XXXIII, but we're in for a duel between the Broncos and Falcons this Saturday. Western Michigan and Bowling Green both suffered seven-point losses on the road last week, and this game provides a rebound opportunity for both teams in Kalamazoo.

Although Western Michigan enters as a two-touchdown favorite, Bowling Green has won all three meetings in the 2020s decade.

Game notes

• Time and date: Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
• Network: CBS Sports Network
• Location: Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, MI
• Spread: Western Michigan (-13.5)
• Over/under: 44.5
• All-time series: Bowling Green leads, 35-20-3
• Last meeting: Bowling Green 31, Western Michigan 13 (November 12, 2024)
• Current streak: Bowling Green, 3 (2022-24)

Bowling Green Falcons outlook

Bowling Green (2-6, 2-2 MAC) has significantly improved from the team it was in September. However, the Falcons are coming off back-to-back crushing defeats, falling to Ball State in overtime and dropping a road game at Buffalo by seven points.

The Falcons' offense has become significantly more competent in MAC play. After averaging an FBS-worst 8.3 points per game in non-conference play, Bowling Green is averaging 29.3 points against MAC competition. The main improvement has been seen through the air, where quarterback Jay Kastantin has recorded 200+ passing yards and 2+ touchdowns in three of his last four starts.

Kastantin has also shown the ability to extend plays with his legs lately, but turnovers remain one of the main drawbacks of the Bowling Green offense. The Falcons have thrown four interceptions in the past three weeks, and they haven't won the turnover battle once in MAC play.

Bowling Green is still working to spark the run game, ranked 126th nationally with 108 yards per game. Only seven teams collect fewer yards per carry than the Falcons' 3.24. No ball carrier has registered 90 yards this year, but Austyn Dendy has proven capable before, concluding his 2025 campaign with three-straight 110-yard outings.

The Falcons' passing attack features tremendous balance. The top four receivers all boast between 20 and 27 receptions and 202 and 305 receiving yards. That quartet consists of two wide receivers — Winn Sharp and Brennan Ridley — and two tight ends — Jeremiah Scoby and Eli Jacon-Duffy, as the Falcons regularly utilize heavy personnel.

Defense has typically been the strong suit of this Bowling Green team, although it allowed north of 30 points in consecutive weeks. One reason the Falcons struggled more against Ball State and Buffalo was their lack of pass rush. Bowling Green generated 18 sacks in their first six games yet only reached the quarterback once in the past two weeks.

Myles Bradley is the leader of the pass rush with 8.0 sacks, a total which ranks fourth in the FBS. Outside linebacker Cashmire Lewis and defensive end Eriq George also apply significant pressure, combining for 7.5 sacks on the season.

Elsewhere on defense, Bowling Green ranks 133rd in stopping the run, which is the strength of Western Michigan's offense. The Falcons surrendered at least 240 rushing yards in consecutive weeks, allowing both quarterbacks and running backs to generate season-highs on the ground. They'll turn to middle linebacker Dorian Pringle, who has been the premier run stopper with 75 tackles and six tackles for loss.

Western Michigan Broncos outlook

Western Michigan (5-3, 3-1 MAC) is in unfamiliar territory. The Broncos are coming off their first MAC loss since October 2025. Before Toledo outlasted them in a 45-38 shootout last Saturday, the Broncos owned an eight-game win streak against conference opponents and won 12 of their last 13.

However, it's been almost two full rotations around the Sun since Western Michigan lost in Kalamazoo against MAC competition, last doing so Nov. 6, 2024 against Northern Illinois. The Broncos ride a six-game conference home winning streak, and three of their four remaining contests are at Waldo Stadium.

Even though Western Michigan's perfect MAC record faltered against Toledo, there were signs of promise in the defeat, particularly from the offense. The Broncos climbed out of a 17-0 hole and tied the game at 38 apiece, matching their highest scoring output in their last 10 games against their conference peers.

Western Michigan was renowned for its ground-oriented offense last year. This season, the Broncos are throwing more often and having success through the air. Wide receiver Aveion Chenault propelled the offense with a season-high 105 receiving yards, accounting for more than half of the team's receiving production.

Still, the Broncos prefer to play from ahead and stick to their ground roots, like they did two weeks ago against Central Michigan when they threw just eight passes. Running back Jalen Buckley is averaging 116 rushing yards over his last three games, scoring three touchdowns over that timeframe.

Quarterback Broc Lowry is also a capable runner, recording 80 rushing yards in seven-straight games last season. However, the reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Year has been utilized significantly less in the run game this season, and he still awaits his first 55-yard performance of 2026.

It wasn't the strongest defensive showing against Bowling Green, but Western Michigan held each of its first three MAC opponents to 17 points or fewer. The Broncos are 87th in rushing yards allowed per game, but that's not necessarily a deficiency of the defense. They've faced a slew of run-heavy offenses and allow under 3.8 yards per carry. Defensive end Scoop Gardner Jr. and outside linebacker Dillon Moore have been among the chief backfield invaders, combining for 7.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss.

Western Michigan's pass defense surrendered 391 yards to Toledo last week. However, the secondary got a boost with the return of starting safety Micah Davis, who missed more than a month's time. Other standouts in the secondary include Josh Franklin, who owns a team-high five pass breakups and returned a kickoff for a touchdown last week, and Joey Pope, whose 39 tackles lead all Bronco defensive backs.

Prediction

Western Michigan wants to take air out of the ball and run down an opponent's throat. Meanwhile, Bowling Green struggles significantly in the run defense department. That mismatch should be exploitable for the Broncos, which also receive the backing of a home crowd in Kalamazoo, where they haven't lost a conference game in almost two years.

Jalen Buckley enjoys another strong performance on the ground, while Western Michigan cruises to a comfortable victory and attains bowl eligibility for the third-straight season under Lance Taylor.