If this week’s match up is anything like what we have seen from these clubs the past five meetings, expect sparks to fly when the Ball State Cardinals (2-3, 1-0 MAC) head to Kalamazoo to face the Western
Michigan Broncos (3-3, 2-0 MAC.)
In recent times, each side has recorded a blowout win, but the majority of the contests have been knock-down, drag-out battles, with one-score games decided in the fourth quarter. Who will survive with an unblemished MAC record and who will go back to the drawing board?
That is the question as we rapidly approach kickoff.
Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, October 11, 2025, 3:30 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan
- TV network options: CBS Sports Network (a valid subscription is required)
- Radio options: Mick Tidrow (play-by-play) and Chris Radican (color) will provide the Ball State call for WMUN-AM 1340, while Robin Hook (play-by-play) and John Creek (color) will provide the WMU call for Jack 106.5 FM,
- Gambling considerations: WMU are favored by 9.5 points, with the over/under set at 43.5, per FanDuel.
- All-Time Series: WMU leads the overall series 29-22, with the Broncos taking the last one by a final score of 45-42.
About the Ball State Cardinals
CHIRP CHIRP!
Cardinal Nation is flying high after a proof-of-concept victory last week over the reigning MAC champion Ohio Bobcats. Ball State defended home field in a win showing toughness, physicality, desire, and strong second-half execution, taking the last two stanzas 20-0 to earn the 20-14 victory.
The victory shows the progress made by head coach Mike Uremovich and company in his first year as head coach to beat a 15-point favorite in such a style.
BSU now turns its focus, taking away a lot of positives to build off from last week, including an offense featuring QB Kiael Kelly. The Cards didn’t blow up the scoreboard against a stout Bobcat defense, but Kelly controlled the action well, with good decision making in the second half and a heap of poise to navigate BSU to the comeback win.
The offense features Kelly’s dual threat skills and the BSU signal caller has completed over 60 percent of his 2025 passes for over 600 yards while rushing for 266 yards and six combined touchdowns. Key to Kelly’s game and the Cards’ success is the QB’s ball security in the passing game. Like the old medical adage, “first, do no harm,” BSU’s QB protects the ball, with only two interceptions on the season in 104 attempts.
Fans have to love the emergence of the passing game in the past few weeks to complement the running attack, and no one was bigger last week than receiver Qian Magwood, who had a sensational catch to extend a drive on third down and 43-yard catch and run to gain the lead with 57 seconds remaining in the game.
Running back Qua Ashley has been very productive in the run and pass game with almost a combined 400 yards from scrimmage so far. We will have to see how Ashley can contribute this week as he was a little banged up last week.
Defensively, the Cardinals played their best game of the year in shutting out Ohio’s excellent offense in the second half last week to spearhead the victory.
The Cardinals defensive unit as a whole has really come together in the first half of the season, and shone through when it mattered against Ohio.
We seem to regularly talk about edge risher Nate Voorhis, but he has really earned it with multiple standout performances in 2025. Voorhis has been a tour-de-force this season as he leads the nation with eight sacks. Linebackers Alfred Chea and Jack Beebe have turned in some solid performances as well, with Chea leading the squad with 24 stops.
The special teams has had some setbacks earlier in the season with a blocked punt and some missed field goals, but punter Adam Saul and kicker Carson Holmer have turned in some plays in recent weeks to help aid the team, like Saul’s critical 62-yarder last week which led to a safety.
About the Western Michigan Broncos
Western Michigan enters this week looking to build on recent success to keep climbing the ladder to the title game.
After a non-conference slate against FBS competition spent working out the kinks, the Broncos have reeled off three-straight wins, including two in-conference. WMU came out of the gate hot, beating perennial contenders Toledo in a tough battle 14-13, then controlling UMass in a 21-3 win on the road. In-between, they managed to crush a ranked FCS team in Rhode Island by a final of 47-14, showing dominance in all three phases.
The obvious takeaway here is that the boys from Kalamazoo are playing some impressive defense, allowing just 30 points in three wins including 16 in MAC play.
The defense is anchored by safety Tate Hallock, who, like fine wine, seems to get better with age and leads the club with 32 tackles. Linebacker Sefa Saipaia Jr. has made an impact with 31 tackles. WMU features a dynamic duo on the explosive play front in defensive end Nadame Tucker and defensive tackle Rodney McGraw, who have a combined 9 sacks on the year.
Offensively, BSU could get a taste of their own medicine this week as WMU features their own dual-threat playmaker in QB Broc Lowry. The WMU signal caller has over 1,000 yards combined rushing and passing, including almost 200 yards on the ground during the three-game winning streak.
Like Kelly, Lowry has done an excellent job in ball security through the air with only one interception in 114 attempts.
The Broncos also feature the 2023 MAC Freshman of the Year at halfback in Jalen Buckley, who has 227 yards rushing. Buckley is a credible safety valve out of the backfield with eight catches for 57 yards so far.
Part of what makes the Broncos go is veteran tight end Blake Bosma. As on of the pillars of the offense, Bosma can do the dirty work in the trenches and is a factor in the passing game, where he is 29 yards short of 1,000 for his career.
Final Thoughts
If this game were played ten times, more times than not the team that can score in the low to mid 20s will take home the victory. For the second week in a row, Ball State will need to play some of its best football to get it done. For Western Michigan, it will be about defense and ball security.
In the end, this game will be decided in the fourth by one score— if the recent trends hold true.
