After a two-week home stretch which saw them pull off a major MAC upset and wax a ranked FCS squad, Western Michigan (2-3, 1-0 MAC) looks to continue the momentum on the road against a winless UMass squad.
The hosting Minutemen get set to play in their first conference game since November 2015, an exciting landmark for their roller-coaster journey to the highest division of football. They’ve had an improving defense in 2025, and hope to toss a chaos grenade early in the MAC slate.
Game Notes
- Time and date: Saturday October 4, 2025, at noon Eastern time
- Location: McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst, MA
- TV options: ESPN+ (a valid subscription is required)
- Radio options: The UMass broadcast will feature Jay Burnham (play-by-play),Matt Goldstein (color), and Nathan Strauss (sideline). Available at WHMP-FM 101.5 FM and 1400 AM or the Varsity Sports Network. Robin Hook (play-by-play) and John Creek (color) will provide the WMU call for Jack 106.5 FM.
- Gambling considerations: WMU is favored by 13.5 points, with an over/under of 46.5, per FanDuel.
- All-Time Series: Western Michigan is 2-0, winning the last meeting 31-30 in 2013.
About the UMass Minutemen
Five games into the
season, UMass is still looking to find its identity on offense. AJ Hairston became the third quarterback to start for the Minutemen last week and understandably struggled against Missouri, completing just 11 of his 31 passes for 75 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Week 1 starter Brandon Rose, who was questionable last week due to injury but didn’t play, could also be available this week and has an “OR” designation for the starting position. Either QB should fare better this week against Western Michigan, as they’re not as tough an assignment as say, Iowa or Missouri— but the Broncos’ defense will still be a challenge. Western Michigan comes into the game allowing an average of 184 passing yards per game on defense, with four interceptions and a pick-six. Notably, they held Toledo’s Tucker Gleason to 89 yards on 15 completions and 30 attempts earlier in the year.
The UMass run game has struggled since the opener against Temple. Rocko Griffin has 71 yards on 25 attempts for an average of less than three yards since his 94-yard performance in Week 1. Brandon Hood has also struggled, averaging less than three yards per carry on 22 attempts. Luckily, Western Michigan’s run defense is average, allowing an average of 145 yards per game. Griffin and Hood must open lanes for the passing game to build Hairston’s confidence.
Jacquon Gibson is still the bonafide #1 receiver in the absence of the injured T.Y. Harding. Gibson has 30 receptions— 23 more than the second-best receiver. The offensive line will have a challenge in protecting Hairston and/or Rose from a Western Michigan defense that has 18 sacks in five games.
UMass’ defense showed substantial improvement against Missouri last week, though the scoreboard may not have shown it.
The defense kept UMass’s offense in the game throughout the first half, including an interception to set up short field on the only scoring drive of the evening. Linebacker Timmy Hinspeter established himself as the leader of the defense with 17 tackles and a 63-yard interception return. Hinspeter leads the team with 41 tackles, while STAR Derrieon Craig has 34 tackles on the year. Defensive end Marques White is a legitimate pass rush threat with three sacks and five tackles for loss on the year. The defense should be able to keep the defense in the game against a Western Michigan offense averaging 277 yards per game.
About the Western Michigan Broncos
Western Michigan had its best performance of the year against Rhode Island last week, compiling a season-high 372 yards and 47 points in the win. Their powerful running game once again shined with 216 yards, led by quarterback Broc Lowry.
Lowry continues to improve each week and has 588 passing yards and 227 rushing yards on the year. He figures to be the best dual-threat signalcaller UMass has faced this year. The Broncos have multiple options at running back, with three backs having at least 100 yards on the year. Jalen Buckley leads this group with 184 yards, but Ofa Mataele has shown up in recent weeks as well, scoring twice against the Rams last week. The passing game also has a stellar deep threat in Tailique Williams, who leads the team with 217 yards on 12 catches for an average of 18 yards per reception.
Nonetheless, Western Michigan has one of the worst offenses in the country in yards per game. The Broncos are fifth-to-last with an average of 277 yards per game. Luckily, UMass’ defense is 124 out of 136 teams in yards per game, so the Broncos can continue their growth.
The Western Michigan defense should set the tone early against a UMass offense that is the worst in the country in yards per game. Tate Hallock (26 tackles) leads a defense with three players that have over 20 tackles. Defensive end Nadame Tucker is already one of the best pass rushers in the MAC with three sacks and seven tackles for loss. Tucker should give a UMass offensive line that has allowed 10 sacks in four games plenty of issues. In the secondary, Jarvarius Sims, Joshua Franklin, and Aaron Wofford all have three pass breakups on the year. They face a UMass receiving corps with limited options. One of this trio should be able to take Jacquon Gibson out of the game and force the Minutemen to depend on its unproven receiving corps.
Prediction
UMass showed solid improvement against Missouri last week, but the failures on offense are too much to overcome. Western Michigan has one of the best defenses in the MAC and are finding its rhythm on offense. UMass will be competitive, but Western Michigan will have control throughout.
Western Michigan 24, UMass 7
