Broncos are the last undefeated team in MAC play. Golden Flashes are the last winless team in the FBS.
And then there was one.
That sentence could refer to multiple things concerning Saturday’s matchup between Western Michigan and Kent State. For one, Western Michigan (5-3, 4-0 MAC) remains the only remaining team undefeated in MAC play after coasting to a 52-21 wire-to-wire victory on its homecoming weekend. Secondly, Kent State (0-8, 0-4 MAC) remains the only winless team in the FBS after suffering a blowout at Western Michigan, as Kennesaw State shed the designation earlier in the week.
In a matchup between the MAC’s apex and the MAC’s basement, the result unfolded accordingly. Western Michigan — donning new gold uniforms in recognition of homecoming — raced to a 38-0 second quarter lead, making quick work of the visiting Golden Flashes which haven’t led for a single second this season. The Broncos attained 45 points for the fourth time this season, but unlike their previous victories, they didn’t win this in shootout fashion. The defense limited Kent State to 21 points, marking the fewest Western Michigan has surrendered to any team all season.
Western Michigan’s offense wasted no time in putting the Flashes away thanks to a dangerous run game. Jaden Nixon, the MAC’s leading rusher, struck with a 92-yard touchdown in the first quarter en route to a 135-yard day. Jalen Buckley thrived as the second fiddle with 80 yards and two second quarter touchdowns, while Zahir Abdus-Salaam posted 83 yards fueled by one 70-yard breakaway scamper. Backup quarterback Broc Lowry contributed 57 rushing yards and a fourth quarter touchdown as every ball carrier that stepped onto the field in brown and gold enjoyed a stellar day. In total, Western Michigan racked up 358 rushing yards and four touchdowns on a 9.7 average.
Meanwhile, quarterback Hayden Wolff posted his fourth hat trick of the season, tallying three passing touchdowns on a 15-of-21, 208-yard performance. Kent State didn’t observe the same level of success through the air, completing just 12-of-24 passes. Quarterback Tommy Ulatowski rebounded from a shaky start with three touchdown strikes, but they were offset by a pair of interceptions in his 114-yard day. Ulatowski finally broke the Golden Flashes’ scoring drought 10 seconds before halftime when connecting with Luke Floriea for a 10-yard score. He fired a pair of touchdown strikes in the fourth quarter, including one with 20 seconds remaining in the contest.
Both of Kent State’s interceptions went in the direction of Western Michigan strong safety Tate Hallock, who secured his second and third picks in the month of October. Hallock also tied for the team-high with five tackles and registered one tackle for loss in a stellar individual performance. Tackles for loss were commonplace for the Broncos as they registered 10 to go along with five sacks in a domination of the Golden Flashes’ offensive line. One of Western Michigan’s sacks resulted in a Kent State fumble, and the Broncos commandingly won the turnover battle 4-1 in the blowout victory.
Kent State remains in search of its first victory of 2024, as well as its first MAC and FBS victories in year two of the Kenni Burns era. The Golden Flashes, barred from bowl eligibility for the third-straight season, only have four opportunities left to make noise in the win column. The next opportunity arrives on Midweek MACtion, as the Golden Flashes host Ohio on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
Western Michigan is now one win away from bowl eligibility, which it hasn’t attained since 2021. The Broncos ride a four-game win streak after disposing of each of their first four MAC opponents in a quest to return to the MAC Championship Game for the first time since 2016. Next up on the docket is Northern Illinois which visits Kalamazoo on Nov. 6 in a Wednesday night MACtion matchup.