WMU releases 2013 Bronco football schedule
KALAMAZOO—Western Michigan University football will have a five-game home schedule this fall, highlighted by Homecoming Oct. 12 versus Buffalo, the home season finale Nov. 16 against rival Central Michigan University, and a nationally televised game on ESPN2 at Northern Illinois University Nov. 26.
The Broncos open the 2013 season at Michigan State Friday, Aug. 30. The game in East Lansing, which marks the 13th meeting between WMU and MSU, is anticipated to be a prime-time television night game. The official kickoff time and network will be announced at a later date at wmubroncos.com.
The home schedule opens Saturday, Sept. 7, with the 22nd annual CommUniverCity Night against Nicholls State University, a team the Broncos have hosted twice in the past. The game is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Broncos then have a pair of road non-conference games before heading back home Saturday, Sept. 28, to close out the first month of the season at 7 p.m. against 2012 Mid-American Conference East Division champion Kent State University. WMU will be hosting a new event surrounding this game called GALAmaZOO.
October opens on the road when WMU visits the Glass Bowl to take on the University of Toledo Saturday, Oct. 5. The Broncos will then host back-to-back home games. The 90th annual Homecoming Game will take place Saturday, Oct. 12, with a kickoff time of 2 p.m. For the second time since 2009, the University at Buffalo will be WMU’s Homecoming opponent. On Saturday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m., the team will host Ball State University for the Hall of Fame Game and Education Day. The team closes October with its first trip to Foxboro, Mass., to take on the University of Massachusetts Saturday, Oct. 26.
WMU travels to Eastern Michigan University Saturday, Nov. 9, with the game time to be determined. The football Broncos close their home schedule with their Salute to Veterans Game and Senior Day at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, with the "Battle for the Cannon" against CMU.
The Broncos close out the 2013 regular season on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Northern Illinois University. NIU was the 2012 MAC champion and the first MAC team ever to play in a Bowl Championship Series game. It will be the only mid-week game of the season.