Football schedule and homecoming date announced

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University and the Mid-American Conference have announced game dates and broadcast networks for much of the 2017 football season, confirming Saturday, Oct. 14, for the University's Homecoming game against Akron.

Under the direction of new head coach and WMU alumnus Tim Lester, the Broncos will travel to Los Angeles for the season opener Sept. 2  against the Pac-12 USC Trojans. The following week, Sept. 9, WMU will face Big 10 opponent Michigan State at Spartan Stadium.

The Broncos will welcome six teams into Waldo Stadium: Idaho Sept. 16 for CommUniverCity Night, Wagner Sept. 23 for Southwest Fest, Ball State Sept. 30 for Arbor Financial Youth Day, Akron Oct. 14 for Homecoming and Family Weekend, Central Michigan Nov. 1, and Kent State Nov. 8 for Salute to Heroes.

WMU will hit the road for games against Buffalo Oct. 7, Eastern Michigan Oct. 21, Northern Illinois Nov. 15 and Toledo Nov. 24.

The Broncos' games against Central Michigan, Kent State and Northern Illinois are scheduled to air on ESPN2, and will take place on Wednesdays. The WMU-Toledo game is slated for the Friday after Thanksgiving. All other regular-season games are scheduled for Saturdays.

2017 WMU Football Schedule

Home games are noted in bold.

• Saturday, Sept. 2, at USC, 5:15 p.m.—Pac-12 Network
• Saturday, Sept. 9, at Michigan State, 3:30 p.m.—BTN
• Saturday, Sept. 16, Idaho, CommUniverCity Night, 7 p.m.—ESPN3
• Saturday, Sept. 23, Wagner, Southwest Fest, time TBA
  
• Saturday, Sept. 30, Ball State, Arbor Financial Youth Day, time TBA
• Saturday, Oct. 7, at Buffalo, 3:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 14, Akron, Homecoming, 3:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 21, at Eastern Michigan, 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 1, Central Michigan, 8 p.m.—ESPN2
• Wednesday, Nov. 8, Kent State, Salute to Heroes, 7 p.m.—ESPN2, ESPNU, CBS Sports Net
• Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Northern Illinois, 7 p.m.—ESPN2, ESPNU, CBS Sports Net
• Friday, Nov. 24, at Toledo, time TBA
• Saturday, Dec. 2, MAC Championships, at Detroit's Ford Field, time TBA—ABC, ESPN, ESPN2

Bronco football

The 2016 football season was one of unprecedented success for WMU. The Broncos achieved a number of program firsts, including beating two Big Ten teams and being nationally ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, USA Today Amway Coaches Poll and College Football Playoff ranking. Fans responded by setting a home attendance record of more than 143,000 at Waldo Stadium and a MAC Championship attendance record of more than 45,000 at Ford Field.

ESPN College GameDay came to campus Nov. 19 ahead of the Broncos' 38-0 win over Buffalo, making WMU the second MAC school ever to be featured as a host of the Emmy Award-winning pregame show.

The No. 15-ranked team in the nation was 13-0 going into the Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium, where they faced No. 8 Wisconsin. WMU's Cotton Bowl appearance marked the second time in conference history that a MAC team was selected for a New Year's Six bowl game.

For more information about Bronco football or to order tickets, visit wmubroncos.com/football.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.