2019 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 2019 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos played their home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and competed in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. The team was led by third-year head coach Tim Lester.

2019 Western Michigan Broncos football
First Responder Bowl, L 20–23 vs. Western Kentucky
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Division	West Division
Record	7–6 (5–3 MAC)
Head coach	Tim Lester (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Jake Moreland (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	West Coast
Defensive coordinator	Lou Esposito (3rd season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Waldo Stadium

2019 Mid-American Conference football standings

	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
Miami (OH) x$		6	–	2					8	–	6
Ohio		5	–	3					7	–	6
Buffalo		5	–	3					8	–	5
Kent State		5	–	3					7	–	6
Bowling Green		2	–	6					3	–	9
Akron		0	–	8					0	–	12
West Division
Central Michigan x		6	–	2					8	–	6
Western Michigan		5	–	3					7	–	6
Ball State		4	–	4					5	–	7
Northern Illinois		4	–	4					5	–	7
Toledo		3	–	5					6	–	6
Eastern Michigan		3	–	5					6	–	7
Championship: Miami 26, Central Michigan 21
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions

Preseason

Recruiting

College recruiting information (2019)
Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	Commit date
Demari Roberson WR	Muskegon, Michigan	Mona Shores High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	180 lb (82 kg)
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Ali'Vonta Wallace LB	Muskegon, Michigan	Muskegon High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	210 lb (95 kg)
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Stuart Kettler OT	East Grand Rapids, Michigan	East Grand Rapids High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	280 lb (130 kg)
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Addison West OG	Cary, Illinois	Cary-Grove High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	280 lb (130 kg)	Jun 9, 2018
	Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:
Overall recruit ranking:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:

MAC media poll

The MAC released their preseason media poll on July 23, 2019, with the Broncos predicted to finish in second place in the West Division.

Schedule

The following table lists WMU's schedule.

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	7:00 p.m.	Monmouth*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN3	W 48–13	15,021
September 7	7:30 p.m.	at No. 19 Michigan State*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	BTN	L 17–51	73,113
September 14	7:00 p.m.	Georgia State*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN+	W 57–10	22,328
September 21	12:00 p.m.	at Syracuse*	Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY	ACCN	L 33–52	40,700
September 28	12:00 p.m.	Central Michigan	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI (Victory Cannon / Michigan MAC Trophy)	CBSSN	W 31–15	20,476
October 5	3:30 p.m.	at Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	ESPN+	L 24–31	22,141
October 12	12:00 p.m.	Miami (OH)	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPNU	W 38–16	21,702
October 19	7:00 p.m.	at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI (Michigan MAC Trophy)	ESPN+	L 27–34	20,528
October 26	12:00 p.m.	Bowling Green	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN3	W 49–10	16,778
November 5	8:00 p.m.	Ball State	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN2	W 35–31	11,314
November 12	6:30 p.m.	at Ohio	Peden Stadium Athens, OH	ESPN2	W 37–34 OT	11,700
November 26	7:00 p.m.	at Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPNU	L 14–17	3,568
December 30	12:30 p.m.	vs. Western Kentucky	Gerald J. Ford Stadium Dallas, TX (First Responder Bowl)	ESPN	L 20–23	13,164
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 5 released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Monmouth

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hawks	0	7	6	0	13
Broncos	21	10	14	3	48

See also: 2019 Monmouth Hawks football team

At Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	7	0	10	17
No. 19 Spartans	21	10	6	14	51

See also: 2019 Michigan State Spartans football team

Georgia State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	10	0	0	0	10
Broncos	24	19	14	0	57

See also: 2019 Georgia State Panthers football team

At Syracuse

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	13	20	0	33
Orange	14	10	14	14	52

See also: 2019 Syracuse Orange football team

Central Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chippewas	0	0	0	15	15
Broncos	10	7	7	7	31

See also: 2019 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

At Toledo

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	7	0	10	7	24
Rockets	14	10	0	7	31

See also: 2019 Toledo Rockets football team

Miami (OH)

	1	2	3	4	Total
RedHawks	6	0	3	7	16
Broncos	0	21	0	17	38

See also: 2019 Miami RedHawks football team

At Eastern Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	7	7	7	6	27
Eagles	3	7	10	14	34

See also: 2019 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team

Bowling Green

	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	3	0	7	0	10
Broncos	0	21	28	0	49

See also: 2019 Bowling Green Falcons football team

Ball State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	7	3	7	14	31
Broncos	7	14	0	14	35

See also: 2019 Ball State Cardinals football team

At Ohio

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Broncos	3	7	7	14	6	37
Bobcats	0	0	14	17	3	34

See also: 2019 Ohio Bobcats football team

At Northern Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	0	7	7	14
Huskies	3	7	0	7	17

See also: 2019 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

Vs. Western Kentucky (First Responder Bowl)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	3	7	7	3	20
Hilltoppers	0	10	0	13	23

See also: 2019 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team and 2019 First Responder Bowl