Sometimes you do need a few years to rebuild.
Back in the old days – like, ten or so years ago – a new head coach would take over a struggling program and get a few seasons to tear it down to the studs and then create something from scratch.
That kind of patience is impossible now in a transfer portal era, but Lance Taylor showed that you can put something big together if you have just a little bit of time.
MAC Championship or Bust For the Broncos
© Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
(© Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)
Taylor took over a Western Michigan program that was fine, but was treading water as a MAC also-ran after the amazing 2016 season under PJ Fleck.
Taylor started to bring in the parts he needed, went from 4-8 to 6-7, and then last year, he won the MAC Championship, and had the second ten-win season in 64 years of Western Michigan football.
His late season two-deep depth chart had 26 seniors listed.
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So now the program is in a strange position. It lost a ton of key veterans, but it returns as much production as just about anyone in the MAC, and it filled in the gaps through the portal.
And now it’s good enough to win a second straight MAC Championship.
That’s what happens when you build a great foundation.
Western Michigan Quick Hits
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Head Coach: Lance Taylor (4th year, 20-19)
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Best Case / Worst Case: Win the MAC title and make a sneaky push for a playoff spot/Struggle to get bowl eligible
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Biggest Question: Will the defensive line come into place fast enough to make a run for another ten-win season?
Western Michigan Key 2025 Stats
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2nd Quarter Scoring: Western Michigan 131, Opponents 47
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Sacks: Western Michigan 43 for 327 yards, Opponents 22 for 150 yards
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Time of Possession: Western Michigan 32:28, Opponents 27:25
Offense
It wasn’t like the offense was along for the ride, but its job was to be efficient, effective, and let the defense take care of everything else.
This year’s attack has the veterans and depth to take over games and be the reason the Broncos win.
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What’s Working
The running game should be fantastic. It starts with the semi-shocker that Jalen Buckley is still in Kalamazoo and not with some Power Four program.
The great veteran back ran for over 1,000 yards last season, averaged close to six yards per carry, and could catch a little, too. There’s strong depth behind him, with Ofa Mataele good enough to do more.
The Broncos have one of the MAC’s best offensive lines, and it might be among the best in the Group of Six. Three starters are back, starting with fantastic right tackle Chad Schuster.
They didn’t lose anyone major in the portal, brought in Brandon Smith from Illinois State to work at left tackle, and there’s decent depth coming from the portal.
Broc Lowry should get to turn it loose more. If Western Michigan wants to really dream about getting to the College Football Playoff, he and the passing game have to be more dynamic.
The junior quarterback hit 64% of his passes for just over 1,800 yards with nine touchdowns and three picks. He also finished second on the team with 963 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. However …
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What Needs Work
There needs to be more of a downfield passing game. The idea was to not screw up, keep the clock and the chains moving, and live to fight another day. It also meant that Western Michigan averaged a puny 10.5 yards per completion. To take this even further …
Western Michigan won when the passing game worked. The bread is buttered with the ground attack, but the team was 8-0 when averaging 6.3 or more yards per throw. It was 2-4 when it didn’t.
To keep harping on this, the Broncos have to be more consistent through the air. Again, Lowry was great, but the accuracy came and went.
He connected on 70% or more of his passes four times, 50% or fewer of his passes four times, and didn’t get to 150 yards in the other five games.
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Player to Watch
Jalen Buckley, RB Sr.
How good has he been for the Broncos? He ran for over 1,000 yards as a sophomore, got close to 700 yards despite being banged up in 2024, and threw another 1,003 yards onto the statistical pile last season.
He’s a special back who’s dangerous whenever he gets the ball in his hands.
Defense
Can the fun keep on going?
Defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary left to work with the Los Angeles Chargers, and Greer Martini moves up from his gig as the linebackers coach.
Now the 17th-best defense in the nation, and the second best in the MAC behind Toledo, has to do it all again.
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What’s Working
The pass rush can’t stop now. The Broncos might not have Nadame Tucker or Rodney McGraw around anymore, but that doesn’t change the identity of the defense – attack, attack, attack.
Behind only Miami, Indiana, and Oklahoma, the Broncos were tied with Texas A&M for fourth in the nation last season with 43 sacks, with a steady stream coming throughout the year.
The secondary should be the best in the MAC, or at least be right there with Toledo. Three starters return, corner Javarius Smith and safety Joshua Franklin are tremendous, and the parts coming in through the transfer portal add a big boost to the depth.
Takeaways. When you have a great pass rush and a wonderful secondary, the turnovers should follow.
The Broncos came up with 24 last year, with two or more in seven games. They went 9-1 when forcing at least one, and 1-3 when they didn’t.
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What Needs Work
The front four has to be replaced. Tucker was the best pass rusher in the MAC with 14.5 sacks, McGraw made seven, and all seven Broncos who came up with two or more sacks are done.
That’s what all the transfers are for – more on that in the portal section.
The decent offenses almost all worked against the Broncos. Western Michigan went 8-0 against teams that failed to get to 300 yards in total offense.
The defense had a lot to do with that, but the four losses were to North Texas, Illinois, Michigan State, and the first game against Miami University.
It’s a good-looking linebacking corps – again, the transfer portal helps here – but leading tacklers James Camden and Sefa Sapipaia are done.
No pressure, but Brenden Anes (Tennessee) has to help veterans Dillon Moore and Domanick Moon right away.
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Player to Watch
Joshua Franklin, CB Sr.
Part corner and part safety, the former wide receiver has speed and range to get all over the field. He’s still growing into the position, but he looked the part last year, making 53 tackles with ten broken up passes. He’ll shine in a nickel role if he’s not a full-time corner again.
Keys to the Season
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Find new defensive playmakers who can get into the backfield.
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Get more out of the passing game.
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The offensive line has to take its game to a whole other level.
Player Who Needs To Shine
DeJuan Echoles, EDGE Sr.
The Broncos need new playmakers who can get behind the line, and it starts with Austin Alexander from North Carolina, and Echoles, a true hybrid option for the outside who made 26 tackles with three sacks and two forced fumbles last season.
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Biggest Concern
Get that defensive line right
The Broncos are good everywhere else, but the defensive front is all but starting over. The transfers have to be fantastic right away, with six expected to come in and play big roles.
Biggest Game
at Toledo, October 24
This isn’t exactly a preview of the MAC Championship, but the winner will probably be in the driver’s seat. This is the third road game in four weeks for the Broncos, and if they get by this, they could roll with just one road game – Akron – the rest of the way.
Transfer Portal
Western Michigan had the luxury of using the transfer portal like a Power Four program.
It kept around enough guys to not have to scramble too much, and it came up with a ton of additions who not only can help right away in certain spots – like the defensive front – but boost the depth just about everywhere else.
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Best Signing
Zavian Tibbs, DT (Houston)
All of the edge rushers come close, but finding a defensive tackle with the quickness of Tibbs was terrific. He’s a bit undersized at 6-1 and 275, and he only made 11 tackles in his two years with the Cougars, but he’ll be a big factor right away.
Biggest Loss
Brady Jones, QB (Oregon State)
It’s not that Western Michigan didn’t have any talent for others to take, it’s that the key guys stuck around, and other big producers from last year graduated.
In other words, there weren’t any big losses.
Jones was the backup behind Broc Lowry last year, throwing for 136 yards and a touchdown with three picks. Now he’s off to Oregon State, and the Broncos will have to rely on Trey Petty from Illinois to work his way into the No. 2 job.
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Other Names to Know
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Adam Parks, TE (New Mexico State)
CFN Season Prediction
If Western Michigan isn’t the favorite to win the MAC again, it’s a close No. 2.
Yes, it has to replace the great defensive front, but to keep hammering this home, it has a shocking amount of good talent back.
It might not have enough in the bag to push Michigan, but it’s absolutely good enough to win any and every game left on the slate, including the home date against Boise State and the road trip to Rice.
CFN Prediction: 9-3
There will be blips. Going to Toledo and Central Michigan are dangerous, and hosting Miami University won’t be easy, but set the expectations high for something potentially special.
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Related: Miami University Football Preview 2026: Another Run at the MAC Crown
