Venue & Game Details
Stadium: Waldo Stadium (Capacity: 30,200)
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kickoff Time: 3:30 PM ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
Weather Forecast (Kalamazoo, MI)
Conditions: Partly cloudy, cool fall afternoon
Kickoff Temp: 59°F (15°C)
Wind: 7–10 mph (NW)
Precipitation:
Impact: Ideal football weather; light wind could affect long field goals.
Injury Report
Ball State Cardinals: No major injuries reported.
Western Michigan Broncos: No major injuries reported.
(Both teams enter this MAC clash healthy, which is rare at midseason.)
Key Player Matchups
QB Kiael Kelly (Ball State) vs. WMU Secondary
Kelly: 657 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, 60.6% completion; also 266 rushing yards, 2 TDs
WMU Pass Defense: Allowing 187.2 YPG (#42 FBS).
RB Qua Ashley (Ball State) vs. WMU Front Seven
Ashley: 316 yards, 3 TDs, 4.9 YPC.
WMU Run Defense: 128 YPG allowed (#51 FBS).
QB Broc Lowry (Western Michigan) vs. Ball State Secondary
Lowry: 751 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 60.5% completion; also 319 rushing yards, 6 TDs
Ball State Pass Defense: Allowing 247.8 YPG (#105 FBS).
WR Qian Magwood (Ball State) vs. CB Tate Hallock (WMU)
Magwood: 174 yards, 1 TD.
Hallock: 31 tackles, 1 INT, defensive leader.
RB Jalen Buckley (WMU) vs. Ball State Front Seven
Buckley: 227 yards, 2 TDs.
Ball State Run Defense: 166.8 YPG allowed (#107 FBS).
Recent Team Form
Ball State Cardinals
Last game: Defeated Ohio 20-14.
Offense: 289 YPG (#130), 16.4 PPG (#128).
Defense: 414.6 YPG allowed (#116), 29.4 PPG allowed (#104).
Strength: Mobile QB (Kelly), disciplined (14th nationally in penalty yards).
Weakness: Passing game (#132 nationally).
Western Michigan Broncos
Last game: Defeated UMass 21-3.
Offense: 294.5 YPG (#129), 19.7 PPG (#116).
Defense: 315.2 YPG allowed (#36), 20.7 PPG allowed (#45).
Strength: Top-20 red-zone defense (71.4%).
Weakness: Passing offense (#126 nationally).
Series History
All-Time Record: Western Michigan leads 29–22.
Current Streak: WMU has won 3 straight (2022–2024).
Last Meeting: 2024 – WMU 38, Ball State 31.
At Kalamazoo: WMU leads 16–9.
Largest Margin: WMU 55-3 (2017).
Betting Trends
Ball State:
4-1 ATS this season.
3-1 ATS as underdog of 8.5+ points.
2 of 5 games Over.
Western Michigan:
5-1 ATS this season.
1-0 ATS as 8.5+ point favorite.
2 of 6 games Over.
Head-to-Head:
WMU 3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS in last 3 vs. Ball State.
Last 3 meetings: 2 Unders, 1 Over.
Historical Betting Results
2024: WMU -7, covered (38-31).
2023: WMU -3, covered (24-17).
2022: WMU +2.5, upset win (37-30).
2021: Ball State -2, covered (45-20).
2020: WMU -9, covered (38-31).
Projected Score: Western Michigan 24, Ball State 16
Game Odds
Ball State Cardinals 42.5
Western Michigan Broncos – 9.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, October 10, 2025
