Western Michigan clinches MAC Championship with 31-21 over Eastern Michigan

For the first time since 2016, the Western Michigan Broncos are headed to Detroit for the MAC Championship Game.

Western Michigan finally completed its 9-year journey back to the conference’s grandest stage, seamlessly upending in-state rival Eastern Michigan 31-21 on Tuesday night in Ypsilanti.

After trailing 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Broncos produced 31 unanswered points to trounce the Eagles, utilizing a high-powered run game and an opportunistic defense that won the turnover battle 5-0. As a result, they maintained the Michigan MAC Trophy for a third-straight season and secured their eighth victory in a 9-game span.

Eastern Michigan scored on 100 percent of red zone possessions prior to Tuesday night, but the Broncos thwarted two Eagle opportunities inside the 20 with crucial takeaways — effectively altering the outlook of the contest. When Eastern Michigan led 7-0 in the early second quarter with the ball at the 19, cornerback Joshua Franklin deflected a pass and strong safety Joey Pope made a diving Bronco grab off the ricochet. One drive later in a 7-7 ballgame, 10 yards short of the end zone, Eastern Michigan lost an opportunity at regaining the lead when Western Michigan star strong safety Tate Hallock forced the ball out of quarterback Noah Kim’s hands, leading to a brown and gold recovery.

The Broncos recovered another fumble early in the third quarter and later in the frame, they made a déjà vu interception that looked identical to the first. Franklin deflected yet another pass into midair, and this time, cornerback Aaron Wofford secured the goods for an interception. Finishing the turnover barrage was outside linebacker Sefa Saiapaia, who picked off a pass in the fourth quarter. Tuesday night marked the first time since the 2013 Central Michigan game that the Broncos forced five turnovers in a single outing.

Western Michigan’s offense didn’t waste the opportunities provided by the defense, generating 28 points off its first four takeaways.

Western Michigan’s offense took a quarter to ignite, but once the second quarter arrived, the Broncos’ rushing attack was unstoppable. They amassed 278 yards on the Eagles’ second-to-last ranked FBS run defense, with quarterback Broc Lowry leading the way at 92 — attaining 80+ yards for his seventh-straight start. Lowry contributed two touchdowns, including one on a 33-yard scamper, while running back Jalen Buckley and wide receiver Tailique Williams (on a jet sweep) added one rushing score apiece.

Eastern Michigan scored the final two touchdowns on the night to cut the final deficit to 10, thriving on a stellar two-way game by senior running back Dontae McMillan. Playing in his final collegiate game, McMillan recorded 111 rushing yards and 126 receiving yards, scoring one touchdown in each department. His rushing performance put him over 1,000 yards for the first time in his college career, a stellar senior day sendoff from an individual standpoint.

Eastern Michigan (4-8, 3-5 MAC) concludes its year, finishing a second-consecutive campaign without a bowl game and a third-straight season under .500. Meanwhile, Western Michigan (8-4, 7-1 MAC) features two additional games in its 2025 season after officially clinching the MAC Championship Game. The Broncos’ opponent is to be determined, with Miami (OH), Toledo, Ohio, and Central Michigan as plausible opponents.