Western Michigan Returns Its MAC Champion Core for a 2026 Title Defense
Western Michigan turned in one of the Group of Five's better stories in 2025, going 10-4 and 7-1 in the MAC before capturing the conference championship and then the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Lance Taylor, the reigning MAC Coach of the Year, has climbed to 20-19 in three seasons in Kalamazoo, and the program rewarded him with a contract extension that runs through 2030.
The defining offseason development was one of subtraction avoided. Quarterback Broc Lowry and running back Jalen Buckley both chose to come back rather than enter the portal, and the Broncos lost only one projected returning starter to free agency while importing roughly 10 Power 4 transfers to reload the front seven. Continuity at the skill spots plus a wave of newcomers on defense frames the entire year.
Offense
Lowry was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year as a dual threat who stressed defenses with both his arm and his legs. He completed better than 63 percent of his throws with nine touchdowns against just three interceptions on 166 attempts, and he was at his most dangerous as a runner, piling up 963 yards and a team-high 14 scores. The one area coaches want to see grow in his second year as the starter is the downfield passing game, where an average near 6.9 yards per attempt leaves room to climb. If he pushes the aerial attack forward, an offense that leaned heavily on the run becomes far tougher to defend.
Two of the top three targets from the title run are back in Baylin Brooks, who caught 27 passes, and Aveion Chenault, who added 23. Egypt Nelson, a big-bodied option at 6-4, drew attention in the spring and projects as a starter alongside them. At tight end, veteran Nate Levicki is in line for a larger role. The group is experienced and should benefit if Lowry stretches the field more consistently.
Buckley is the engine of a ground game that dominated snap counts a year ago. He topped 1,000 rushing yards for the second time in his career while earning third-team All-MAC honors and scoring nine touchdowns, and he saved his best for the postseason: 193 yards and two touchdowns in the MAC Championship Game against Miami of Ohio, then 174 yards and a score on only eight carries against Kennesaw State in the bowl. With Lowry also a major rushing threat, the backfield is the strength of the whole team.
The line should again be a strong point, with three starters returning to anchor it. First-team All-MAC tackle Chad Schuster headlines the group, and Michigan transfer Ben Roebuck adds a big frame up front. Center is bolstered by the return of Jeremy Schleicher, who missed most of 2025 with an injury. Experience and size across the interior give the run game a dependable foundation.
Defense
The front is where the roster overhaul is most visible, and it will lean on newcomers. The departure of Nadame Tucker, who racked up 14.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss, leaves a real hole off the edge. Austin Alexander arrives from North Carolina to help at defensive end after playing in 10 games as a freshman, while Ahmed Tounkara from Ohio State and Houston transfer Zavian Tibbs beef up the interior. Dakari Frazier is set for an expanded role at defensive tackle. There is talent here, but it has to come together quickly.
Domanick Moon, the top returnee at the position, and Dillon Moore are back after contributing in reserve roles, but the group is also in transition and reliant on additions. Tennessee transfer Brenden Anes is the headline newcomer; he appeared in 12 games as a freshman for the Vols, mostly on special teams, and arrives as a former two-time all-state pick and the No. 2-rated linebacker in his recruiting class. Juco transfer Justyce Betts further stocks the unit.
The secondary is the clear strength on this side of the ball, with the bulk of last year's top performers returning. Joshua Franklin, a third-team All-MAC pick, is back after 53 tackles, and fellow corner Jarvarius Sims led the group with 64 stops. John Peters flashed as a true freshman at nickel, safety Micah Davis returns after a productive year, and safety Joey Pope shared the team lead with three interceptions. That collection of playmakers should keep the pass defense competitive while the front seven jells.
The kicking game is a settled asset. Palmer Domschke was excellent on long attempts, connecting on 10 of 13 tries from beyond 40 yards, and punter Ryan Millmore averaged 42.4 yards with 11 boots of 50-plus. Juco transfer Kordell Gouldsby is a genuine return threat, having taken five kicks back for touchdowns across two seasons at Hutchinson Community College, and he is slated to handle both kick and punt returns.
Overview and Prediction
The schedule opens with a marquee trip to Michigan and includes a rare home date against a high-profile nonconference foe in Boise State, but the meat of the slate is the usual MAC gauntlet, where a road slip on a weeknight is always the danger. The Broncos close at home against Miami of Ohio in a game likely to carry championship stakes.
With Lowry, Buckley and a loaded secondary all back, the preseason read is that Western Michigan is positioned to contend for the MAC crown again, projected somewhere at the top of the league between first and second. The verdict here is that the offense is good enough to win the division outright; the make-or-break is whether a rebuilt defensive front seven can hold up well enough to let this team defend its title.