Syracuse Orange Football 2023 Opponent Preview: Western Michigan Broncos

The 2023 Syracuse Orange football season is fast approaching, which means it’s time to analyze each of SUs 12 opponents. After hosting Colgate to start the year, Cuse welcomes another non-conference opponent to the Dome in the next week….

Western Michigan Broncos

School: Western Michigan University

Mascot: Broncos

#BRAND Slogans: #BroncosReign, #BroncoBrotherhood

Alternative #BRAND slogan suggestions: #BroncosPain, #CallEmAZoo (Get it? They play in Kalamazoo… OK I see myself out.)

Recommended blog: Hustle Belt

Conference: MAC

History vs. Syracuse: This storied rivalry goes all the way back to 2018. Ok, maybe it’s not that great compared to the real thing, but both games between the Orange and the Broncos were full of fireworks. SU won the opening game on the road 55-42 and then also took the second leg of the home-home series 52-33 in 2019.

Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Coach: Lance Taylor, season one. He made his head coaching debut when he was hired to replace Tim Lester after six seasons. Taylor has spent 13 years as an offensive assistant coach in both college and the NFL. He especially coached Christian McCaffrey at Stanford in 2014-16. After a three-year work period as Our LadyAs the RB coach, he spent the 2022 season as Louisvilles offensive coordinator – so he is well aware of the Dome Field Advantage.

Record 2022: (5-7) (4-4)

Summary of last season:

In this era, most programs consider a Bowl game failure a failure – and it was enough to get the previous HC fired here. The Broncos fell to the Top-15 State of Michigan in Week 1, but rebounded and slipped past Ball State in the next game. Pitt marched into Kalamazoo and convincingly spoiled WMU’s home opener, but the following weeks trip to San Jose was even worse. The gime game against New Hampshire was only short-lived relief, as the Broncos lost four of their next five against MAC opponents (Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Bowling Green and Northern Illinois). Wins at Central Michigan and against Toledo ended the year on a somewhat positive note.

This was one of the worst offensive teams in the country last season – 7th fewest yards per game in all of FBS football is NOT the sales pitch the staff wants to hear. A three-way QB carousel between freshmen Jack Salopek (seven starts), Treyson Bourguet (four starts) and Mareyohn Hrabowski (five games, one start) made a mess of any offensive chemistry. Sean Tyler, a 1,000-yard rusher, and Corey Crooms Jr., who caught 57 passes, more than doubled as a team receiver, lost.

Zaire Barnes was a beast at linebacker with 93 tackles, eight pass breakups, a sack, a pick and three fumble recoveries. Seniors Corvin Moment, Braden Fiske and Andre Carter combined for 20 sacks to lead the pass rush. The unit was solid overall, scoring just over 24 points per game. Freshman kicker Palmer Domschke was very inconsistent, finishing 13-of-19.

Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports

Outlook for the 2023 season

The Broncos host St. Francis on Thursday, Aug. 31 before coming to Syracuse in Week 2. WMU hosts Ball State, Miami (OH), Central Michigan and Bowling Green. They also travel to Iowa, Toledo, Mississippi State, Ohio, Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois. Yep, seven road games… at least it’s still Tuesday night #MACtion to close the calendar.

The attack, which already had a lot of holes, has been gutted. Tyler and Crooms both committed to Minnesota, and while last year’s QBs are still around, Old Dominion transfer Hayden Wolff should be the favorite to start. He joins the Broncos fresh off throwing for 2,908 yards and 18 TDs — with two years of eligibility remaining.

There are still more spots to fill in the defense. Barnes was drafted by the Jets, Fiske was transferred and Moment, Carter and linebacker Ryan Selig graduated, leaving the front seven desperately bare. At least two starting safeties… wait, they graduated too. A group this young is almost guaranteed to go through a rough patch.

Syracuse game date: Saturday 9.9

Location: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, New York

Orange win odds: 90%

Very Early Outlook vs. Syracuse

This is another game that SU is expected to win convincingly – which is fair enough for what we’ve been calling for in non-conference action. With an offensive mind in the headset, the Broncos have a slightly better shot against the 3-3-5. Still, they are clearly a rebuilding program. Don’t expect this to be as close as the first pairing between these two.