BYU Football: Scouting the Schedule – Western Michigan

KALAMAZOO, MI - AUGUST 31: Jon Wassink #16 of the Western Michigan Broncos throws a pass against the Syracuse Orange in the third quarter of a game at Waldo Stadium on August 31, 2018 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KALAMAZOO, MI - AUGUST 31: Jon Wassink #16 of the Western Michigan Broncos throws a pass against the Syracuse Orange in the third quarter of a game at Waldo Stadium on August 31, 2018 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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KALAMAZOO, MI – AUGUST 31: Jon Wassink #16 of the Western Michigan Broncos throws a pass against the Syracuse Orange in the third quarter of a game at Waldo Stadium on August 31, 2018 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KALAMAZOO, MI – AUGUST 31: Jon Wassink #16 of the Western Michigan Broncos throws a pass against the Syracuse Orange in the third quarter of a game at Waldo Stadium on August 31, 2018 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Lawless Republic’s Scouting the Schedule series continues with BYU Football’s Famous Idaho Potato Bowl opponent: Western Michigan.

During the offseason Lawless Republic took a game-by-game look at each opponent that BYU Football would face in 2018.

There was one opponent that we couldn’t preview, though, since that opponent was unknown. But that’s not the case any more.

The Cougars will face Western Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on December 21st.

So let’s take a look at their 13th opponent of the season:

2018 Regular Season

The Broncos started off the season with back-to-back games against teams that would finish the regular season in the Top 25. They hosted Syracuse to kick off the season, and played the Orange close before falling 55-42.

Their second game wasn’t nearly as close. They traveled to The Big House to take on Michigan, and the Wolverines drubbed them 49-3.

Western Michigan then proceeded to rattle off six straight wins. Granted, those wins didn’t come against the stiffest competition. The five FBS teams that the Broncos beat during that winning streak finished the season with a combined 19-41 record.

But the season turned against Toledo. Starting Bronco quarterback Jon Wassink went down with an ankle injury, and backup Kaleb Eleby couldn’t help beat the Rockets. That game was the first in a three-game skid.

But the Broncos righted the ship in the regular season finale. Western Michigan took down Northern Illinois 28-21 (yes, the same Northern Illinois that beat BYU) to finish the regular season with a 7-5 record, going 5-3 in conference.