Western Michigan football exacted its revenge on Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, Dec. 6.
The Broncos made up for their lone conference loss of the 2025 college football season with a 23-13 win over the RedHawks in the MAC championship game from Ford Field in Detroit.
Miami (Ohio) previously defeated Western Michigan 26-17 in a game in which the Broncos held a lead entering the fourth quarter. WMU (9-4) did not relent a 17-point lead this go around behind a valiant performance from running back Jalen Buckley.
Watch the MAC championship game on Fubo (free trial)
Buckley opened the game with a 67-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage. On the Broncos’ second play from scrimmage to open the second half, he added another, 64-yard touchdown.
The Western Michigan star running back finished with 19 rushes for 193 yards and two scores. The Broncos finished with 288 rushing yards for the game.
Meanwhile, led by star defensive end Nadame Tucker, the Broncos limited Miami (7-6) to 272 yards of offense. Tucker had 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss in the win, wreaking havoc on both quarterbacks the RedHawks had to play on Saturday.
Henry Hesson finished 7-of-20 passing for 107 yards and a touchdown, while Thomas Gotkowski went 7-of-17 passing for 92 yards.
USA TODAY brought you updates, scores and highlights from the game. Catch up here:
Miami vs Western Michigan score
Miami vs Western Michigan highlights
Miami (Ohio) vs Western Michigan final score: Broncos 23, RedHawks 13 (Final)
Western Michigan earns 23-13 win over Miami (Ohio), wins MAC championship
Western Michigan defeats Miami (Ohio) 23-13 to earn its first MAC championship since 2016. This, despite an 0-3 start to the season for the Broncos.
Nadame Tucker sack forces Miami (Ohio) turnover
Nadame Tucker picks up his second sack of the game, this time on fourth-and-10 to force Miami (Ohio) to turn the ball over on downs from the RedHawks’ 31-yard line.
Western Michigan turns ball over on downs
Following an unsuccessful onside kick attempt, Miami (Ohio) forces a turnover on downs. The RedHawks have the ball at their own 34-yard line with 6:20 left in the game.
Henry Hesson connects for a touchdown pass to Cole Weaver
This one is not quite over yet, as Henry Hesson hits Cole Weaver for a 6-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 23-13 with 6:43 left in the game. It’s the first score for the RedHawks since the 11:50 mark in the first quarter.
End of third quarter: Western Michigan 23, Miami (Ohio) 6
Western Michigan holds a 23-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Broncos have dominated on the ground, with 42 of their 52 plays coming on the ground. They have 242 rushing yards and are averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
Miami (Ohio) turns ball over on downs
Nadame Tucker sacks Henry Hesson on fourth-and-2 to force a turnover on downs. The RedHawks were driving, just outside the Western Michigan red zone. Instead of kicking a field goal to make it a two-score game, Miami (Ohio) opts to go for it and will not have the chance to add to the scoreboard.
Miami (OH) forces turnover on downs
Miami (Ohio)’s defense gets a key stop following the fumble. A fourth-and-2 run attempt is stopped short of the first down line. The RedHawks will take over from their own 29-yard line.
James Camden recovers Western Michigan fumble
Western Michigan’s James Camden recovers a fumble at the Miami (Ohio) 36-yard line. The handoff was botched by the RedHawks.
Jalen Buckley scores second TD of game
On the second play from scrimmage to open Western Michigan’s second half, running back Jalen Buckley breaks out for a 64-yard touchdown. He scored a 67-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage of the first half.
Buckley has nine carries for 160 yards and two touchdowns today.
Miami punts on first possession of second half
Miami (Ohio) goes three-and-out on its first possession of the first half. Western Michigan begins its first drive of the second half from its own 25-yard line.
Halftime: Western Michigan 16, Miami (OH) 6
Western Michigan holds 16-6 halftime lead
Western Michigan holds a 16-6 halftime lead. Dom Dzioban misses a 58-yard field goal for Miami (Ohio) to end the half.
After one half, the Broncos outgained the RedHawks 247-123. Paul Domschke hit three field goals, while running back Jalen Buckley hit a 67-yard run on the second play from scrimmage.
Paul Domschke hits a 50-yard field goal
Paul Domschke hits a field goal from 50 yards out to extend its lead to 16-6 with 50 seconds left in the first half. It’s Domschke’s third field goal of the game.
Paul Domschke adds second field goal
Paul Domschke adds his second field goal of the game, with this one coming from 31 yards out to extend the Western Michigan lead to 13-6 with 13:43 left in the first half.
End of first quarter: Western Michigan 10, Miami (OH) 6
Western Michigan holds a 10-6 lead after one quarter in the MAC championship game. The Broncos are driving inside the Broncos’ 20-yard line with a chance to extend the lead.
Western Michigan hits FG after near turnover
Paul Domschke hits a 27-yard field goal to extend the Western Michigan lead to 10-6 with 6:51 left in the first quarter.
That drive was nearly a disaster for the Broncos as Broc Lowry lost a fumble on a sack. The call was overturned when it was ruled that Lowry had a knee down.
Jordan Brunson responds with Miami (OH) touchdown
Jordan Brunson scores a 1-yard touchdown to cut the Western Michigan lead to 7-6 with 11:40 left in the first quarter. The RedHawks miss the PAT to keep the score 7-6.
A roughing the passer on third-and-goal opened the opportunity for the touchdown.
Jalen Buckley opens game with long TD
Jalen Buckley opens the game with a 67-yard touchdown run to get Western Michigan on the board first. It was the second play from scrimmage.
Pregame
ESPN ‘College GameDay’ picks for MAC championship game
- Desmond Howard: Miami (Ohio)
- Nick Saban: Western Michigan
- Pat McAfee: Western Michigan
- Ernie Johnson: Western Michigan
- Kirk Herbstreit: Western Michigan
Western Michigan-Miami MAC championship history
Western Michigan has won four MAC titles in program history (1966, 1976, 1988 and 2016). Miami has won 17 while a member of the MAC, and has 25 conference championships in school history.
RedHawks land in Detroit Field
Here’s a look at Miami (Ohio) players walking into Detroit Field:
What time does Miami vs Western Michigan start?
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 6
- Time: Noon ET
- Where: Ford Field (Detroit)
Miami vs Western Michigan will kick off at noon ET on Saturday, Dec. 6 from Ford Field in Detroit.
What TV channel is Miami vs Western Michigan on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Livestream: Fubo (free trial)
The MAC championship game between Miami and Western Michigan will be broadcast on ESPN. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which carries ESPN and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Miami vs Western Michigan predictions
- Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY Sports: Western Michigan 20, Miami 17
Western Michigan avenges its lone regular-season conference loss with a win over Miami to win its first MAC title since 2016. The Broncos’ defense will smother the RedHawks in a defensive battle, scoring a touchdown on a fumble return in the first half.
- Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Sports: Western Michigan 23, Miami 20
Western Michigan’s lone conference loss this season came against Miami. However, it’s hard to beat a team twice in the same season and the Broncos have won four consecutive games since falling to the RedHawks in late October. It should be a close game, but Western Michigan gets revenge for its first MAC title since 2016.
- John Leuzzi, USA TODAY Sports: Miami 24, Western Michigan 21
Defense wins championships, and that is what this game is going to come down to. Both defenses rank in the top four of the MAC in sacks, with Miami leading Western Michigan 38-14 in the category. Whichever defense can get a few stops (or takeaways) in the fourth quarter will win this one.
Miami football schedule 2025
Here’s a look at Miami’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.
- Thursday, Aug. 28: Wisconsin 17, Miami 0
- Saturday, Sept. 6: Rutgers 45, Miami 17
- Saturday, Sept. 13: BYE
- Saturday, Sept. 20: UNLV 41, Miami 38
- Saturday, Sept. 27: Miami 38, Lindenwood 0
- Saturday, Oct. 4: Miami 25, Northern Illinois 14 *
- Saturday, Oct. 11: Miami 20, Akron 7 *
- Saturday, Oct. 18: Miami 44, Eastern Michigan 30 *
- Saturday, Oct. 25: Miami 26, Western Michigan 17 *
- Saturday, Nov. 1: BYE
- Tuesday, Nov. 4: Ohio 24, Miami 20 *
- Wednesday, Nov. 12: Toledo 24, Miami 3 *
- Wednesday, Nov. 19: Miami 37, Buffalo 20 *
- Saturday, Nov. 29: Miami 45, Ball State 24 *
- Saturday, Dec. 6: Miami vs Western Michigan | ESPN, Noon ET **
* – denotes MAC game
** – denotes MAC championship game
Western Michigan football schedule 2025
Here’s a look at Western Michigan’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.
- Friday, Aug. 29: Michigan State 23, Western Michigan 6
- Saturday, Sept. 6: North Texas 33, Western Michigan 30 (OT)
- Saturday, Sept. 13: Illinois 38, Western Michigan 0
- Saturday, Sept. 20: Western Michigan 14, Toledo 13 *
- Saturday, Sept. 27: Western Michigan 47, Rhode Island 14
- Saturday, Oct. 4: Western Michigan 21, Massachusetts 3 *
- Saturday, Oct. 11: Western Michigan 42, Ball State 0 *
- Saturday, Oct. 18: BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 25: Miami 26, Western Michigan 17 *
- Saturday, Nov. 1: Western Michigan 24, Central Michigan 21 *
- Saturday, Nov. 8: BYE
- Tuesday, Nov. 11: Western Michigan 17, Ohio 13 *
- Tuesday, Nov. 18: Western Michigan 35, Northern Illinois 19 *
- Tuesday, Nov. 25: Western Michigan 31, Eastern Michigan 21 *
- Saturday, Dec. 6: Miami vs Western Michigan | ESPN, Noon ET **
* – denotes MAC game
** – denotes MAC championship game