The team was coached by Bill Cubit and played their homes game in Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

WMU was picked to finish third in the West Division, according to the MAC News Media Association.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes In the Mid-American Conference opening game for both teams, WMU overcame a 19–14 fourth quarter NIU lead with two Tim Hiller touchdown passes in the span of three minutes and six seconds.

NIU was playing without its freshman starting quarterback Chandler Harnish who left the game in the first quarter due to an injury.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes After Idaho scored early in the third quarter to tie the game at 14–14, WMU outscored the Vandals 37–14 to cruise to a 51–28 win over the Western Athletic Conference member.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes Led by quarterback Tim Hiller's five touchdown passes, Western Michigan defeated Football Championship Subdivision opponent Tennessee Tech 41–7.