Western Michigan Beats Bowling Green 23-10
Cole Cabana's 110 rushing yards and an 82-yard touchdown led Western Michigan past Bowling Green, clinching bowl eligibility.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Football
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Western Michigan defeated Bowling Green 23-10 on October 31, 2026, in Kalamazoo. The win gave the Broncos a 6-3 overall record and 4-1 conference mark, making them bowl eligible.
Why it matters
Reaching bowl eligibility positions Western Michigan for a postseason berth and reflects a defense that forced three fourth-quarter interceptions. The result keeps the Broncos in contention within their conference race as the season moves toward its final weeks.
The final score was 23-10, with Cole Cabana rushing for 110 yards on seven carries and Dieter Kelly making all three field goal attempts. The source does not detail the severity or expected recovery timeline of Lolo Mataele's injury.
The players
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and a member of the Mid-American Conference.
Cole Cabana
Cole Cabana is a running back for Western Michigan who scored an 82-yard touchdown and rushed for 110 yards in the win.
The details
Bowling Green opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown pass, but Cole Cabana answered with an 82-yard touchdown run in the first quarter after assuming the RB2 role following Lolo Mataele's injury. Broc Lowry threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Brotherton in the second quarter, and the Western Michigan defense sealed the win with three fourth-quarter interceptions by Daeh McCullough, Justyce Betts, and Amarian Louis.
Timeline
October 31, 2026: Western Michigan defeats Bowling Green 23-10 in Kalamazoo.
November 10, 2026: Western Michigan plays a road game at Akron.
Season Trajectory
Western Michigan's 6-3 record and 4-1 conference mark place the Broncos among the MAC contenders heading into November. Clinching bowl eligibility with a defense that forced three interceptions in the fourth quarter strengthens their position for a postseason berth.
With a 6-3 overall record and bowl eligibility secured, Western Michigan's remaining regular-season games now carry postseason implications. Fantasy managers tracking Cole Cabana should note his expanded role as RB2 after Lolo Mataele's injury.
The takeaway
Western Michigan's balance on offense and a defense that generated turnovers in the fourth quarter proved decisive against Bowling Green. Those two strengths will be tested again on the road at Akron.
What happens next
Western Michigan will play a road game against Akron on November 10, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the Broncos' season, see Football coverage.
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