2016 Western Michigan Broncos football team

2016 Western Michigan Broncos football
MAC champion
MAC West Division champion
MAC Championship, W 29–23 vs. Ohio
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 18
APNo. 15
Record13–1 (8–0 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKirk Ciarrocca (4th season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorEd Pinkham (4th season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
Seasons
← 2015
2017 →
2016 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Ohio xy   6 2     8 6  
Miami (OH) x   6 2     6 7  
Akron   3 5     5 7  
Bowling Green   3 5     4 8  
Kent State   2 6     3 9  
Buffalo   1 7     2 10  
West Division
No. 15 Western Michigan xy$   8 0     13 1  
Toledo   6 2     9 4  
Northern Illinois   5 3     5 7  
Eastern Michigan   4 4     7 6  
Central Michigan   3 5     6 7  
Ball State   1 7     4 8  
Championship: Western Michigan 29, Ohio 23
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2016 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University (WMU) in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach P. J. Fleck and played their home games at Waldo Stadium as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Broncos completed their regular season undefeated and won the MAC West Division title. The Broncos finished conference play defeating the Ohio Bobcats 29–23 in the 2016 MAC Championship Game, winning the school's first MAC championship title since 1988. WMU received an invitation to the 2017 Cotton Bowl as the highest rated Group of Five team in the College Football Playoff (CFP). It was the first major-bowl appearance in school history (and second for a MAC team). The Broncos also won 10 games in a season for the first time in their 111-year football history. They lost to the No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers in the New Years Six bowl game, 24–16.

WMU received its first national top 25 ranking after they beat rival Central Michigan and was No. 25 in the Coaches Poll. Following its first win over Northern Illinois since 2008, the Broncos were ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time in school history at No. 24 in week seven.[1] The Broncos debuted in the CFP poll at No. 23. They finished the regular season ranked 18th in the Coaches Poll and 15th in the AP Poll.

  1. ^ "AP Top 25 Poll". collegefootball.ap.org.