Western Michigan vs Miami (OH) live updates: Score, highlights from MAC championship game

Aug 30, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; General view of the MAC Conference logo on a Western Michigan Broncos helmet during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

It's hard to beat the same college football team twice in a single season.

That's what Miami (Ohio) will have to contend with when it faces off against Western Michigan on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Ford Field in Detroit in the MAC championship game.

Watch the MAC championship game on Fubo (free trial)

The RedHawks (7-5, 6-2 MAC) earned a 26-17 win over the Broncos (8-4, 7-1) on Oct. 25. Interestingly, both teams started the season 0-3, but recovered during conference play to get themselves into the conference championship game.

With one conference loss, Western Michigan won the regular-season MAC title. However, the road for Miami was a little more complicated, as it finished tied with Toledo and Ohio with two losses apiece. The RedHawks earned the spot in the championship game, despite regular-season losses to both.

Miami's 49-25 win over Ball State served as the three-way tiebreaker, as the RedHawks had a better win percentage than Ohio and Toledo vs. all common opponents.

USA TODAY is bringing you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Follow along:

Miami vs Western Michigan score

Miami vs Western Michigan live updates

Miami (OH) vs Western Michigan live score: Broncos 23, RedHawks 6 (3Q)

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

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Western Michigan vs Miami (OH) live updates: Score, highlights from MAC championship game

Reporting by Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

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