2021 Western Michigan Broncos football team

2021 Western Michigan Broncos football
Quick Lane Bowl champion
Quick Lane Bowl, W 52–24 vs. Nevada
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Division	West Division
Record	8–5 (4–4 MAC)
Head coach	Tim Lester (5th season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Mike Bath (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Eric Evans (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Lou Esposito (3rd season)
Home stadium	Waldo Stadium

2021 Mid-American Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
Kent State xy		6	–	2					7	–	7
Miami (OH)		5	–	3					7	–	6
Ohio		3	–	5					3	–	9
Bowling Green		2	–	6					4	–	8
Buffalo		2	–	6					4	–	8
Akron		1	–	7					2	–	10
West Division
Northern Illinois xy$		6	–	2					9	–	5
Central Michigan x		6	–	2					9	–	4
Toledo		5	–	3					7	–	6
Ball State		4	–	4					6	–	7
Eastern Michigan		4	–	4					7	–	6
Western Michigan		4	–	4					8	–	5
Championship: Northern Illinois 41, Kent State 23
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant

The 2021 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos played their home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and competed in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The team was led by fifth-year head coach Tim Lester.

Schedule

The following was WMU's schedule.

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	Noon	at Michigan*	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI	ESPN	L 14–47	109,295
September 11	5:00 p.m.	Illinois State*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN3	W 28–0	18,122
September 18	Noon	at Pittsburgh*	Heinz Field Pittsburgh, PA	ACCRSN	W 44–41	40,581
September 25	2:00 p.m.	San Jose State*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN+	W 23–3	12,317
October 2	Noon	at Buffalo	UB Stadium Buffalo, NY	CBSSN	W 24–17	17,344
October 9	3:30 p.m.	Ball State	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPNU	L 20–45	11,403
October 16	3:30 p.m.	Kent State	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPNU	W 64–31	18,716
October 23	3:30 p.m.	at Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	CBSSN	L 15–34	19,906
November 3	7:00 p.m.	Central Michigan	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI (Michigan MAC Trophy/rivalry)	ESPNU	L 30–42	13,137
November 9	7:00 p.m.	Akron	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	CBSSN	W 45–40	8,443
November 16	7:30 p.m.	at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI (Michigan MAC Trophy)	ESPN2	L 21–22	15,272
November 23	7:00 p.m.	at Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPNU	W 42–21	7,156
December 27	11:00 a.m.	vs. Nevada*	Ford Field Detroit, MI (Quick Lane Bowl)	ESPN	W 52–24	22,321
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2022 NFL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL Club
2	54	Skyy Moore	WR	Kansas City Chiefs

Rankings

Further information: 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	—	—	—	—	—	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	—	—	—	—	—	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
CFP	Not released									—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released