MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Western Michigan Broncos put the finishing touch on a historic season Friday, overwhelming the Kennesaw State Owls 41–6 in the Myrtle Beach Bowl behind a dominant performance on both sides of the ball.
Jalen Buckley led the charge for Western Michigan, rushing for 174 yards and igniting the Broncos’ offense from the opening snap. On the game’s first play, Buckley burst through the line and sprinted 65 yards for a touchdown, immediately setting the tone. Less than a minute later, the Broncos struck again when defensive lineman Kershawn Fisher scooped up a fumble and returned it 47 yards to the end zone.
Western Michigan never let up. Blake Bosma and Mareyohn Hrabowski each hauled in touchdown receptions before the end of the first quarter, and Devin Miles added a rushing score in the second as the Broncos raced to a commanding 34–0 halftime lead.
The onslaught continued after the break when Joey Pope opened the third quarter with a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown, capping the scoring for Western Michigan and putting the game firmly out of reach.
Kennesaw State found the end zone late on an 82-yard touchdown connection from quarterback Amari Odom to Javon Rogers. Odom finished 18-of-35 for 209 yards but was intercepted twice as the Owls struggled to keep pace with the Broncos’ relentless pressure.
With the victory, Western Michigan closed the season at 10–4, becoming the first team in program history to capture both a conference championship and a bowl win in the same season. It marked just the second 10-win campaign in school history, joining the 13–1 squad from 2016.
The matchup was notable as the only non–College Football Playoff bowl this season featuring two conference champions. Western Michigan earned its spot by defeating Miami (Ohio) for the Mid-American Conference title, while Kennesaw State claimed the Conference USA crown with a win over Jacksonville State.
The win improved Western Michigan’s bowl record to 3–10, with its previous bowl victory coming in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl. For Kennesaw State, the game marked its first bowl appearance since moving up to the FBS level in 2024.
