WMU-Boise State has major CFP implications, but ‘GameDay’ doesn’t care

There’s a game with major College Football Playoff implications that will be played in Kalamazoo this weekend.

And ESPN’s “College GameDay” won’t be there.

Western Michigan (2-1) is hosting Boise State (2-1) in a marquee nonconference game Saturday, Sept. 26, at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo. The game could go a long way in determining which program gets the Group of Six’s guaranteed spot in the 12-team CFP field.

“College GameDay,” however, has decided to set up shop in Knoxville, Tennessee, for the game between No. 1 Texas and No. 14 Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.

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It marks the 13th trip to Knoxville for “GameDay,” which has only been to Kalamazoo once before — a decade ago, in 2016, during Western Michigan‘s undefeated regular season, which led to a Cotton Bowl appearance.

Western Michigan figured to get some consideration from the ESPN brain trust, given the story it has become this season, for its controversial 13-12 loss at Michigan in the season opener. The Broncos, under fourth-year head coach Lance Taylor, lost that game on a last-second Hail Mary touchdown from Bryce Underwood to JJ Buchanan, after one second was put back on the clock, giving the Wolverines one last play (that they shouldn’t have gotten, the NCAA said).

Western Michigan has won its two games since, including a 28-21 victory at Rice on Saturday, Sept. 12. Boise State is coming off a 38-24 victory over South Dakota. Its lone loss was to now-No. 20 Oregon, 34-27, in the season opener.

The game between the two sets of Broncos will kick off at 3:30 p.m., and air on ESPN2. Waldo Stadium, which seats about 30,000, is expected to be sold out.

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Western Michigan continues to receive votes in the AP Top 25 poll; it got 27 points this week, which is good for 33rd. On Sunday, Sept. 20, in ESPN’s latest CFP projection, Boise State was listed as the Group of Six’s representative.

Saturday’s game is the first of a home-and-home series between Western Michigan and Boise State. Western Michigan, of the Mid-American Conference, is scheduled to travel to Boise State, of the Pac-12 Conference, in 2029.

“College GameDay” last was in Michigan in 2025, for the Michigan-Ohio State game in Ann Arbor on Nov. 29.

ESPN ‘College GameDay’ appearances in Michigan

Here’s a history of ESPN’s “College GameDay” appearances in the state of Michigan:

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• Michigan, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor: 16 (last: Nov. 29, 2025, vs. Ohio State)

• Michigan State, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing: 9 (last: Oct. 30, 2021, vs. Michigan)

• Western Michigan, at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo: 1 (Nov. 19, 2016, vs. Buffalo)

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: WMU-Boise State has major CFP implications, but ‘GameDay’ doesn’t care

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