Western Michigan @ Kent State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2013 ) Kent State 32, Western Michigan 14

Senior wide receiver Corey Davis made history last week for Western Michigan and hopes to set another record when the 21st-ranked Broncos visit Kent State on Tuesday for a Mid-American Conference contest. The highly regarded NFL prospect broke the MAC record for receiving yards in a game with 272 as Western Michigan rolled over Ball State 52-20 to open at 9-0 for the first time.

Davis also is tied with Marshall’s Darius Watts for the MAC record with 47 career touchdown receptions and is just one of three major weapons, along with quarterback Zach Terrell and running back Jarvion Franklin, for the Broncos. Western Michigan has won 11 in a row dating back to last season and ranked 23rd in the first College Football Playoff rankings. “We can’t control where we’re rated or the playoff poll or anything like that,” Terrell told reporters. “For us, that’s just outside noise. We’re just focused on getting better each and every day.” Kent State knocked off Central Michigan 27-24 in its last game on Oct. 29 and will test the Broncos with the top pass efficiency defense in the conference.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Western Michigan -18

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN (9-0, 5-0 MAC): Terrell finished with at least 300 passing yards for the third time in four games last Tuesday against Ball State and has completed 71.6 percent of his passes with an impressive 23 TD tosses and just one interception. Franklin went over 1,000 yards for the season after his fifth straight contest with 100 or more last week and Davis has recorded 61 receptions for 1,011 yards and 14 touchdowns. Defensive back Darius Phillips has returned three interceptions for scores this season, including a 75-yarder last week, to set a school record.

ABOUT KENT STATE (3-6, 2-3): Quarterback Nick Holley rushed for 144 yards in the win over Central Michigan and leads the team with 775 overall to go along with nine touchdowns on the ground. Freshman Justin Rankin is second on the team in rushing (381 yards, two TDs) after gaining 78 yards in his last contest and is the top receiver with 24 catches for 301 yards. Just two of the Golden Flashes’ five MAC opponents have completed better than 50 percent of their passes while Kent State stands second in the league in total defense (350.7 yards) and third in rushing defense (145.9).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Terrell has made 86 career TD passes, one behind former Western Michigan QB Tim Lester for sixth place and three in back of Marshall’s Byron Leftwich for fifth in MAC history.

2. Kent State S Nate Holley, the twin brother of Nick, leads the MAC and stands second in the nation with 111 tackles.

3. Davis has registered 296 career receptions and stands 10 shy of school record-holder Jordan White (2007-11).

PREDICTION: Western Michigan 38, Kent State 17