CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

1997 Western Michigan

8–⁠3 (6–⁠2 Mid-American Conference), coached by Gary Darnell.

Schedule and results

Western Michigan in 1997, game by game: won vs. Temple 34–14; lost at No. 25 Michigan State 10–42; won at Northern Illinois 21–13; lost vs. Toledo 13–23; lost at Ohio 7–31; won vs. Ball State 21–13; won at Bowling Green 34–21; won vs. Kent State 50–27; won at Eastern Michigan 41–38; won vs. Central Michigan 38–24; won at UL Monroe 32–19+23−32Won 34–14 vs. Temple+20TempleLost 10–42 at No. 25 Michigan State-32No. 25 Michigan StateWon 21–13 at Northern Illinois+8Northern Illino…Lost 13–23 vs. Toledo-10ToledoLost 7–31 at Ohio-24OhioWon 21–13 vs. Ball State+8Ball StateWon 34–21 at Bowling Green+13Bowling GreenWon 50–27 vs. Kent State+23Kent StateWon 41–38 at Eastern Michigan+3Eastern MichiganWon 38–24 vs. Central Michigan+14Central MichiganWon 32–19 at UL Monroe+13UL Monroe
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Aug 28vsTempleW 34–⁠1464%
Sep 6at25Michigan StateL 10–⁠4229%
Sep 13atNorthern IllinoisW 21–⁠1363%
Sep 20vsToledoL 13–⁠2342%
Sep 27atOhioL 7–⁠3128%
Oct 4vsBall StateW 21–⁠1352%
Oct 11atBowling GreenW 34–⁠2138%
Oct 18vsKent StateW 50–⁠2781%
Nov 1atEastern MichiganW 41–⁠3850%
Nov 8vsCentral MichiganW 38–⁠2479%
Nov 15atUL MonroeW 32–⁠1958%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat UL Monroe 32–⁠19; unranked in the final AP poll; tied for 3rd in the Mid-American Conference.

In program history: The 27th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 83 on file).

Record
8–⁠3
Conference
6–⁠2 tied for 3rd in Mid-American Conference
AP final
Unranked
Points
301–⁠265
Coach
Gary Darnell
Elo
1496 +93 this season
SP+ rating
-4.0 No. 71 of 112; offense No. 65, defense No. 73
SRS
−5.0 No. 73 of 112 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
—
Offensive coordinator
Bill Cubit
Defensive coordinator
Chuck Driesbach
Most valuable player
Tarrence McEvans

1997 Mid-American Conference standings

Conference page
TeamConf.OverallAP final
Marshall7–⁠110–⁠3
Toledo7–⁠19–⁠3
Western Michigan6–⁠28–⁠3
Miami (OH)6–⁠28–⁠3
Ohio6–⁠28–⁠3
Ball State4–⁠45–⁠6
Eastern Michigan4–⁠54–⁠7
Bowling Green3–⁠53–⁠8
Kent State3–⁠53–⁠8
Akron2–⁠72–⁠9
Central Michigan1–⁠72–⁠9
Northern Illinois0–⁠80–⁠11

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.