West Michigan to receive $1 million for 2023 football game at Mississippi State

KALAMAZOO, MI — Western Michigan University will receive $1 million to travel to Mississippi State for a 2023 non-conference football game against the Bulldogs.

Through a Freedom of Information Act request, MLive has obtained contract details for the game on Saturday, October 7, 2023, which will be the first meeting between the two teams.

In addition to pocketing $1 million, WMU will receive 500 tickets, which the Bronco Marching Band will have to draw from, if they make the trip to Starkville.

WMU, which will face its first Southeastern Conference opponent since 1999, also has the option of purchasing 2,500 tickets at face value in Mississippi State.

If either team were to cancel the game due to anything other than a natural disaster or “an act of God, war, invasion, hostilities, terrorism, civil unrest, rebellion, insurrection, national or state emergency, court order, confiscation by order of government, military or public authority, or interdiction or governmental authority,” the Cancellation Team must pay $1 million to the another university.

A kickoff time for the Week 6 game has yet to be determined, but the contract gives Mississippi State the option to choose the time slot.

The trip to Starkville will close WMU’s 2023 non-conference slate, which features three Power-Five opponents for the first time since the Broncos faced Michigan State, Northwest and Iowa in 2013.

Here’s a look at WMU’s non-conference schedule from 2022 to 2026.

2022: Friday, September 2 at Michigan State | Saturday, September 17 vs. Pitt | Saturday, September 24 at San Jose State | Saturday, October 1 against New Hampshire

2023: Thursday, August 31 vs. St. Francis | Saturday September 9 in Syracuse | Saturday, September 16 in Iowa | Saturday, October 7 in Mississippi State

2024: Saturday, August 31 in Wisconsin | Saturday September 7 against Stony Brook | Saturday September 14 at Marshall | Saturday, September 21 at Ohio State

2025: Saturday, August 30 at Michigan State | Saturday September 6 against Marshall | Saturday, September 20 in Illinois

2026: Saturday, September 5 in Wisconsin

See the 2022 football schedules for WMU, CMU and EMU

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