When Western Michigan steps into Peden Stadium Saturday for the 4 p.m. game against the Ohio Bobcats, they might see a warped reflection in the Ohio locker room.

The colors of the jerseys are different; the styles of offense and defense are different. But what both teams need heading into their MAC opener is very similar: a win. Last weekend, probably for the first time in the 50-year history of the Mid-American Conference, the MAC was the top story in college football when Marshall, Toledo and Northern Illinois knocked three "major college" teams from their lofty positions in the polls.

Sitting it out last weekend were MAC originals WMU (1-2, 0-0) and Ohio (1-2, 0-0), but each had their chances against BCS teams a week earlier. Both teams lost lopsided contests at home, WMU to Virginia and Ohio to Minnesota.

The bye week gave both teams a chance to lick their wounds, look inward and fix a few things. For Western, that primarily involved limiting turnovers. Like OU's loss to the Gophers, WMU put up plenty of yards against Virginia, but the scoreboard (59-24) indicated a more one-sided loss than the final stats. The Broncos outgained the Cavaliers yards to 408 to 403 in its worst home loss in 51 years, but turned the ball over six times.

What counting total yards and first downs proves, said Bronco head coach Gary Darnell, is that "stats are for losers."

WMU is led by the MAC's top passing offense at 379 yards per game. Senior quarterback Chad Munson (6-3, 210) leads the Broncos with 326 yards per game, including 333 yards in a 21-16 loss at Michigan State, but he has been known to turn the ball over on occasion. WMU has thrown six interceptions and has lost five fumbles on the young season.

As for Ohio, they also spent the off week working on fundamentals and correcting offensive and defensive woes. The Cats put up 345 yards against Minnesota, but mistakes an inopportune times crippled drives.

Freddie Ray will get the start against WMU, but Ryan Hawk's sore arm has healed, and the junior quarterback will step back into the rotation against WMU, said Ohio coach Brian Knorr.

"The week off has probably benefited Ryan Hawk more than anybody," said Knorr.

Still a running team by trade, Ohio has been far more multidimensional than in previous seasons, with starter Freddie Ray coming off back-to-back 100-yard games. No matter which quarterback is under center, Ohio plans to mix it up once again against the Broncos.

"Freddie completed his first eight passes last Saturday," We don't think of one quarterback as a thrower and another as a runner. We feel like they both can throw the football."