After three consecutive sub-.500 seasons, Central Michigan reversed fortunes with a 7-6 record and its first bowl appearance since 2021 last season.
Now in the second season under head coach Matt Drinkall, Central Michigan is looking to take the next step and potentially contend in the MAC, although the Chippewas won’t be listed among the favorites.
Central Michigan Season Preview
One thing for sure is that this will be a team that will lean on the run. Last year, Central Michigan was third in the MAC with 545 rushing attempts. The Chippewas were a solid running team, but a key for this season will be improving on its 3.9 yards-per-rush average from a year ago.
There could also be more expected from the passing game. Last year, Central Michigan led the MAC in completion percentage (69%) with 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
A Central Michigan team that averaged 22.5 points can look for improvement with 10 players who made starts returning on offense. Conversely, just four players who made starts will return on defense for a unit that allowed 23.5 points per game.
Key Players To Replace
Quarterback Joe Labas completed 70.6% of his passes for 1,854 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions and is now gone. CMU’s leading rusher last season, Nahree Biggins, who rushed for 540 yards and two touchdowns, also is no longer with the team. Trey Cornist, who rushed for 470 yards and one touchdown, transferred to UConn.
Receiver Tommy McIntosh suffered an injury during spring ball that will sideline him this season. He had 31 receptions for 422 yards and three touchdowns.
Linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski led the Chippewas with 117 tackles. Fellow linebacker Dakota Cochran was second on the team with 82 tackles.
The Quarterback Situation
Angel Flores, who often alternated with Labas, appeared in nine games and did most of his damage on the ground. Despite missing four games due to injury, he rushed for 527 yards and eight touchdowns. He completed 19 of 28 passes for 195 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Flores, who has two years of eligibility remaining, appears to have the edge entering training camp as the starter. But Jadyn Glasser and Marcus Beamon also saw action last year. Glasser attempted nine passes and Bean had four passing attempts. Beamon had 33 rushing attempts and Glasser added 10.
Key Returning Players
Receiver Langston Lewis was a third-team All-MAC selection after catching 43 passes for 596 yards, both team highs, and three touchdowns. Running back Brock Townsend rushed for 428 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 145 yards and four scores. Jacob Russell, slated to be the left tackle, started all 13 games last season. Matthew Nehf started nine games at right guard before missing the last four due to injury. Martin Koivisto started 13 games last season at right tackle. Jacob Booth appeared in all 13 games on the offensive line and also saw extensive special teams duty.
Cornerback Jalon Jackson is Central Michigan’s leading returning tackler with 48. He also had one interception and seven pass breakups. Defensive end/outside linebacker Korver Demma contributed 8.5 tackles for loss, including 3.5 sacks. Quavion Bird appeared in 12 games and started the final seven at defensive tackle. He contributed 14 tackles.
Declan Duley averaged 41.1 yards per punt.
Key Newcomers
Liberty transfer Vaughn Blue rushed for 234 rushing yards on 47 carries and two touchdowns and figures to be in the running back mix. Tight end Jaden Allen is a transfer from Fordham, where he was for five years. Last season, he had 19 receptions for 327 yards and one touchdown. Cornerback Matthew McKenzie had 33 tackles and two interceptions last year for Bethune-Cookman. Donavan Philord appeared in 12 games at cornerback last season for Campbell, recording 46 tackles, one interception and eight pass breakups. Linebacker Antonio Cherry Jr. had 69 tackles and four pass breakups last year at Fresno City Junior College.
Central Michigan’s 2026 Schedule
- 9/5 at New Mexico
- 9/12 vs. Colgate
- 9/19 vs. Wyoming
- 9/26 at Miami
- 10/3 vs. Akron
- 10/10 at Ohio
- 10/17 vs. Western Michigan
- 10/24 vs. Miami (Ohio)
- 11/4 vs. Eastern Michigan (in Detroit)
- 11/11 vs. Sacramento State
- 11/18 at Buffalo
- 11/28 at Ball State
Bold indicates MAC contests
Central Michigan’s MAC Title Betting Odds
Central Michigan’s college football betting odds to win the conference are +750, via BetMGM. The Chippewas have the fifth-best odds in the 13-team MAC.
Central Michigan’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- Central Michigan’s win total Over/Under is 6.5
- The Under is at -140
- The Over is at +110
Central Michigan Season Prediction
I like Central Michigan to go over the 6.5 win total. It won’t be easy, especially with a difficult non-conference schedule that includes road games at New Mexico (tied for the best odds to win the Mountain West) and the Miami Hurricanes. The other two non-league games are against FCS Colgate and Wyoming (which has the seventh-best odds in the Mountain West).
The MAC schedule is tough, including games against the teams with the top two odds to win the conference: No. 1 Western Michigan and No. 2 Miami (Ohio). Both of those are home games.
There is also a game at Ohio, which has the fourth-best odds in the MAC. Central Michigan has better odds against all of its other opponents. Last year, Central Michigan was 5-3 in the MAC, and if the Chippewas repeat that, then they should at least get to seven wins.
Central Michigan brings back plenty of experience, but the key will be how Flores fares as a passer. He is a major threat with his legs, but the Chippewas will need some balance in their offense. The defense will have many new starters and will have to come together, but the four non-conference games should test the Chippewas for the rigors of the MAC schedule.
