GAME 9: CENTRAL MICHIGAN (5-3, 3-1 MAC) at WESTERN MICHIGAN (4-4, 3-1 MAC) Battle for the Victory Cannon Trophy Saturday, November 1, 2025 • 4 p.m. ET • Kalamazoo, Mich • Waldo Stadium (30,200) SATURDAY MATCHUP Television: ESPNU (Jason Ross, Jr., play-by-play; Jerod Cherry, analyst; Brett Wilensky, producer).
Chippewa Sports Radio Network: Adam Jaksa, play-by-play; Brock Gutierrez, shade analyst; spotter: Steve Powers; hosts: Nathan Arbaugh, Kyle Sandel.
Live Stats: go to
CMU Social Media: Twitter (@cmu_football); Facebook (@cmufootball); Instagram (cmufootball); Website: www.cmuchippewas.com.
Coaches: Central Michigan-
Matt Drinkall, 1
st yr at CMU (5-3), 6
th yr as a head coach (47-20), 22
nd yr in teaching. Western Michigan-Lance Taylor, 3
rd yr at WMU (14-18), 3
rd yr general (14-18).
Series: Central Michigan and Western Michigan meet for the 96
th time for the reason that collection started on Oct. 19, 1907. CMU claimed final yr’s assembly, 16-14 in Mount Pleasant. Central Michigan has gained two of the final 4 and 5 of the final 9 conferences performed in Kalamazoo. Western Michigan is 28-17-1 all-time in video games performed in Kalamazoo.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME NOTES MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.–Central Michigan (5-3, 3-1 MAC) travels to Kalamazoo the place it would play Western Michigan (4-4, 3-1 MAC) within the annual Battle for the Victory Cannon Trophy sport on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Waldo Stadium. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. ET for a nationally televised contest on ESPNU.
WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME The sport might be televised on ESPNU with Jason Ross, Jr. (play-by-play) and Jerod Cherry (shade analyst) calling motion. Brett Wilensky will produce.
WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE GAME Fans may hearken to the CMU Chippewas Sports Network broadcast introduced by Fabiano Brothers.
Adam Jaksa (play-by-play) and former Central Michigan/NFL participant and CMU Athletic Hall of Famer Brock Gutierrez (shade analyst) name the motion on the community which may be accessed on www.cmuchippewas.com, on the 98.5-FM WUPS web site, or on the Black Diamond broadcasting app. Coverage begins with a one-hour pre-game present.
SATURDAY’S TOP STORYLINES *Central and Western meet for the annual soccer rivalry sport on Saturday on ESPNU. Both groups are tied for second place within the MAC with equivalent 3-1 data. Saturday’s winner will declare the all-important Victory Cannon Trophy and Michigan MAC Trophy ought to CMU win.
*On a two-game win streak, Central Michigan enters its annual rivarly sport after successful 4 of its final 5 video games and is one win shy of bowl eligibility.
*Central Michigan and Western Michigan will do battle for the rights to the victory cannon for the 96th time for the reason that collection started in 1907.
GAME NOTES KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Riding a two-game win streak, Central Michigan (5-3, 3-1 MAC) performs its fifth Mid-American Conference sport and ninth general contest of the 2025 season when it travels to Kalamazoo, Mich. to play at rival Western Michigan (4-4, 3-1 MAC) on Saturday at Waldo Stadium. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. ET for an ESPNU nationwide broadcast. The winner earns the rights to the Victory Cannon Trophy and the Michigan MAC Trophy. Both groups enter the sport in second place within the MAC standings with equivalent 3-1 league data.
With a victory on Saturday at Western Michigan, Central Michigan would grow to be bowl eligible with its sixth win of the yr. It is trying to grow to be bowl eligible for the primary time in 4 seasons. Historically, Central Michigan has made a complete of 15 bowl sport appearances. With 5 victories, the Chippewas have already gained extra video games than they did final season (4 wins in 2024).
In all 5 wins this yr, Central Michigan has restricted opponents to 14 factors or much less. CMU is 5-0 when main at halftime, 4-1 when main on the finish of the primary quarter, 4-1 when main time of possession, and an undefeated 3-0 in dwelling video games.
As winners of 4 of its final 5 video games, Central Michigan is vying for its third street win of the season after it registered a dominating 38-13 Homecoming victory over Massachusetts final Saturday. The Chippewas amassed 502 yards of whole offense, together with 279 dashing and 223 passing in successful its third league victory. CMU’s protection 12 quarterback hurries, eight cross breakups, 7.0 tackles for loss and interception in limiting the Minutemen to 13 factors. Opponents have scored only one landing in opposition to CMU within the final eight quarters of play. Running again
Brock Townsend scored a career-high three touchdowns (two dashing and a 51-yard reception), quarterback
Joe Labas tied a school-record for sport completion share (10-11) and threw for 2 touchdowns and 148 yards, operating again
Nahree Biggins rushed for 94 yards on 10 carries, and quarterback
Angel Flores ran for 63 yards and a landing on eight carries.
Central Michigan grabbed an early lead because it constructed a 21-7 first quarter benefit, then coasted to the victory. Townsend scored on two brief runs, then Flores added a nine-yard landing for the lead. The Chippewas added two landing passes within the second half as Labas hit Townsend for a 51-yard reception and
Nasir Williams for a 19-yarder.
Prior to the UMass win, Central Michigan registered a decisive 27-6 win at Bowling Green. The win got here after an off week and adopted a 28-22 loss at Akron on Oct. 4. Previously, the Chippewas claimed back-to-back dwelling victories over Eastern Michigan (24-13) within the MAC opener and Wagner (49-10) in its dwelling opener. In each video games, the Chippewas acquired off to quick begins.
Central Michigan held Bowling Green with no landing and to solely six factors on the street, the fewest touchdowns and factors allowed in a sport because it shutout Bucknell 41-0 on Sept. 17, 2022. With the victory, Central Michigan erased a 10-game street dropping streak in MAC play. Quarterback
Angel Flores scored a career-high three dashing touchdowns and linebacker
Jordan Kwiatkowski led the protection with a season-high 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a key second quarter interception. Kwiatkowski was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week for his effort. It was Kwiatkowski who began the Chippewas off as he intercepted a cross and returned it 26 yards to the BG one-yard line the place Flores scored and gave the Chippewas a 7-3 lead. It was a lead CMU wouldn’t relinquish because the Chippewas scored once more 5 minutes later when quarterback
Joe Labas linked with receiver
Collin Payne for a 63-yard cross, then Flores scored his second landing of the day, this time a 6-yard run. A 38-yard area aim by
Cade Graham gave the Chippewas a commanding 17-3 lead. In the second half, Central Michigan took the opening possession and marched 75 yard in seven performs and ending in Flores’ third landing of the day. Graham transformed his second area aim of the day, a 47-yarder within the third quarter and CMU led 27-6.
The Chippewas defeated Wagner at dwelling on Sept. 20 (49-10), opened MAC play with a 24-13 dwelling win vs. Eastern Michigan, and misplaced at Akron on Oct. 4 (28-22).
Central Michigan opened its season with three straight street video games for the primary time since 1972. The Chippewas dropped a 63-3 loss at Michigan earlier than 110,740 followers at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 13. It dropped a 45-17 choice at Pittsburgh on Sept. 6.
It gained its season opener on Aug. 29 because it claimed a 16-14 come-from-behind victory at San Jose State.
The San Jose State win represented the primary for coach
Matt Drinkall as Central Michigan’s soccer coach. Drinkall was named the thirtieth soccer coach at Central Michigan on Dec. 9, 2024, after serving the earlier six seasons on workers at Army. His 2024 Army offensive line gained the Joe Moore Award for prime offensive line unit within the nation and helped information the Black Knights to a 12-2 document, No. 22 nationwide rating within the College Football Playoff ballot, and the American Athletic Conference title in this system’s first yr within the league.
In his first 11 months with the Central Michigan Football program, Drinkall has initiated a tradition change with quite a few enhancements to the student-athlete expertise. With a 3.2 grade level common, the Chippewas put collectively their best-ever educational semester in spring 2025. The Chippewas now have top-notch meals supplied at their facility by CMU Dining Services, have turned rooms into areas for participant use such because the VIP Lounge which was transformed right into a participant lounge, the observe schedule has been revamped, and the group took a team-building journey to amusement park Cedar Point in the summertime. Those are just some of the numerous adjustments that he has made since his arrival.
Drinkall grew to become the primary coach at Central Michigan to win a debut sport on the street since Bill Kelly gained a 34-13 victory at Southern Illinois on Sept. 22, 1951. Drinkall additionally grew to become the primary coach at CMU since Herb Deromedi in 1978 to win his first street sport and his first dwelling sport in his debut season.
Ranked as one of many nation’s prime 40 winningest FBS packages of all-time and with eight present gamers within the National Football League, Central Michigan is coming off three consecutive sub-.500 seasons for the primary time since 2002-04. The Chippewas went 4-8 final season and 2-6 within the MAC.
FAST STARTING CHIPPEWAS Fast begins and early leads have helped Central Michigan register victories in every of its 5 video games this yr. When Central Michigan leads at halftime, it’s 5-0 on the yr.
Against UMass, the Chippewas jumped on prime 7-0, then 21-7 with three dashing touchdowns within the first quarter. It led 24-10 at halftime, then tacked on two
Joe Labas landing passes.
At Bowling Green, Central Michigan scored 17 straight factors to take a 17-3 lead within the second quarter. It used a
Jordan Kwiatkowski interception and 26-yard return to setup its first landing, used a 63-yard cross from
Joe Labas to
Collin Payne to setup its second landing, then stopped a pretend punt by BGSU on fourth right down to setup a area aim.
In every of its two dwelling wins (Wagner, EMU), Central Michigan began quick and amassed 14-0 first quarter leads in each video games. Against Wagner, it was CMU’s protection that made the performs early as
Dakota Cochran picked off a cross and rambled 30 yards for landing. On Wagner’s second possession, CMU’s
Michael Heldman pressured a fumble that was picked up by Cochran and the Chippewa offense scored on a run for a 14-0 lead.
Against Eastern Michigan, it was Central Michigan’s offense that helped give the Chippewas an early 14-0 first quarter lead. The Chippewas took their first drive 75 yards in 9 performs and scored on a 1-yard TD cross from
Angel Flores to
Brock Townsend. On its subsequent offensive drive, CMU went up 14-0 when operating again
Nahree Biggins burst by means of the center of the sector for a 49-yard landing run.
At San Jose State, Central Michigan used three turnovers to take an early 13-0 lead. San Jose State battled again to take a 14-13 lead, however CMU answered with a
Cade Graham area aim and held off the hosts the remainder of the way in which.
| Game |
Key Lead |
Final Score |
| at SJSU |
13-0 lead in 1st Q |
W, 16-14 |
| Wagner |
14-0 lead in 1st Q |
W, 49-10 |
| EMU |
14-0 lead in 1st Q |
W, 24-13 |
| at BGSU |
17-3 lead in 2nd Q |
W, 27-6 |
| UMass |
21-7 lead in 1st Q |
W, 38-13 |
TURNOVER MARGIN TURNAROUND
In its first eight video games of the 2025 season, Central Michigan has a +6 turnover margin, which ranks No. 1 within the MAC and No. 20 in FBS (12 turnovers gained/6 turnovers misplaced). The Chippewas additionally rank No. 31 nationally and No. 3 within the MAC in turnovers gained (12) and No. 14 nationally and No. 1 within the MAC in turnovers misplaced (6). The +6 turnover margin ranks as the perfect at Central Michigan since 2007 when the Chippewas registered a +6 (30 gained/24 misplaced).
CMU has scored 57 of its 196 factors off turnovers and has outscored its opponents 57-21 in factors off turnovers. Last yr, CMU was ranked No. 133 in turnover margin (-17) and tied a faculty document for worst turnover margin in a season.
The Chippewas have registered no less than one turnover in every of its first eight video games.
At San Jose State, Central Michigan pressured three first half turnovers together with two interceptions and a fumble restoration. The Chippewas scored their first 13 factors off these turnovers. CMU additionally restricted San Jose State to simply 74 yards dashing on 17 carries. The two interceptions by Brenden Deasfernandes and Elijah Rikard equaled Central Michigan’s interception whole from the complete 2024 season. Last yr, CMU totaled simply 5 turnovers (2 interceptions/3 fumble recoveries), the Chippewas have already got registered 9 by means of six video games in 2025.
At Pitt, Central Michigan registered one interception as Jordan Kwiatkowski stepped in entrance a cross and returned it 18 yards.
At Michigan, Brenden Deasfernandes registered an interception within the second quarter and turned it into three factors.
Versus Wagner, Central Michigan turned two turnovers right into a 14-0 lead within the first jiffy of the sport. On Wagner’s first possession, Dakota Cochran intercepted a tipped cross by Jordan Kwiatkowski and returned it 30 yards for a landing. On the following drive, Michael Heldman pressured a fumble which was picked up by Cochran. The Chippewas scored on a 2-yard run by Angel Flores.
Central Michigan’s Maddix Blackwell snatched an interception within the fourth quarter which ended an EMU drive.
At Akron, Caleb Spann intercepted a cross. At Bowling Green, Jordan Kwiatkowski and Jaion Jackson each intercepted passes. Kalen Carroll intercepted CMU’s tenth cross of the yr vs. UMass.
TURNOVER FREE CMU
Central Michigan has turned the ball over simply six occasions in eight video games this season. It has surrendered only one turnover in MAC play this season. Previously, Central Michigan went 15 quarters with out turning the ball over. The streak was from the Eastern Michigan sport by means of the fourth quarter of the UMass sport.
Of the six turnovers, all six had been dedicated with the sport already determined. Not one in every of CMU’s turnovers have include the sport on the road.
Central has had 4 video games this season the place it didn’t flip the ball over (at San Jose State, Eastern Michigan, at Akron, and at Bowling Green).
DEFENSE WINS GAMES
In all 5 wins this season, Central Michigan has restricted every of its opponents to 14 factors or much less. In 4 MAC video games, opponents are averaging simply 15.0 factors per sport, which ranks No. 3 within the league in convention solely video games.
The final time Central Michigan held as many groups beneath 20 factors in a season was in 2009, when the Chippewas held seven of their 14 opponents to twenty factors or much less.
Here is a take a look at the perfect defensive stretches within the final 25 years of Central Michigan soccer:
| Year |
Opp. held beneath 20 factors |
PPG |
| 2025 |
5 of 8 |
24.0 |
| 2009 |
7 of 14 |
18.9 |
| 2006 |
6 of 14 |
22.3 |
| 2005 |
5 of 11 |
23.6 |
MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY
In addition to the Victory Cannon Trophy, ought to Central Michigan win, it could take dwelling the Michigan MAC Trophy. CMU already defeated EMU 24-13 and a victory over WMU would give it a 2-0 document within the collection. Here are some information on the Michigan MAC Trophy:
*Presented yearly to one of many Michigan-based Mid-American Conference establishments (CMU, EMU, WMU), the trophy is awarded to the group which has the perfect head-to-head document in opposition to one another. It is one in every of simply two repeatedly awarded trophies between three groups (the opposite is the Commander-in-Chief trophy between Army, Navy, and Air Force).
•Central Michigan final gained the trophy in 2021 with wins over each Eastern and Western.
A WIN OVER WESTERN MICHIGAN WOULD…
*Give Central Michigan a 6-3 general document. The six wins can be probably the most for the reason that 2021 season when the Chippewas went 9-4.
*Give CMU a 4-1 document to begin to MAC play for the primary time since 2019 (not counting the CoVID-shortened 2020 season). The 4 wins can be probably the most for the reason that 2021 season when it gained six MAC video games.
*Give Central Michigan its third consecutive victory and fifth victory in its final six contests.
*Give Central Michigan its third street victory of the season, probably the most street wins since 2021 (3).
*Give Central Michigan its second straight victory over Western Michigan. It would mark the primary time that CMU defeated WMU in back-to-back seasons since 2009 and 2010.
*Give Central Michigan its second win in three tries in video games performed at Western Michigan.
CMU-WMU SERIES
Central Michigan and Western Michigan meet for the 96th time in collection historical past. Consider the next:
*Central Michigan enters its rivalry sport with a 40-53-2 all-time document vs. Western Michigan.
*Central Michigan claimed final yr’s Victory Cannon Trophy with a 16-14 victory in Mount Pleasant on Senior Day.
*Western Michigan has claimed 5 of the collection’ final seven video games.
*In video games performed in Kalamazoo, Central Michigan has gained two of the final 4 and 5 of the final 9 conferences. Western holds a 28-17-1 all-time benefit in video games performed in Kalamazoo.
RUN THE BALL
Central Michigan has run the ball in 72.2 p.c of its whole offensive performs, (363 of 503) up to now this season.
CMU is averaging 201.6 yards dashing per sport, which ranks No. 2 within the MAC and No. 25 in FBS, and 4.4 yards per carry. The Chippewas have rushed for over 200 yards in every of their final 5 video games and have gained 4 of these video games.
CMU’s Top Rushing Games
| Game |
Rushes |
Yards |
TD |
Result |
| EMU |
51 |
305 |
1 |
W, 24-13 |
| UMass |
53 |
279 |
3 |
W, 38-13 |
| at Akron |
40 |
238 |
2 |
L, 28-22 |
| at SJSU |
51 |
236 |
1 |
W, 16-14 |
| Wagner |
48 |
233 |
2 |
W, 49-10 |
| at BGSU |
46 |
203 |
3 |
W, 27-6 |
CMU IN NATIONAL STATISTICS
Following its first eight video games, Central Michigan is ranked among the many nation’s prime 35 nationwide leaders in 11 statistical classes. The Chippewas rank:
• No. 3, passes had intercepted (1).
• No. 11, fourth down conversion share protection (35.70).
• No. 13, passes intercepted (10).
• No. 14, completion share (69.30).
• No. 14, turnovers misplaced (6).
• No. 15, time of possession (32:43).
• No. 18, group passing effectivity (160.89).
• No. 20, turnover margin (75.00).
• No. 25, dashing offense (201.6).
• No. 31, turnovers gained (12).
• No. 33, defensive touchdowns (1).
In addition, a number of people had been ranked among the many nation’s prime 35 in a number of completely different statistics:
• Angel Flores, No. 25, dashing touchdowns (8).
• Cade Graham, No. 29, area aim share (85.70).
• Michael Heldman, No. 30, sacks (0.69).
• Cade Graham, No. 33, area targets per sport (1.50).
• Angel Flores, No. 35, whole touchdowns (8).