Eagles Journey to Face Miami Saturday Aftermidday

OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – After securing its first Mid-American Conference win of the season, the Eastern Michigan University soccer workforce will look to make it two in a row when the Eagles enterprise to Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio, to tackle the Miami University RedHawks Saturday, Oct. 18. The recreation between the Eagles (2-5, 1-2 MAC) and RedHawks (3-3, 2-0 MAC) is scheduled to kick off at 12 p.m. and will likely be televised on ESPN+. The recreation will be heard stay on WEMU (89.1 FM), The Varsity Network app, and SiriusXM with Tom Helmer (play-by-play), Rob Rubick (analyst), and Elena Davis (sideline) on the radio name.
 
KESSINGER EARNS MAC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK (AGAIN)
For the second time this season, kicker Rudy Kessinger was named the MAC’s Special Teams Player of the Week, Oct. 13. He tied his career-high with three subject targets (35, 49 and 28) as he was an ideal 3-of-3 on the day whereas including one additional level for 10 factors within the recreation in opposition to NIU, Oct. 11.
 
BACK-TO-BACK OVER THE CENTURY MARK
Dontae McMillan has rushed for over 100 yards in every of his previous two video games, accumulating 117 yards at Buffalo (Oct. 4) earlier than accumulating 104 in opposition to Northern Illinois (Oct. 11). Those totals mark the primary time for the reason that 2019 season that EMU had a participant rush for over 100 yards in back-to-back contests when Shaq Vann ran for 182 in opposition to Akron (Nov. 12, 2019) and 101 in opposition to NIU (Nov. 19, 2019). If McMillan can crack the century mark at Miami this week, he can be the primary EMU runner to surpass the 100-yard mark in three consecutive video games since Darius Jackson achieved the feat in 2015 with video games of 112 in opposition to Akron (Oct. 10), 113 in opposition to Toledo (Oct. 17), and 101 in opposition to NIU (Oct. 24).
 
BATCH ENTERS PENNSYLVANIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Charlie Batch, EMU quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, will likely be inducted into the Pennsylvania State Sports Hall of Fame, Oct. 18, on the Sheraton Hotel at Station Square in Pittsburgh. Batch earned 4 letters at EMU, set a number of faculty information for profession passing yards (7,592), touchdowns (53), and single-season offensive yards (3,229 in 1995, 3,390 in 1997), and was named EMU’s Most Valuable Player in 1997. Drafted thirtieth total in 1998 by the Detroit Lions, he performed 12 NFL seasons with Detroit and Pittsburgh, profitable Super Bowls XL and XLIII and incomes the 2006 Steelers Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. He will likely be honored alongside 11 different distinguished inductees, together with Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion Swin Cash, MLB All-Star Sean Casey, heavyweight boxing champion Michael Moorer, NFL participant and coach Gary L. Brown, and a number of different athletes and contributors who’ve left an enduring mark on Pennsylvania sports activities. Off the sphere, Batch has devoted himself to youth by means of his Best of the Batch Foundation and Project C.H.U.C.Okay.
 
KNOW THE FOE: MIAMI
The RedHawks are 3-3 total and 2-0 in MAC play following their 20-7 highway win at Akron, Oct. 11, which additionally marked their third consecutive win of the yr after opening the season 0-3 with losses at Wisconsin and Rutgers of the Big Ten and a detailed 41-38 to undefeated UNLV. Dequan Finn has thrown for 838 yards with 4 touchdowns and 5 picks whereas main the workforce with 274 yards dashing and one rating. Defensively, Eli Blakey leads the way in which with 50 tackles whereas Adam Trick has 7.5 TFLs, together with a team-best 5.0 sacks.
 
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE REDHAWKS
The Eagles and RedHawks have met simply 26 instances of their respective histories. The two faculties first met in 1974, however have squared off solely eight instances since 2000. MU leads the all-time sequence, 20-6, however EMU has taken two of the final three conferences after snapping a nine-game skid in 2017.
 
STABILITY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME
In his twelfth season in Ypsilanti, EMU Head Coach Chris Creighton is the eighth-longest-tenured Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) head coach. While they’re each of their twelfth season, Creighton is technically the second-longest-tenured head coach within the convention by hiring date, falling simply 9 days in need of Miami’s Chuck Martin.
 
LAST MEETING WITH MIAMI
Brett Gabbert threw 4 landing passes, Miami scored 17 factors within the fourth quarter, and the RedHawks defeated Eastern Michigan, 38-14, Oct. 12. Miami led 21-14 within the last interval earlier than placing the sport away with Gabbert’s 24-yard TD move to Cole Weaver, a 44-yard subject aim by Dom Dzioban, and Jordan Brunson’s 44-yard landing run. The three drives totaled 191 yards of offense, almost half of Miami’s 421 yards for the sport, with solely 16 first downs.
 
Gabbert was 10-of-13 passing for 222 yards, averaging 17 yards per try and 22 yards per completion. Miami’s Keyon Mozee ran for 100 yards and Reggie Virgil caught three passes for 113 yards, together with a 75-yard landing on the primary play of the sport. Cole Snyder and Delbert Mimms III every had 1-yard landing runs for the Eagles.
 
LAST TRIP TO OXFORD
Brogan Roback threw a pair of third-quarter landing passes to Sergio Bailey, rallying Eastern Michigan to a 27-24 victory over Miami, Nov. 15, 2017, wherein the Eagles quarterback grew to become the college’s all-time complete offense chief. Roback linked with Bailey on 32- and 10-yard landing passes to guide 27-17.
 
Ryan Smith caught an 11-yard rating from Gus Ragland with two minutes remaining to get Miami inside three, however it didn’t get better the onside kick and had no timeouts left to cease the clock.
 
Roback scored on a 3-yard run within the first quarter earlier than Miami’s Kenny Young ran for a pair of touchdowns, 6 and 5 yards, within the second quarter with the RedHawks main 17-13 at halftime. Roback threw for 269 yards and ran for 3, giving the senior 8,811 in his profession to move Walter Church (1996-2000) at 8,628.
 
The loss ended Miami’s nine-game profitable streak in opposition to the Eagles courting to 1994 and dashed the RedHawks’ hopes of a bowl look. Maxx Crosby had three sacks for 11 this yr, tying the Eagles’ single-season file. Ian Eriksen rushed for 112 yards.
 
EMU’S LAST WIN IN THE SERIES
Ben Bryant‘s 16-yard move to Bryson Cannon over the center was the lone landing in a recreation that noticed six subject targets present the majority of the scoring as EMU edged Miami, 13-12, at Rynearson Stadium, Oct. 9, 2021.
 
The landing capped an eight-play, 73-yard drive as Cannon crashed by means of a pair of defenders to offer Eastern Michigan a 7-6 lead halfway by means of the second quarter. Chad Ryland tacked on subject targets of 47 and 33 yards because the Eagles prolonged their result in 13-6.
 
Graham Nicholson, who kicked 4 subject targets for the RedHawks, booted 31 and 44-yarders that minimize the hole to 13-12 with 6:29 left to play. Eastern Michigan sealed the one-point win when A.J. Mayer’s fourth-down move was deflected on the line of scrimmage, ending the RedHawks’ last drive with beneath two minutes to go.
 
The Eagles took over and wound the clock all the way down to virtually zero earlier than punting. Miami outgained the Eagles 385 yards to 257, with Mayer throwing for 259 yards. Jack Sorenson had 123 yards on seven catches for MU.
 
TIES BETWEEN EMU AND MIAMI
Despite not enjoying recurrently, EMU and Miami do share some widespread bonds. MU Head Coach Chuck Martin was the linebackers coach at EMU from 1998-99 earlier than departing to Grand Valley State University. Associate Head Coach James Patton served as EMU’s offensive line coach/run recreation coordinator in 2019-20. EMU’s offense was electrical in 2019, amassing 5,271 complete yards, 49 touchdowns, and 379 complete factors. Overall, the EMU offense set this system’s season information for touchdowns (49), landing passes (27), and passes accomplished (313). Additionally, Darrell Hallberg, Miami’s Associate AD/Sport and Facility Services, labored for 4 years at EMU because the division’s tools supervisor earlier than departing for Oxford. Meanwhile, EMU linebacker Carter Herriman redshirted in 2024 as a part of a Miami workforce that received the MAC Regular Season title and took dwelling the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl championship.
 
TURNOVERS TELL THE STORY VS. MIAMI
Turnover margin has been the one most dependable indicator of success for Eastern Michigan in its trendy sequence with Miami. Since 1995, EMU has performed 11 video games in opposition to the RedHawks and holds a 2-0 file when ending with an excellent or constructive turnover margin, in comparison with a 0-9 mark when ending within the unfavorable. Both victories got here with out committing a single turnover—27-24 on the highway in 2017 and 13-12 at dwelling in 2021. In these two wins, EMU overcame important challenges elsewhere. The Eagles have been outgained on the bottom by 76 yards in 2021 and 55 yards in 2017, however clear execution and disciplined play allowed them to regulate subject place and restrict Miami’s scoring alternatives. Both contests additionally got here all the way down to fourth-quarter execution, with EMU’s mistake-free strategy proving decisive. The numbers reinforce the pattern. Across the 9 losses since 1995, EMU has averaged 1.3 extra turnovers per recreation than Miami. During that span, the Eagles have been outscored by 12.8 factors per recreation when shedding the turnover battle.
 
GOING GREEN IN THE RED ZONE
Eastern is one among six FBS groups and the one squad within the MAC with an ideal red-zone file this season, scoring on all 23 journeys in 2025. The 23 appearances, which rank third among the many six excellent groups (Memphis with 25 and Cincinnati with 24), have seen the Eagles rating 13 touchdowns (9 dashing/4 passing) whereas kicking 10 subject targets, probably the most among the many six faculties. The Eagles stay the one workforce within the MAC that’s among the many high 60 nationally with Northern Illinois subsequent on the listing at 61st with an 87.5% conversion charge (7-of-8).
 
MAKING IT WORK WITHOUT 300 YARDS
Eastern Michigan’s 16–10 win over Northern Illinois, Oct. 11, marked simply the eleventh time since 1995 that the Eagles have received a recreation with fewer than 300 complete yards — ending with precisely 296. It is the fifth time since 2023 that EMU has pulled off any such win, additionally doing so in opposition to Kent State (218 yards, Oct. 14, 2023), Ball State (253, Oct. 7, 2023), Howard (285, Sept. 1, 2023), and Miami (257, Oct. 9, 2021). In every case, EMU held opponents to 14 factors or fewer and minimized errors. Under Chris Creighton, the Eagles are actually 6-27 in sub-300-yard contests because the NIU victory snapped a seven-game shedding skid in such video games. Additionally, EMU joins Georgia (at Auburn – 296) as the one FBS groups to perform the feat in 2025.
 
THE EASTERN 500
Through video games performed Oct. 11, EMU holds an all-time file of 497-635-47, leaving it three wins shy of 500. The Eagles are one among two groups within the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) that might attain 500 wins this season together with Rice (499). Temple (500) and Wake Forest (500) reached the milestone earlier this season.
 
LOCKDOWN MODE
Eastern Michigan continued its long-standing pattern of defensive success with a 16-10 win over  NIU (Oct. 11). The victory marked EMU’s seventeenth consecutive win when holding an opponent to 10 factors or fewer, a streak that stretches again almost three a long time. The final time the Eagles misplaced beneath these circumstances got here on Oct. 5, 1995, in a 7-0 defeat at Ohio. Since 1975, EMU has restricted opponents to 10 factors or fewer in 49 video games, compiling a powerful 41-5-3 file in these contests. The program’s formulation for fulfillment has been constant — when the protection units the tone, wins observe. Recent performances illustrate this pattern. EMU blanked Saint Francis (PA) 36-0 in 2024, shut down Ball State 24-10 in 2023, and recorded back-to-back defensive gems in 2018 with victories over Akron and Central Michigan, every permitting just one rating. The Eagles’ skill to regulate the tempo and restrict massive performs continues to outline their identification, making each low-scoring recreation a possibility for victory.
 
LOW-SCORING SUCCESS RARE, BUT IMPORTANT
Eastern Michigan’s 16-10 win over Northern Illinois, Oct. 11, broke a uncommon statistical pattern. Since 1975, EMU has scored 16 factors or fewer in 245 video games, going 16-226-3 in these contests. The victory ended a nine-game drought in such video games, final achieved in a 13-12 win over Miami, Oct. 9, 2021. Defense carried the day. EMU held NIU to 10 factors and turned restricted offense right into a key dwelling win. It marked Chris Creighton‘s third victory at EMU when scoring 16 or fewer, becoming a member of wins over Miami in 2021 and Rutgers in 2017. The win was additionally EMU’s first MAC triumph beneath that threshold since 2017. Creighton’s groups have delivered three of EMU’s final 5 low-scoring wins since 2000, going 3-27 in such video games since 2017.
 
LIMBO LINE
Dating again to the 1976 season, their first yr within the league, the Eagles have performed 38 MAC video games which have completed with 26 or fewer mixed factors with EMU holding a 12-23-3 file following the 16-10 (26) win over NIU, Oct. 11. The recreation marked the fifth time the Eagles and Huskies have completed with 26 or fewer mixed factors, which ties Central Michigan for the second-most such conferences behind the six contest with Ball State.
 
EMU STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT
Eastern Michigan ranks close to the highest of the MAC in effectivity, execution, and ball safety. The Eagles are first nationally and within the MAC in purple zone offense, changing 100% of alternatives. They have misplaced solely 4 turnovers, rating first within the MAC and twelfth nationally, whereas permitting the fewest sacks and tackles for loss within the league. Offensively, EMU is third within the MAC in complete offense (365.9 yards per recreation) and fourth in scoring (23.7 factors per recreation). The passing recreation ranks third within the league (211.9 yards per recreation), with sturdy third- and fourth-down conversions. Defensively, the Eagles restrict passing yards (sixth in MAC, 206.4 per recreation) and carry out nicely within the purple zone and on kickoff returns. Special groups rank second within the MAC in internet punting (39.6 yards). Discipline additionally helps, with EMU within the high half nationally in penalty yards per recreation.
 
NO. 134 IN THE 734
Eastern Michigan is at present enjoying its 134th season of soccer with this system first enjoying in 1891. Tied with NC State and Iowa State for twenty ninth on the all-time ledger in seasons performed, the Eagles are third within the Mid-American Conference behind newcomer UMass (143rd season) and Miami (137th). Along with Miami, the one different workforce on this yr’s schedule that has performed extra is UK (one hundred and thirty fifth).
 
EAGLES AMONG MAC & NATIONAL LEADERS
Eastern options key gamers ranked among the many nation’s finest in a number of classes. Dontae McMillan leads the MAC with 637 dashing yards and ranks tenth nationally. He averages 91.0 yards per recreation and 6.07 yards per carry, second-best within the league in all-purpose yards at 118.3 per recreation. Noah Kim ranks first within the MAC with 1,483 passing yards and 211.9 per recreation. He has eight landing passes (third within the league) and sits among the many MAC’s high seven in each completion charge (62.6%) and effectivity (125.5). His 228.3 complete yards per recreation rank second within the MAC. Rudy Kessinger leads the MAC with 2.0 subject targets per recreation and 58 factors, rating high 5 nationally in each classes. Defensively, Bryce Llewellyn shares the MAC lead with two interceptions, whereas Jason Marshall and Barry Manning are amongst EMU’s high tacklers. Special groups stay a energy. Mitchell Tomasek leads the MAC and ranks ninth nationally at 47.3 yards per punt, and Jayvin Norman ranks sixth within the MAC with a 21.6-yard kickoff return common.
 
UPPER HALF
Since 2016, Eastern has posted 56 wins, which ranks because the sixth-most victories of any workforce within the MAC.
75 • Toledo
72 • Ohio
64 • Western Michigan
63 • Miami
58 • Buffalo
56 • Eastern Michigan
52 • Northern Illinois
51 • Central Michigan
42 • Ball State
39 • Bowling Green
32 • Kent State
28 • Akron
18 • UMass
* up to date by means of 2025 Week 7 video games
 
SINGLE SCORES
Since the beginning of the 2016 season, Eastern is second nationally with 61 one-score video games performed, sitting behind Northern Illinois (65).
1. Northern Illinois – 65 (31-34)
2. Eastern Michigan – 61 (30-31)
4. Iowa State – 59 (26-33)
3. Texas – 59 (26-33)
5. Nebraska – 57 (17-40)
6. Kansas State – 56 (26-30)
7. North Carolina – 52 (22-30)
8. Oklahoma State – 51 (31-20)
9. Tulsa – 51 (23-28)
 
DONTAE DOES IT ALL
Dontae McMillan is rising as one among EMU’s best backs in latest reminiscence. Through seven video games, he has 105 carries for 637 dashing yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, which locations him third in EMU historical past since 1995 amongst gamers with at the least 100 touches. He trails solely Bronson Hill (6.5 YPC in 2012) and Jawon Hamilton (6.2 YPC in 2021). McMillan’s 91 dashing yards per recreation ranks among the many high within the MAC, and he has added two dashing touchdowns. Beyond his floor recreation, he has amassed 123 complete touches for 828 scrimmage yards, displaying he can contribute in each designed runs and display passes.
 
McMILLAN CLOSING IN
Through seven video games, Dontae McMillan has tallied 637 yards dashing, a median of 91 yards per recreation. If he can preserve his tempo over the ultimate 5 video games of the common season, he would turn out to be solely the fifteenth again in program historical past to hurry for 1,000+ yards in a season and the primary since Samson Evans in 2022 (1,166). Additionally, he would turn out to be solely the sixth operating again on the listing within the 2000s with Darius Jackson (1,078) in 2015 the final title added to the ledger earlier than Evans joined.
 
KEEPING IT 100 (PLUS)
Dontae McMillan completed the sport with NIU (Oct. 11) with 104 yards dashing to mark the third time this season he has surpassed the 100-yard mark in a recreation after operating for 126 in opposition to Louisiana and 117 at Buffalo final week. The three, century-mark video games are probably the most in a single season for the again, surpassing the 2 he tallied with Weber State through the 2022 season. McMillan has now rushed for 100+ yards in a recreation seven instances in his collegiate profession (one every in 2020 and 2021).
 
CENTURY MARKS
Dontae McMillan‘s 104 yards dashing in opposition to Northern Illinois marked the 231st recreation in program historical past that an EMU participant has rushed for over 100 yards in a single recreation. Coupled together with his video games of 126 yards in opposition to Louisiana (Sept. 20) and 117 at Buffalo (Oct. 4), he grew to become the forty first completely different participant in program historical past (134 years) to file a number of 100-yard dashing video games in a profession and the thirty seventh to take action in the identical season. Additionally, McMillan grew to become the thirty first Eagle to file three or extra 100-yard video games in his EMU profession and the primary to have three or extra in the identical season since 2022 when Samson Evans tallied 4.
 
KESSINGER’S IMPACT
Rudy Kessinger has made an instantaneous affect as a freshman kicker for Eastern Michigan, changing 14 of 18 subject aim makes an attempt for a 77.8% success charge whereas additionally connecting on all 16 additional factors by means of the primary seven video games of the season. His longest subject aim of fifty yards demonstrates each vary and confidence in high-pressure conditions, giving the Eagles a dependable scoring possibility from distance. Kessinger’s complete of 58 factors ranks among the many high single-season performances in program historical past for a freshman, placing him in firm with standout kickers like Andrew Wellock, who hit 21 subject targets at 91.3% in 2004, and Chad Ryland, who went excellent on additional factors in 2021.
 
WHERE’S THE MACcoon?
Bryce Llewellyn recorded his second interception of the yr, establishing Rudy Kessinger‘s 28-yard subject aim that gave the Eagles a 16-10 lead over Northern Illinois, Oct. 11. Llewellyn has accounted for 2 of EMU’s three interceptions and the workforce has transformed turnovers into six factors this season, together with a 42-yard subject aim at Buffalo, Oct. 4, following a sack-fumble. Under Chris Creighton, EMU has constantly turned defensive stops into scoring alternatives. Since 2014, the Eagles have pressured one, two, or extra turnovers in 97 video games, producing a number of scoring probabilities which have ranged from three factors off a single takeaway to 12 factors when the protection created a number of turnovers in a recreation.
 
LEADER OF THE MAC
Noah Kim continues to search out himself among the many MAC leaders for quarterbacks as he has amassed 1,483 yards on 142-of-227 passing, the very best within the league. Ranked first with 142 completions, Kim’s 211.9 yards per recreation common is 0.9 yards per recreation higher than the following quarterback. Overall, Kim is averaging 20.3 completions per recreation, which leads the MAC.
 
THROUGH THE AIR
Noah Kim has accounted for 12 touchdowns by means of seven video games, together with a career-high eight passing and 4 dashing. Kim added one passing rating in opposition to NIU, Oct. 11, to offer him at the least one passing landing in six of seven video games performed this season whereas surpassing his earlier single-season passing landing complete of six recorded in 2023 with Michigan State.
 
ONE IF BY LAND…
While Noah Kim has proven off his arm energy, he additionally featured his legs lately. Entering the sport at Kentucky (Sept. 13), Kim had by no means tallied a dashing landing and proceeded to not solely file his first dashing scoring in opposition to the Wildcats however adopted with a land-based landing in 4 consecutive video games, a streak that ended within the recreation with NIU (Oct. 11). All advised, Kim and Dontae McMillan lead the workforce with 4 dashing scores whereas Tavierre Dunlap and Joshua Long are third with three complete touchdowns every.
 
KICKING CAREER
Mitchell Tomasek, the MAC chief and ninth-ranked punter within the FBS at 47.3 yards per punt, has made his manner into this system’s all-time high 5 in profession punting yardage as he has amassed 8,662 yards throughout his time with the Eagles, which ranks fifth. The sixth punter in EMU historical past to surpass the 8,000-yard barrier, Tomasek moved forward of Jay Kurtz (2010-12), who beforehand held the fifth place with 8,063 yards.
 
PULLING OUT THE DRIVER
Mitchell Tomasek has hit 55 of his 194 profession punts for 50+ yards (28.4%), together with 13 over 60 yards, whereas recording simply 17 touchbacks (8.8%). For his profession, Tomasek has recorded a better of 72 yards at Jacksonville State (Sept. 23, 2023) whereas hitting a 70-yarder at dwelling in opposition to Ball State (Oct. 7, 2023). He has recorded at the least three punts of 62 yards or higher in all three seasons he has performed for the Eagles and is one away already from making 4 consecutive years after recording punts of 63 and 62-yards at Texas State.
 
MAKING DEBUTS • TRANSFERS
Eastern has seen 34 gamers take their first snaps with the workforce this years with 21 transfers (20 in 2025 and one from 2024) on that listing, together with: Kadin Bailey, Duke Clayton, Caleb Coley, Nathan Dibert, Caleb Dobbs, Tavierre Dunlap, Makhi Gilbert, Ronn Hardin, Nick Harris, James Jointer Jr., Noah Kim, Tanner Lemaster, Joshua Long, Ja’Quel Mack, Andrew Marshall, James Monds III, Marco Patierno, Benson Prosper, Porter Rooks, Juan Salas Jr., and Warren-Stevens Tayou.
 
ON THE STARTING LINE
Through the NIU recreation (Oct. 11), 23 completely different gamers have earned their first begins with the Eagles, together with 4 in opposition to the Huskies – Joey Mattord, Juan Salas, Bryce Eliuk, and Hector Gonzalez.
Along with newest addition, the 19 different gamers to earn begins with Eastern this yr embrace: Messiah Blair,  Tylan Boykin, Dodji Dahoue, Nick Deveraux, Caleb Dobbs, Tavierre Dunlap, Nicholas Gallegos, Makhi Gilbert, Noah Kim, Bryce Llewellyn, Joshua Long, Andrew Marshall, Jason Marshall, Sterling Miles, Benson Prosper, Donmiel Rogers, Porter Rooks, Terrance Saunders, and Owen Snively.
 
2025 Most First-Time Starters
23 – Eastern Michigan
14 – Navy, Louisiana Tech, Bowling Green
13 – Old Dominion, NC State
12 – Oregon, UTSA, Syracuse, Fresno State
 
MAKING DEBUTS • FRESHMEN
Twelve freshmen have seen their first collegiate enjoying time this season with redshirt freshman Javon Thomas taking the sphere at Kentucky. He joins the listing of first-year gamers that additionally contains: Tylan Boykin, Quincy Byas, Marvell Eggelston Jr., Antonio Floyd, Reggie Gardner, Hector Gonzalez, Ray Hester, Rudy Kessinger, Harold Mack Jr., Zah’eed Pierre, and Donmiel Rogers.
 
BACK ON THE LANES?
The Eagles will look to return to the postseason in 2025 and declare their seventh look beneath Chris Creighton. For the 2025 season, the MAC has affiliations with 4 video games: the previous Bahamas Bowl (vs. Conference USA), the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl (vs. Mountain West), the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (vs. MWC), and the GameAbove Sports Bowl (vs. Big Ten). Additionally, the MAC may ship groups to 2 of the next: 68 Ventures Bowl (vs. Sun Belt), Boca Raton Bowl (vs. Group of Five), Camellia Bowl (vs. ACC/Sun Belt), Cure Bowl (vs. Group of Five), Frisco Bowl (vs. Group of Five), Myrtle Beach Bowl (vs. ACC/SBC), and New Mexico Bowl (vs. CUSA).
 
BOWL APPEARANCES
Since 2016, 12-of-13 present MAC groups have performed in at the least one bowl, with the Eagles showing in six, which ranks tied for third-most with Miami whereas Ohio and Toledo prepared the ground with seven.
7 • Ohio, Toledo
6 • Eastern Michigan, Miami
5 • Buffalo, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan
4 • Central Michigan
3 • Bowling Green
2 • Ball State, Kent State
1 • Akron
0 • UMass (solely bowl was 1964)
 
THEY HAVE THE TOUCH
Over the previous 11 seasons (2014-24), the Eagles’ 26 blocked kicks have them tied for third-most amongst all groups within the MAC as Eastern, Miami, and Toledo are one off the tempo set by each Central Michigan and Northern Illinois, who every have 27. Over that span, Eastern has tallied at the least one block in 9 consecutive years (20 blocks) with Akron subsequent with six consecutive years (8). EMU is one among three faculties (CMU and Toledo) that has recorded at the least one block in 10-of-11 seasons through the present span.
 
NO KICKING ZONE
Since taking on this system in 2014, Chris Creighton‘s groups have blocked 26 kicks, together with at the least one in every of the previous 9 consecutive years. In 2024, the Eagles blocked 4 kicks, the second-highest complete for the workforce beneath Creighton behind solely the six blocks tallied in 2014. Last yr, Eastern blocked one punt and one point-after attempt at Washington (Sept. 7), blocked a punt and returned it for a landing at dwelling in opposition to St. Francis (Sept. 21), and blocked a 31-yard subject aim try at Ohio (Nov. 13). The 4 blocks tied for the MAC lead with Northern Illinois whereas rating sixth amongst all NCAA FBS groups. Overall, within the 11 seasons beneath Creighton, EMU has blocked 10 subject aim makes an attempt, 10 punts with 5 being returned for touchdowns, and 6 extra-point makes an attempt with one returned for a two-point defensive rating.
 
EARLY DRIVES SET THE TONE
Eastern Michigan’s opening-drive outcomes over the previous two seasons present blended outcomes on either side of the ball. Offensively, the Eagles scored on 4 of 17 first-half drives, producing three touchdowns and one subject aim, whereas most resulted in punts or turnovers. Second-half begins confirmed a slight enchancment, with 5 scoring drives in 17 alternatives, together with 4 touchdowns, although 10 resulted in punts. The most up-to-date got here in opposition to Central Michigan, Sept. 27, marking EMU’s first second-half opening-drive landing for the reason that 2024 season finale at Western Michigan, Nov. 30. Defensively, opponents discovered success on scripted sequence. Seven of 17 first-half drives resulted in touchdowns, with the identical quantity approaching second-half opening possessions. EMU pressured 17 mixed stops throughout each halves, highlighted by takeaways in opposition to Toledo and Ohio and a missed subject aim by LIU.
 
EXTENDING DRIVES: THIRD-DOWN CONTROL
Eastern Michigan ranks second within the MAC in third-down conversions at 40.9%, rating 66th nationally. Noah Kim, finishing 70% of his passes and rating fourth within the MAC, is 35-for-57 throwing the ball on third down, with 22 of these completions ensuing within the chains transferring. Even extra spectacular, Kim is 23-of-39 on third-and-long conditions and 9-of-12 on third-and-medium.
 
AYE, AYE CAPTAINS!
The Eagles will likely be led by six captains within the 2025 season. Following a vote of the present roster, the gamers chosen Jefferson Adam, Tavierre Dunlap, Dramarian McNulty, Noah Kim, Zach Mowchan, and Mickey Rewolinski to function captains this season.
 
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern Michigan returns to motion Saturday, Oct. 25, when the Eagles play host to the Bobcats of Ohio University inside Rynearson Stadium. CBS Sports Network (CBSSN) will televise the sport starting at 12 p.m. Tom Helmer (play-by-play), Rob Rubick (analyst), Elena Davis (sideline), and Greg Steiner (halftime) may have the decision on WEMU (89.1 FM), The Varsity Network app, and SiriusXM.