The 2021 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Jim McElwain and played their home games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference.
The Chippewas completed their regular season with an 8–4 record and accepted a bid to the Arizona Bowl, where they were due to face the Boise State Broncos. On December 27, Barstool Sports (the title sponsor of the bowl) founder Dave Portnoy announced the withdrawal of the Broncos from the bowl due to COVID-19 issues within the program; organizers stated that they would attempt to secure a replacement team to face the Chippewas. Later in the day, the Arizona Bowl was canceled, and Central Michigan was named as a replacement team for the Sun Bowl to face the Washington State Cougars.
Schedule
Game summaries
At Missouri
Statistics Central MichiganMissouri First downs 27 26 Total yards 475 468 Rushing yards 174 211 Passing yards 301 257 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 31:59 28:01
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Jacob Sirmon 23/45, 295 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Lew Nichols III 19 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD Receiving JaCorey Sullivan 8 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TDs Missouri Passing Connor Bazelak 21/32, 257 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Tyler Badie 25 carries, 203 yards, 1 TD Receiving D'ionte Smith 2 receptions, 69 yards
Robert Morris
Statistics Robert MorrisCentral Michigan First downs 3 28 Total yards 109 515 Rushing yards 96 287 Passing yards 13 228 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 23:21 36:45
Team Category Player Statistics Robert Morris Passing George Martin 5/8, 13 yards Rushing Jaylon Brown 3 carries, 37 yards Receiving Bryce Bevins 1 reception, 12 yards Central Michigan Passing Jacob Sirmon 12/16, 110 yards, 3 TDs Rushing De'Javion Stepney 9 carries, 81 yards Receiving Dallas Dixon 5 receptions, 73 yards, 2 TDs
At LSU
Statistics Central MichiganLSU First downs 17 23 Total yards 284 484 Rushing yards 56 84 Passing yards 228 400 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 33:02 26:58
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Jacob Sirmon 17/24, 156 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Myles Bailey 7 carries, 29 yards Receiving JaCorey Sullivan 5 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD LSU Passing Max Johnson 26/35, 372 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Corey Kiner 12 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD Receiving Deion Smith 5 receptions, 135 yards, 2 TDs
FIU
Statistics FIUCentral Michigan First downs 18 29 Total yards 437 599 Rushing yards 42 202 Passing yards 395 397 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 26:40 33:20
Team Category Player Statistics FIU Passing Max Bortenschlager 20/38, 395 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing D'Vonte Price 17 carries, 50 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tyrese Chambers 6 receptions, 175 yards, 1 TD Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 16/23, 276 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Lew Nichols III 25 carries, 152 yards Receiving Dallas Dixon 8 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TDs
At Miami (OH)
Statistics Central MichiganMiami First downs 25 26 Total yards 430 514 Rushing yards 52 164 Passing yards 378 350 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 26:45 33:15
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 22/41, 326 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Myles Bailey 8 carries, 29 yards Receiving Dallas Dixon 7 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD Miami Passing AJ Mayer 13/18, 179 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Keyon Mozee 13 carries, 83 yards Receiving Mac Hippenhammer 8 receptions, 170 yards
At Ohio
Statistics Central MichiganOhio First downs 23 22 Total yards 461 369 Rushing yards 204 179 Passing yards 257 190 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:33 33:27
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 16/30, 257 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Lew Nichols III 30 carries, 186 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dallas Dixon 4 receptions, 91 yards Ohio Passing Armani Rogers 13/18, 190 yards Rushing De'Montre Tuggle 19 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD Receiving Cameron Odom 4 receptions, 88 yards
Toledo
Statistics ToledoCentral Michigan First downs 20 13 Total yards 350 332 Rushing yards 142 128 Passing yards 208 204 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 31:33 28:27
Team Category Player Statistics Toledo Passing Dequan Finn 15/32, 208 yards Rushing Bryant Koback 15 carries, 87 yards Receiving Isaiah Winstead 4 receptions, 108 yards Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 21/35, 204 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Lew Nichols III 29 carries, 136 yards Receiving Kalil Pimpleton 6 receptions, 103 yards
Northern Illinois
Statistics Northern IllinoisCentral Michigan First downs 25 25 Total yards 548 500 Rushing yards 197 189 Passing yards 351 311 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 36:09 23:51
Team Category Player Statistics Northern Illinois Passing Rocky Lombardi 17/27, 348 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Jay Ducker 31 carries, 183 yards Receiving Trayvon Rudolph 6 receptions, 160 yards, 2 TDs Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 23/36, 289 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Lew Nichols III 22 carries, 192 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Kalil Pimpleton 6 receptions, 130 yards, 1 TD
At Western Michigan (Michigan MAC Trophy)
Statistics Central MichiganWestern Michigan First downs 17 25 Total yards 389 445 Rushing yards 148 169 Passing yards 241 276 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 25:14 34:46
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 10/18, 230 yards, 1 TD Rushing Lew Nichols III 26 carries, 163 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Kalil Pimpleton 5 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD Western Michigan Passing Kaleb Eleby 22/36, 276 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Sean Tyler 15 carries, 59 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Corey Crooms 7 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD
Kent State
Statistics Kent StateCentral Michigan First downs 23 33 Total yards 456 505 Rushing yards 134 221 Passing yards 322 284 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 23:03 36:57
Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 28/38, 322, 2 TDs Rushing Marquez Cooper 21 carries, 83 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Dante Cephas 5 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 21/27, 268 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Lew Nichols III 43 carries, 215 yards, 4 TDs Receiving JaCorey Sullivan 5 receptions, 61 yards
At Ball State
Statistics Central MichiganBall State First downs 26 18 Total yards 567 329 Rushing yards 285 159 Passing yards 282 170 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:47 27:13
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 20/25, 283 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Lew Nichols III 32 carries, 219 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Kalil Pimpleton 7 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 21/39, 170 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Carson Steele 20 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jayshon Jackson 6 receptions, 61 yards
Eastern Michigan (Michigan MAC Trophy)
Statistics Eastern MichiganCentral Michigan First downs 15 22 Total yards 226 366 Rushing yards 5 236 Passing yards 221 130 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 27:17 32:43
Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Michigan Passing Ben Bryant 24/35, 221 yards Rushing Bryson Moss 5 carries, 26 yards Receiving Tanner Knue 7 receptions, 70 yards Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 12/24, 130 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Lew Nichols III 44 carries, 194 yards, 1 TD Receiving JaCorey Sullivan 4 receptions, 46 yards, 2 TDs
Vs. Washington State (Sun Bowl)
Statistics Washington StateCentral Michigan First downs 11 15 Total yards 243 338 Rushing yards 18 145 Passing yards 225 193 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 24:43 35:17
Team Category Player Statistics Washington State Passing Victor Gabalis 11/23, 180 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Nakia Watson 15 carries, 58 yards Receiving Lincoln Victor 4 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 16/29, 193 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Lew Nichols III 28 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD Receiving JaCorey Sullivan 6 receptions, 73 yards
References