The 2025 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Chippewas were led by Matt Drinkall in his first year as the head coach. The Chippewas played their home games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Preseason
The MAC Football Kickoff was held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan from 9:00 am EDT to 1:30 pm EDT.
Preseason polls
Coaches Poll On July 24 the MAC announced the preseason coaches' poll.
MAC Coaches poll 1 Toledo 135 (7) 2 Miami 131 (3) 3 Ohio 123 (3) 4 Buffalo 115 5 Northern Illinois 94 6 Bowling Green 81 7 Western Michigan 71 8 Eastern Michigan 68 9 Central Michigan 65 10 Ball State 41 T11 Akron 39 T11 Massachusetts 39 13 Kent State 12
Coaches poll (MAC Championship) 1 Toledo 6 2 Miami 4 3 Ohio 3
Schedule
Game summaries
at San Jose State
Statistics CMU SJSU First downs 20 19 Plays–yards 64–351 69–383 Rushes–yards 51–236 24–75 Passing yards 115 308 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–13–0 24–45–2 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 33:45 26:15 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Angel H. Flores 3/3, 59 yards Rushing Nahree Biggins 18 carries, 102 yards Receiving Tommy McIntosh 2 receptions, 61 yards San Jose State Passing Walker Eget 24/43, 308 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Floyd Chalk IV 11 carries, 44 yards Receiving Daniel Scudero 9 receptions, 189 yards, TD
at Pittsburgh
Statistics CMUPITT First downs 13 22 Plays–yards 68–217 58–465 Rushes–yards 41–40 26–124 Passing yards 177 340 Passing: comp–att–int 27–20–0 32–24–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 36:43 23:17 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Joe Labas 11/14, 89 yards, TD Rushing Angel H. Flores 9 carries, 18 yards Receiving Camden Kruisenga 1 reception, 26 yardsPittsburgh Passing Eli Holstein 21/28, 304 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Desmond Reid 10 carries, 46 yards Receiving Raphael Williams Jr. 6 receptions, 121 yards, 2 TD
at No. 23 Michigan
Statistics CMUMICH First downs 8 35 Plays–yards 53–139 80–616 Rushes–yards 33–79 55–381 Passing yards 60 235 Passing: comp–att–int 11–20–1 16–25–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:53 33:07 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Joe Labas 4/8, 36 yards, INT Rushing Angel H. Flores 9 carries, 76 yards Receiving Justin Ruffin Jr. 2 receptions, 23 yardsMichigan Passing Bryce Underwood 16/25, 235 yards, TD, INT Rushing Bryce Underwood 9 carries, 117 yards, 2 TD Receiving Semaj Morgan 4 receptions, 69 yards, TD
Wagner (FCS)
Statistics WAGCMU First downs 7 24 Plays–yards 55–113 66–506 Rushes–yards 35–72 48–233 Passing yards 41 273 Passing: comp–att–int 12–20–1 14–18–0 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 27:37 32:23 Team Category Player Statistics Wagner Passing Jordan Barton 7/12, 18 yards Rushing Matt Morad 9 carries, 35 yards Receiving Richard Perkins Jr. 3 receptions, 9 yards Central Michigan Passing Joe Labas 12/14, 241 yards, 3 TD Rushing Trey Cornist 11 carries, 52 yards Receiving Nahree Biggins 3 receptions, 106 yards, TD
Eastern Michigan (rivalry)
On September 27, 2025, Central Michigan University (CMU) defeated Eastern Michigan University (EMU) 24–13 in their Mid-American Conference opener at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, before 28,605 fans—the ninth-largest crowd in stadium history. CMU, led by first-year coach Matt Drinkall, improved to 3–2, while EMU fell to 1–4.
CMU jumped to a 21–3 lead with touchdowns on their first three possessions: a 1-yard pass from Joe Labas to Brock Townsend, a 49-yard run by Nahree Biggins, and a 2-yard pass from Angel Flores to Langston Lewis. EMU responded with two field goals and a 14-yard touchdown run by Noah Kim, narrowing the score to 21–13 in the third quarter. A crucial interception by CMU's Maddix Blackwell and a 14-play, 72-yard drive, capped by a 22-yard field goal from Cade Graham, sealed the 24–13 victory. CMU dominated possession, holding the ball for over 11 minutes in the fourth quarter.
Flores and Biggins led CMU with career-high rushing totals of 134 and 113 yards, respectively, contributing to a season-high 305 rushing yards. Labas completed 14 of 16 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. For EMU, Noah Kim threw for 175 yards but had one interception.
Statistics EMU CMU First downs 19 22 Plays–yards 52–298 66–451 Rushes–yards 24–123 50–313 Passing yards 175 138 Passing: comp–att–int 17–28–1 14–16–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 23:36 35:46 + Key Player Statistics Team Category Player Statistics EMU Passing Noah Kim 17/28, 175 yards, INT Rushing Deion McMillan 13 carries, 71 yards Receiving Ben Prosper 3 receptions, 37 yards CMU Passing Joe Labas 14/16, 138 yards, TD Rushing Angel Flores 22 carries, 134 yards Receiving Tommy McIntosh 2 receptions, 59 yards
at Akron
Statistics CMU AKR First downs 20 20 Plays–yards 65–374 68–417 Rushes–yards 40–238 37–162 Passing yards 136 255 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–25–0 20–31–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 27:42 32:18 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Joe Labas 12/21, 134 yards Rushing Brock Townsend 8 carries, 108 yards Receiving Tyson Davis 3 receptions, 51 yardsAkron Passing Ben Finley 18/29, 252 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jordan Gant 32 carries, 176 yards Receiving Kyan Mason 5 receptions, 125 yards, TD
at Bowling Green
Statistics CMU BGSU First downs 14 14 Plays–yards 51–276 61–310 Rushes–yards 46–203 36–157 Passing yards 73 153 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 3-5-0 17-25-2 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 31:20 28:40 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Joe Labas 2/4, 72 yards Rushing Angel Flores 18 carries, 72 yards, 3 TD Receiving Collin Payne 1 reception, 63 yardsBowling Green Passing Lucian Anderson III 17/25, 153 yards, 2 INT Rushing Lucian Anderson III 11 carries, 53 yards Receiving RJ Garcia II 3 receptions, 60 yards
UMass
Statistics MASS CMU First downs 20 23 Plays–yards 77–292 66–502 Rushes–yards 26–116 53–279 Passing yards 176 223 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21-51-1 12-13-0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 22:07 37:53 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing AJ Hairston 21/51, 176 yards, INT Rushing Rocko Griffin 7 carries, 56 yards, TD Receiving Kezion Dia-Johnson 3 receptions, 41 yardsCentral Michigan Passing Joe Labas 10/11, 148 yards, 2 TD Rushing Nahree Biggins 10 carries, 94 yards Receiving Brock Townsend 2 receptions, 78 yards, TD
at Western Michigan (rivalry)
Statistics CMU WMU First downs 13 23 Plays–yards 47–240 68–327 Rushes–yards 35–55 44–177 Passing yards 185 150 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9-12-1 17-24-0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:18 33:42 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Joe Labas 8/11, 152 yards, TD, INT Rushing Brock Townsend 9 carries, 26 yards Receiving Langston Lewis 4 receptions, 111 yards, TDWestern Michigan Passing Broc Lowry 17/24, 150 yards, TD Rushing Broc Lowry 22 carries, 82 yards, TD Receiving Talique Williams 7 receptions, 48 yards, TD
Buffalo
Statistics BUFF CMU First downs 19 17Plays–yards 76–398 59–358 Rushes–yards 34–136 34–111 Passing yards 262 247 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–42–2 18–25–2 Turnovers 5 2 Time of possession 28:54 31:06 Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing Ta'Quan Roberson 16/33, 208 yards, TD, INT Rushing Terrance Shelton Jr. 11 carries, 59 yards Receiving Nik McMillan 7 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TDCentral Michigan Passing Joe Labas 18/24, 247 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Trey Cornist 10 carries, 62 yards Receiving Langston Lewis 6 receptions, 118 yards, TD
at Kent State
Statistics CMU KENT First downs 16 20 Plays–yards 65–297 64–274 Rushes–yards 43–174 36–89 Passing yards 123 185 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12-22-1 14-28-0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 33:21 26:39 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Joe Labas 11/20, 121 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Nahree Biggins 12 carries, 61 yards Receiving Decorion Temple 3 receptions, 34 yardsKent State Passing Dru DeShields 14/28, 185 yards Rushing Gavin Garcia 15 carries, 77 yards Receiving Wayne Harris 3 receptions, 56 yards
Toledo
Statistics TOL CMU First downs 18 15 Plays–yards 61–411 66–323 Rushes–yards 37–205 36–81 Passing yards 206 242 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14-24-0 19-30-1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 28:34 31:26 Team Category Player StatisticsToledo Passing Kalieb Osborne 5/7, 108 yards, TD Rushing Chip Trayanum 16 carries, 94 yards, TD Receiving Junior Vandeross III 4 receptions, 71 yardsCentral Michigan Passing Joe Labas 19/30, 242 yards, INT Rushing Brock Townsend 14 carries, 68 yards Receiving Tommy McIntosh 6 receptions, 83 yards
vs. Northwestern (GameAbove Sports Bowl)
Statistics CMU NU First downs 15 18 Plays–yards 60–269 61–313 Rushes–yards 34–91 26–77 Passing yards 178 236 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21-26-1 20-35-1 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 32:42 27:18 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Joe Labas 21/25, 178 yards, TD Rushing Trey Cornist 11 carries, 66 yards Receiving Langston Lewis 8 receptions, 83 yardsNorthwestern Passing Preston Stone 19/31, 226 yards, 3 TD Rushing Caleb Komolafe 15 carries, 55 yards, TD Receiving Griffin Wilde 10 receptions, 97 yards, 2 TD
References