Central Michigan University Athletics

Photo by: Jasper Warner '25 - @jasperwarnermedia
MAC Releases Football Pairings for Next Three Years: 2024, 2025, and 2026
1/25/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
In 2024, Central Michigan to host Ball State, Bowling Green, Ohio, and Western Michigan; Chippewas to travel to Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, and Toledo.
CLEVELAND, Ohio—The Mid-American Conference announced its in-conference football pairings for the next three years—2024, 2025, and 2026—on Thursday afternoon. Central Michigan has been paired with in-state rivals Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan as its "protected opponents" and will play both of those teams each year on a home/road rotating basis.
The upcoming 2024 season will see Central Michigan host four teams at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium: Ball State, Bowling Green, Ohio, and Western Michigan. The Chippewas will travel to play games at Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, and Toledo. The entire schedule is typically announced by the end of February.

In November, the MAC announced that it was establishing a new football scheduling model for the upcoming 2024 season, visit link. The new scheduling model eliminates the MAC East and West Divisions as now the top two teams based on conference win percentage will compete in the MAC Football Championship Game each year at Ford Field in Detroit. The new model also allows for each team to face all 11 conference opponents—home and away—at least once during a three-year cycle. Additionally, the new format will incorporate protected opponents based on geographic location and rivalries.
Central Michigan will announce game dates and ticket information once the league's schedule is announced at the end of February. The Chippewas have already posted their 2024 non conference schedule at this link.
Central Michigan's assigned MAC opponents for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons are listed below:
CENTRAL MICHIGAN'S THREE-YEAR MAC FOOTBALL OPPONENT PAIRINGS
Opponents are listed in alphabetical order.
2024 CMU FOOTBALL OPPONENTS
Home: Ball State, Bowling Green, Ohio, Western Michigan
Away: Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Toledo
2025 CMU FOOTBALL OPPONENTS
Home: Akron, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH)
Away: Bowling Green, Kent State, Ohio, Western Michigan
2026 CMU FOOTBALL OPPONENTS
Home: Kent State, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan
Away: Akron, Ball State, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan
The upcoming 2024 season will see Central Michigan host four teams at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium: Ball State, Bowling Green, Ohio, and Western Michigan. The Chippewas will travel to play games at Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, and Toledo. The entire schedule is typically announced by the end of February.

In November, the MAC announced that it was establishing a new football scheduling model for the upcoming 2024 season, visit link. The new scheduling model eliminates the MAC East and West Divisions as now the top two teams based on conference win percentage will compete in the MAC Football Championship Game each year at Ford Field in Detroit. The new model also allows for each team to face all 11 conference opponents—home and away—at least once during a three-year cycle. Additionally, the new format will incorporate protected opponents based on geographic location and rivalries.
Central Michigan will announce game dates and ticket information once the league's schedule is announced at the end of February. The Chippewas have already posted their 2024 non conference schedule at this link.
🗓️ @CMU_Football MAC opponents announced for the next three seasons (2024, 2025, and 2026)!
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) January 25, 2024
📰 https://t.co/4tjvVy24hl#FireUpChips 🔥🆙🏈 pic.twitter.com/7x5ZYuY8fI
Central Michigan's assigned MAC opponents for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons are listed below:
CENTRAL MICHIGAN'S THREE-YEAR MAC FOOTBALL OPPONENT PAIRINGS
Opponents are listed in alphabetical order.
2024 CMU FOOTBALL OPPONENTS
Home: Ball State, Bowling Green, Ohio, Western Michigan
Away: Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Toledo
2025 CMU FOOTBALL OPPONENTS
Home: Akron, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH)
Away: Bowling Green, Kent State, Ohio, Western Michigan
2026 CMU FOOTBALL OPPONENTS
Home: Kent State, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan
Away: Akron, Ball State, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan
—CMU—
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