Football Returns Home, Opens MAC Play, Hosts Ball State on Saturday at 1 p.m.

GAME 4: BALL STATE (1-1, 0-0 MAC) at CENTRAL MICHIGAN (1-2, 0-0 MAC)
MAC Opener, Hall of Fame/Educator Appreciation/Champions Day
Saturday, September 21 • 1 p.m. ET • Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255)

SATURDAY MATCHUP

Television: ESPN+ (Michael Reghi, play-by-play; Marcus Ray, analyst; Dan Larsen, producer).

Chippewa Sports Radio Network: Adam Jaksa, play-by-play; Brock Gutierrez, color analyst; spotter: Steve Powers; sidelines/engineer: Nathan Arbaugh.

Live Stats: visit https://cmuchippewas.com/sidearmstats/football/summary

CMU Social Media: Twitter (@cmu_football); Facebook (@cmufootball); Instagram (cmufootball); Website: www.cmuchippewas.com.

Coaches: Central Michigan-Jim McElwain, 6th year at CMU (30-30), 12th year overall (74-57), 39th year in coaching. Ball State-Mike Neu, 9^th year at BSU (38-57), 15^th year overall (92-102), 23^rd year in coaching.

Series: Central Michigan and Ball State meet for the 57^th time in series history. Ball State holds a 28-27-1 advantage in the series which began in 1939. The Cardinals have claimed each of the last two matchups, including last year's 24-17 decision in Muncie. In addition, Ball State has won three straight games against CMU at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME NOTES

THE ESSENTIALS

Central Michigan (1-2) returns home to open Mid-American Conference play when it hosts Ball State (1-1) on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET. It is the first of three consecutive home games for CMU.

WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME

The game will be live televised on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (color analyst) calling action with Dan Larsen producing.

WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE GAME

Fans can also listen to the Chippewa Sports Radio Network broadcast presented by Fabiano Brothers. Adam Jaksa (play-by-play) and former Central Michigan/NFL player and CMU Athletic Hall of Famer Brock Gutierrez (color analyst) call action on the five-station network (Mount Pleasant, Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Muskegon) and nationally on the Varsity Network app. Coverage begins with a one-hour pre-game show.

SATURDAY'S TOP STORYLINES

•Central Michigan opens its 49th year of Mid-American Conference play against Ball State on Saturday.

•Following two consecutive road games, Central Michigan returns home to Kelly/Shorts Stadium where it has won five of its last six games. The Chippewas are a combined 19-8 under Head Coach Jim McElwain with a .703 win percentage in games played at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

•McElwain is in search of his third bowl appearance and third winning season at Central Michigan in the last five full years (2019 New Mexico Bowl and 2021 Sun Bowl).

ABOUT THE CHIPPEWAS

Central Michigan (1-2) opens its 49th season in the Mid-American Conference and plays its fourth contest of its 123rd season of college football on Saturday, Sept. 21 when it hosts Ball State (1-1) at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The two schools play their first MAC game of the 2024 season.

The Chippewas will spend the next month in Mount Pleasant for three consecutive home games as they host Ball State (Sept. 21) and San Diego State (Sept. 28) on consecutive Saturdays, have a bye week on Oct. 5, then host Ohio for the 2024 Homecoming Game on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Central Michigan enters the matchup on a two-game losing streak following back-to-back road losses at Florida International (52-16) and at Illinois (30-9). The Chippewas won their season opener on Aug. 29, 66-10, over Central Connecticut State.

Last Saturday in Champaign, Ill., Illinois handed the Chippewas a 30-9 loss. Defense kept CMU within striking distance, but the Chippewa offense failed to capitalize. Twice the Chippewas drove inside the Illinois 10-yard line and another time CMU had a touchdown nullified by a penalty. In each case, CMU ended up settling for a field goal. The Chippewas trailed just 13-6 at halftime.

Illinois scored on its opening drive of both halves and sandwiched those scores around two field goals, the second of which was a program record 59-yarder as time expired in the first half.

Central Michigan was held without a touchdown for the first time in 57 games and since Sept. 7, 2019 in a game at Wisconsin. The statistics were nearly even as Illinois outgained CMU 379-309 in total yards, registered 20 first downs to CMU's 19, and time of possession was even. Linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski led the Chippewas with a career-high 12 tackles, quarterback Joe Labas completed 12 of 25 passes for 125 yards to 11 different receivers, and running back Myles Bailey led CMU with 49 yards on six carries.

CMU's 52-16 loss at Florida International on Sept. 7 saw the Chippewas turn the ball over six times (five interceptions and one fumble) and draw 10 penalties for 70 yards. FIU scored 39 of its 52 points off six CMU turnovers. Though Central Michigan outgained FIU 369-309 in total yards, totaled 22 first downs to FIU's 15, and dominated time of possession (34:18 to 25:42), it could not overcome its mistakes. Chris Parker caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Joe Labas, Gavin Harris caught a 12-yard TD pass from Labas, Marion Lukes totaled a team-high 199 all-purpose yards (162 on kickoffs and 37 rushing), and Elijah Rikard led the Chippewas in tackles with a career-high tying seven. Labas completed a career-high 20 of his 39 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

In its season opener, Central Michigan registered a spectacular 66-10 victory over FCS foe Central Connecticut State on Aug. 29. The Chippewas amassed 491 yards of total offense, scored nine touchdowns, registered touchdowns on punt, interception and kickoff returns, and threw for 378 yards. CMU led 42-7 at halftime. In his CMU debut, Labas completed 75 percent of his passes (18-24) for 342 yards and three touchdowns of 47, 17, and 72 yards. Myles Bailey ran for two touchdowns, Solomon Davis caught two touchdown passes of 17 and 72 yards, Stephan Bracey, Jr. scored on an 87-yard kickoff return touchdown and led CMU with 166 all-purpose yards, Donte Kent tallied a 68-yard punt return touchdown and 132 punt return yards, and Aakeem Snell scored on a 46-yard interception return.

Central Michigan returned 17 players who started a significant number of games in 2023, including eight players on offense and nine on defense. Several transfers were added in who play significant roles in 2024, several players return from injury, and a variety of players have improved over the offseason and are ready to contribute. The Chippewas are a year older across the board with a majority of their talent returning.

Last year, CMU narrowly missed advancing to a bowl game as it entered its season finale against No. 23 Toledo needing one more win to become bowl eligible. CMU dropped a 32-17 decision.

Combining the last three seasons (2022-24), CMU has accumulated a 10-17 record and the Chippewas are coming off back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2010 and 2011 when they went 3-9 in consecutive years. Central Michigan is hoping to erase the memory of those two seasons that saw it finish an identical 3-5 in Mid-American Conference play.

The last two seasons were a drastic change from the course that Head Coach Jim McElwain has put the Chippewas on since his arrival in 2019. In his first year guiding the program in 2019, he took over a team that finished 1-11 and 0-8 in MAC play and led the Chippewas to one of the nation's top turnarounds, an 8-6 record, 6-2 in the MAC with a berth in the 2019 New Mexico Bowl. After a COVID-shortened 2020 season, he led CMU to a 9-4 overall, 6-2 MAC record and berth in the 2021 Sun Bowl, where the Chippewas closed the year on a five-game win streak, including a 24-21 Sun Bowl win over Washington State.

ILLINOIS POST-GAME NOTES

Under Head Coach Jim McElwain, Central Michigan has enjoyed a tremendous home field advantage. The Chippewas are a combined 19-8 under Coach Mac with a .703-win percentage within the confines of Kelly/Shorts Stadium since 2019.

CMU will enter its next home game vs. Ball State after winning five of its last six home contests. Previously, the Chippewas four game win streak was snapped after the Chippewas dropped their season finale vs. Toledo 32-17 on Nov. 24, 2023.

The last time CMU completed a season with an undefeated home record was during McElwain's first year in 2019, when the Chippewas went a perfect 6-0. CMU went 1-2 in 2020, 5-1 in 2021, 2-4 in 2022, 4-1 in 2023, and now 1-0 in 2024 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

Since 1950, CMU has registered 13 undefeated seasons at home: 1953 (4-0), 1954 (4-0), 1955 (4-0), 1956 (4-0), 1967 (4-0), 1970 (4-0), 1977 (5-0), 1979 (5-0), 1980 (6-0), 1994 (5-0), 1998 (5-0), 2009 (5-0), and 2019 (6-0).

The Central Michigan loss...
•Dropped Central Michigan to 1-2 overall on the year.
•Extended CMU's road losing streak to six consecutive games.
•Dropped CMU to 6-30 all-time vs. Big Ten Conference opponents. CMU has now won just two games in the last 12 meetings against Big Ten opponents.

Team Notes
•Statistically, the game was basically even. Illinois outgained Central Michigan 379-309 in total yardage. Illinois had 20 first downs to Central Michigan's 19 and gained one turnover (CMU interception). CMU outrushed Illinois 142-137 in yardage. Time of possession was nearly equal.
•Central Michigan ventured into the red zone three times but came away with zero touchdowns.
•CMU's defense held Illinois to 379 total yards, 4-11 on third downs, and 137 yards rushing.
•Central Michigan finished the day with a season-high 3.0 sacks for 17 yards, 8.0 tackles for loss for 27 yards, and four pass breakups. The Chippewas had three sacks in the first half alone.
•CMU's 32-yard field goal scoring drive in the first quarter marked its longest drive of the year in terms of time of possession (5:07) and its 12-play field goal drive in the fourth quarter was its longest in terms of total plays.
•Central Michigan did not score a touchdown in a game for the first time since it was shutout at Wisconsin on Sept. 7, 2019.

Player Notes
•Quarterback Joe Labas completed 12 of 25 passes for 125 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Eleven receivers caught passes on the day.
•Running back Myles Bailey tied his career-long for longest run in the second quarter with a 35-yard scamper. He led the Chippewas in rushing with 49 yards on six carries for an 8.2 average yards per carry.
•Running back B.J. Harris rushed for a career-high 38 yards on five carries for a 7.6 average yards per carry. He also caught one pass for a career-long 22 yards and led the Chippewas in all-purpose yardage with 60 yards.
•Wide receiver Evan Boyd tied his career-high for receptions with three for 38 yards on the day. He had a long reception of 21 yards.
•Wide receiver Solomon Davis caught the longest pass of the day for CMU, a 30-yard pass from Joe Labas. He finished with two catches for 34 yards.
•Linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski led Central Michigan with a career-high 12 tackles (eight solo). He also registered 0.5 tackles for loss.
•Defensive back Donte Kent finished with seven tackles (six solo), 0.5 tackle for loss and a pass breakup. With two pass breakups, he moved into second place on the CMU's all-time career pass breakups list. He now has 40 in his career. The record is 46 set by Tedaro France from 1998-01.
•Defensive back Caleb Spann tied a career-high with seven tackles (four solo).
•Linebacker Fernando Sanchez III recorded his first career solo sack in the first quarter. He finished with 3.0 tackles on the day.
•Defensive back Elijah Rikard made four tackles on the day and registered his first career sack in the second quarter, an eight-yard loss. He had 1.0 tackle for loss on the sack.
•Placekicker Tristan Mattson converted a career-high three field goals. He kicked a 32-yard field goal in the first quarter, a 29-yarder in the second quarter, and a 25-yarder in the fourth quarter. It marked his ninth, 10th, and 11th career field goals made. Mattson also had three touchbacks in three kickoffs.
•Punter David Chapeau averaged 49.5 yards per punt on four punts. He also boomed a punt 56 yards.

Miscellaneous Notes
•Central Michigan and Illinois met for the first time in college football.
•Central Michigan wore white jerseys and gold pants.

Game Captains and Coin Toss
•Representing Central Michigan at the coin toss were running back Marion Lukes, defensive back Donte Kent, linebacker Justin Whiteside, and running back Myles Bailey.
•Illinois won the coin toss and deferred. Central Michigan received the opening kickoff.

CMU AMONG TOP-50 PROGRAMS

Historically, Central Michigan has been ranked among the nation's top-50 all-time football programs by a variety of organizations. The Pro Football Hall of Fame and ESPN both rated Central Michigan No. 41 on its list of all-time most successful college football programs.

Of MAC schools, the two highest rated college football programs of all-time are Miami (OH) and Central Michigan.

CMU IN NATIONAL STATISTICS

After two games, Central Michigan is ranked among the nation's top-35 national leaders in six statistical categories. The Chippewas ranked:

•No. 8 in punt returns (26.60).
•No. 22 in tackles for losses (7.7).
•No. 23 in tackles for loss allowed per game (3.33).
•No. 32 in kickoff returns (23.33).
•No. 32 in fumbles lost (1).
•No. 32 in passing yards allowed (152.3).

In addition, several individuals were ranked among the nation's top-35 in five different statistics:

•Stephan Bracey, Jr., No. 1 in kickoff return touchdowns (1).
•Donte Kent, No. 1 in punt return touchdowns (1).
•Donte Kent, No. 3 in punt returns (26.6).
•Donte Kent, No. 27 in combined kick returns (133).
•Aakeem Snell, No. 30 in interceptions (1).

CMU-BALL STATE SERIES

Ball State owns a 28-27-1 advantage in 56 overall meetings dating back to Oct. 27, 1939.

In games played in Mount Pleasant, Ball State has won the last three matchups and owns a 14-12 advantage in 26 games. The last time CMU defeated Ball State at home was on Oct. 8, 2016, a 24-21 win.

The series has been characterized by close games as 34 of the 56 have been decided by 10 points or less and 15 have been decided by three points or less.

Central Michigan University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Myles Bailey

Evan Boyd

Stephan Bracey, Jr.

David Chapeau

Solomon Davis

B.J. Harris

Gavin Harris

Donte Kent

Jordan Kwiatkowski

Joe Labas

Marion Lukes

Tristan Mattson

Chris Parker

Elijah Rikard

Fernando Sanchez III

Aakeem Snell

Caleb Spann

Justin Whiteside

Football Returns Home, Opens MAC Play, Hosts Ball State on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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