Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, October 25
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
3:30 PM
Central Michigan University
vs
Massachusetts
Michael Heldman (97) and Lawai'a Brown celebrate a big play in the Chippewas' win last week at Bowling Green. Heldman and Brown helped lead a defense that held a MAC opponent without a touchdown for the first time since 2017.
Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
Football Preview: Chippewas Refuse to Look Past Winless UMass
10/24/2025 7:12:00 AM | Football
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CMU celebrates homecoming against Minutemen on Karmer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Trap game? Not if Matt Drinkall has anything to say about it.
And he most certainly does.
Drinkall's Central Michigan football team is set to entertain Mid-American Conference foe UMass for the Chippewas' homecoming game on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas are 4-3, 2-1 MAC and can remain in the thick of the league-championship race with a win. The Minutemen are 0-7, 0-3 and have lost 18 consecutive games to Football Bowl Subdivision opponents.
Their last win over an FBS team came on Oct. 28, 2023, 21-14, against Army.
"UMass is in a very similar situation (as CMU) where they have a brand new coach, a brand new staff," Drinkall said. "They're getting it rolling. They are in the process like (we are), where it's like getting on the same page, getting in line, learning."
Drinkall pointed to UMass' 28-21 loss last week to Buffalo, which shares first place in the MAC. The Bulls scored with 19 seconds remaining to overcome a 21-20 deficit.
"Buffalo won nine games last year and (UMass) had them dead to rights last week," Drinkall said. "And a couple of things go differently at the very end, they're winning that game.
"So they're getting better every week. They're overcoming adversity. They fight their (butts) off and battle. They're tough kids, very good players across the board. It's just that they're in the stages of getting it together and learning, and they're getting better and better every single week. They pose as much of a threat as anyone."
The Chippewas bounced back last week, turning in what Drinkall called their most complete performance of the season in a 27-6 victory at Bowling Green.
The game was a near dead heat statistically, but the Chippewas won the way Drinkall perhaps envisions his teams winning, by forcing turnovers, sacking the opposing quarterback, controlling the ball with long, time-consuming drives, and getting big defensive stops.
That win gave several indications that Drinkall has the program headed in the right direction. It snapped a 10-game MAC road losing streak and it came after the Chippewas never got untracked in a 28-22 loss at Akron in their previous game.
"For us, it was kind of a resetting of our mentality and of our mindset," Drinkall said, adding that it's clear the Chippewas must keep their edge. "I do think you have to hit the reset button like every single week. We've kind of got to keep a sense of urgency and like your back's against the wall and you've got to kick and fight too. I don't know, it's just kind of like the way I like doing business."
Drinkall and the Chippewas also must resist the temptation to look past UMass to archrival Western Michigan. The Chippewas go to Kalamazoo on Nov. 1 for the annual battle for the Victory Cannon Trophy.
That game could also go a long way in determining which two teams make the MAC Championship Game in Detroit in December. The Broncos, who go to Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, are tied with Miami and Buffalo for the MAC lead at 3-0.
CMU, Ohio and Ball State are tied for third at 2-1.
"I think the kids stayed here because they want to play in big games," said Drinkall, referring to the veteran Chippewas who remained in the program after he was named head coach in December. "We certainly came here because we want to coach in big games.
"There's only 12 of these things to begin with, so they're all big. We got a great one this Saturday, and if we handle our business and take care of it and are fortunate enough to come away with a win then we're playing in a pretty big game after that.
"Which is what you want. Why else would you do this? You can't look at the top of the ladder and not get there one rung at a time."
And he most certainly does.
Drinkall's Central Michigan football team is set to entertain Mid-American Conference foe UMass for the Chippewas' homecoming game on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas are 4-3, 2-1 MAC and can remain in the thick of the league-championship race with a win. The Minutemen are 0-7, 0-3 and have lost 18 consecutive games to Football Bowl Subdivision opponents.
Their last win over an FBS team came on Oct. 28, 2023, 21-14, against Army.
"UMass is in a very similar situation (as CMU) where they have a brand new coach, a brand new staff," Drinkall said. "They're getting it rolling. They are in the process like (we are), where it's like getting on the same page, getting in line, learning."
Drinkall pointed to UMass' 28-21 loss last week to Buffalo, which shares first place in the MAC. The Bulls scored with 19 seconds remaining to overcome a 21-20 deficit.
"Buffalo won nine games last year and (UMass) had them dead to rights last week," Drinkall said. "And a couple of things go differently at the very end, they're winning that game.
"So they're getting better every week. They're overcoming adversity. They fight their (butts) off and battle. They're tough kids, very good players across the board. It's just that they're in the stages of getting it together and learning, and they're getting better and better every single week. They pose as much of a threat as anyone."
The Chippewas bounced back last week, turning in what Drinkall called their most complete performance of the season in a 27-6 victory at Bowling Green.
The game was a near dead heat statistically, but the Chippewas won the way Drinkall perhaps envisions his teams winning, by forcing turnovers, sacking the opposing quarterback, controlling the ball with long, time-consuming drives, and getting big defensive stops.
That win gave several indications that Drinkall has the program headed in the right direction. It snapped a 10-game MAC road losing streak and it came after the Chippewas never got untracked in a 28-22 loss at Akron in their previous game.
"For us, it was kind of a resetting of our mentality and of our mindset," Drinkall said, adding that it's clear the Chippewas must keep their edge. "I do think you have to hit the reset button like every single week. We've kind of got to keep a sense of urgency and like your back's against the wall and you've got to kick and fight too. I don't know, it's just kind of like the way I like doing business."
Drinkall and the Chippewas also must resist the temptation to look past UMass to archrival Western Michigan. The Chippewas go to Kalamazoo on Nov. 1 for the annual battle for the Victory Cannon Trophy.
That game could also go a long way in determining which two teams make the MAC Championship Game in Detroit in December. The Broncos, who go to Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, are tied with Miami and Buffalo for the MAC lead at 3-0.
CMU, Ohio and Ball State are tied for third at 2-1.
"I think the kids stayed here because they want to play in big games," said Drinkall, referring to the veteran Chippewas who remained in the program after he was named head coach in December. "We certainly came here because we want to coach in big games.
"There's only 12 of these things to begin with, so they're all big. We got a great one this Saturday, and if we handle our business and take care of it and are fortunate enough to come away with a win then we're playing in a pretty big game after that.
"Which is what you want. Why else would you do this? You can't look at the top of the ladder and not get there one rung at a time."
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