Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, November 1
Kalamazoo, Mich./Waldo Stadium
4:00 PM
Central Michigan University
at
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Western Michigan
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Football Preview: Much More Than Pride on the Line as Chippewas go to Western Michigan on Saturday
10/30/2025 2:21:00 PM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Trophies and braggin' rights and bowl eligibility and a critically important game in the Mid-American Conference race.
All that, and so much more.
Central Michigan and Western Michigan. Bitter rivals meeting for the 96th time on the football field on Saturday, Nov. 1, in Kalamazoo (4 p.m. ESPNU).
"Ever since I stepped foot on campus, it's been, 'Beat Western,' CMU senior defensive back Caleb Spann said. "And I didn't really know the vibe of it. But going in there and just seeing the hatred that the fans had … that kind of woke me up in it. Obviously, I see how it is now."
And how it is now, and how it's been seemingly forever, is an inherent abhorrence for the other side.
Matt Drinkall, who has CMU within a win of bowl eligibility in his first season as the Chippewas' coach, certainly knows rivalries. He was an assistant for six years at Army where he annually helped lead the Black Knights against Navy in one of college football's most celebrated rivalries.
"I've spent the last 96 hours on the phone with several coaches who have been (at CMU) and associated with this rivalry," Drinkall said earlier this week. "And they've been associated with, like, Army-Navy, Michigan-Michigan State, Michigan-Ohio State.
"And all of them said the exact same thing independently, which is when we first got (to CMU), we did not understand how intense and big this rivalry is between Western and Central. They all said, unanimously, the same thing: 'Do not underestimate the importance and significance of this game in this rivalry.'
"What I didn't understand was, like, the intensity and how personal it is. Like, how players, the communities, the fans, the alumni -- it is an incredibly intense rivalry. Like you can see it in people's faces. And it is It's pretty awesome, to be honest with you."
To the winner goes the Victory Cannon Trophy, which now resides in Mount Pleasant after CMU's 16-14 win at Kelly/Shorts Stadium a year ago.
The Chippewas can also lay claim to the Michigan MAC Trophy, an annual three-way battle between CMU, WMU and Eastern Michigan. The Chippewas defeated EMU, 24-13, a month ago (the Broncos and Eagles meet in the final game of the season). CMU last won the trophy in 2021.
Over and above that – and what makes the showdown all the more sweeter – is the importance to the MAC race.
Both teams are 3-1 in league play and tied for second place with Ohio and Buffalo. Miami (Ohio) leads the conference at 4-0. The RedHawks go to Ohio on Nov. 4, while Buffalo comes to Mount Pleasant on Nov. 12.
CMU is 5-3 and has won two straight games; Western is 4-4 and coming off a 26-17 loss at Miami.
The Chippewas aren't losing sight of what Saturday's game means in their quest to reach the MAC Championship Game.
"I feel like we have done a good job of just being disciplined, taking the emotional part out of it because we all have a job to do," Spann said.
And that job will be far from easy. The Broncos rank second in the MAC in total defense and are among the league leaders in most defensive statistical categories.
CMU is no slouch on either side of the ball. The Chippewas have allowed just one touchdown in their last nine quarters and were well in control of their last two wins, the first at Bowling Green and the second last week at home against Massachusetts.
Both teams have hung their hats on defense and ball control. The Chippewas lead the MAC in time of possession, while Western is third.
"Turnovers, technique, and emotion," Drinkall said in listing the keys to the game. "The big thing is, who can protect the football. The kicking game is going to matter a great deal, and field position obviously matters a bunch.
"No one has to get up to play this game. But it's necessary if something doesn't go your way, that you're able to recover, forget, and move on right away. I think those factors will be a big deal."
The Chippewa offense was ultra balanced in producing 502 yards last week against UMass. CMU finished with 279 on the ground, 223 through the air.
CMU will be without one of its quarterbacks, Angel Flores, who did not play because of injury in the second half against UMass. Flores is CMU's leading rusher with 519 yards and eight touchdowns.
The other quarterback, Joe Labas, has been a model of efficiency, completing 71.4 percent of his passes for 914 yards with seven touchdowns against just one interception. His efficiency rating, 159.6, is the best among MAC signal-callers, but he does not have enough pass attempts to qualify to be listed among the leaders.
"It's not going to change, necessarily, the plays or anything that you run, because Joe can do everything," Drinkall said. "Joe's been fantastic."
All that, and so much more.
Central Michigan and Western Michigan. Bitter rivals meeting for the 96th time on the football field on Saturday, Nov. 1, in Kalamazoo (4 p.m. ESPNU).
"Ever since I stepped foot on campus, it's been, 'Beat Western,' CMU senior defensive back Caleb Spann said. "And I didn't really know the vibe of it. But going in there and just seeing the hatred that the fans had … that kind of woke me up in it. Obviously, I see how it is now."
And how it is now, and how it's been seemingly forever, is an inherent abhorrence for the other side.
Matt Drinkall, who has CMU within a win of bowl eligibility in his first season as the Chippewas' coach, certainly knows rivalries. He was an assistant for six years at Army where he annually helped lead the Black Knights against Navy in one of college football's most celebrated rivalries.
"I've spent the last 96 hours on the phone with several coaches who have been (at CMU) and associated with this rivalry," Drinkall said earlier this week. "And they've been associated with, like, Army-Navy, Michigan-Michigan State, Michigan-Ohio State.
"And all of them said the exact same thing independently, which is when we first got (to CMU), we did not understand how intense and big this rivalry is between Western and Central. They all said, unanimously, the same thing: 'Do not underestimate the importance and significance of this game in this rivalry.'
"What I didn't understand was, like, the intensity and how personal it is. Like, how players, the communities, the fans, the alumni -- it is an incredibly intense rivalry. Like you can see it in people's faces. And it is It's pretty awesome, to be honest with you."
To the winner goes the Victory Cannon Trophy, which now resides in Mount Pleasant after CMU's 16-14 win at Kelly/Shorts Stadium a year ago.
The Chippewas can also lay claim to the Michigan MAC Trophy, an annual three-way battle between CMU, WMU and Eastern Michigan. The Chippewas defeated EMU, 24-13, a month ago (the Broncos and Eagles meet in the final game of the season). CMU last won the trophy in 2021.
Over and above that – and what makes the showdown all the more sweeter – is the importance to the MAC race.
Both teams are 3-1 in league play and tied for second place with Ohio and Buffalo. Miami (Ohio) leads the conference at 4-0. The RedHawks go to Ohio on Nov. 4, while Buffalo comes to Mount Pleasant on Nov. 12.
CMU is 5-3 and has won two straight games; Western is 4-4 and coming off a 26-17 loss at Miami.
The Chippewas aren't losing sight of what Saturday's game means in their quest to reach the MAC Championship Game.
"I feel like we have done a good job of just being disciplined, taking the emotional part out of it because we all have a job to do," Spann said.
And that job will be far from easy. The Broncos rank second in the MAC in total defense and are among the league leaders in most defensive statistical categories.
CMU is no slouch on either side of the ball. The Chippewas have allowed just one touchdown in their last nine quarters and were well in control of their last two wins, the first at Bowling Green and the second last week at home against Massachusetts.
Both teams have hung their hats on defense and ball control. The Chippewas lead the MAC in time of possession, while Western is third.
"Turnovers, technique, and emotion," Drinkall said in listing the keys to the game. "The big thing is, who can protect the football. The kicking game is going to matter a great deal, and field position obviously matters a bunch.
"No one has to get up to play this game. But it's necessary if something doesn't go your way, that you're able to recover, forget, and move on right away. I think those factors will be a big deal."
The Chippewa offense was ultra balanced in producing 502 yards last week against UMass. CMU finished with 279 on the ground, 223 through the air.
CMU will be without one of its quarterbacks, Angel Flores, who did not play because of injury in the second half against UMass. Flores is CMU's leading rusher with 519 yards and eight touchdowns.
The other quarterback, Joe Labas, has been a model of efficiency, completing 71.4 percent of his passes for 914 yards with seven touchdowns against just one interception. His efficiency rating, 159.6, is the best among MAC signal-callers, but he does not have enough pass attempts to qualify to be listed among the leaders.
"It's not going to change, necessarily, the plays or anything that you run, because Joe can do everything," Drinkall said. "Joe's been fantastic."
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Players Mentioned
Michael Heldman Post-Game Press Conference- vs. UMass
Sunday, October 26
Joe Labas Post-Game Press Conference vs. UMass
Sunday, October 26
Matt Drinkall Post-Game Press Conference vs. UMass
Saturday, October 25
Brock Townsend Post-Game Press Conference vs. UMass
Saturday, October 25