Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, November 29
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Noon ET
Central Michigan University
vs
Toledo
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Football Preview: Toledo Poses Stiff Test in Chippewas' Home Finale
11/27/2025 8:00:00 PM | Football
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CMU needs a win over the Rockets, and some help, to reach MAC title game
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Who would have believed, 11 months ago or even three months ago, that the Central Michigan football team would be where it is today?
The Chippewas are set to play their home finale on Saturday (noon, ESPN+) against Mid-American Conference rival Toledo on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in a game that could send CMU to the MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit.
Both teams are 7-4 and tied for second place in the MAC at 5-2.
The Chippewas can reach the league title game under first-year coach Matt Drinkall with a win over the Rockets and losses by Ohio and Miami (Ohio), both of which are also 5-2 in MAC play. The Bobcats play at Buffalo on Friday; the RedHawks entertain Ball State on Saturday.
Whichever team emerges from that logjam after this weekend's games will meet Western Michigan in the league title game. The Broncos clinched first place with a win over Eastern Michigan on Tuesday.
Whether or not CMU makes it to Ford Field, 2025 has proven to be a turnaround year under Drinkall, a virtual unknown who was named to head the program in December when Jim McElwain retired.
The Chippewas are bowl eligible for the first time since 2021 and are eyeing an unbeaten home slate for the first time since 2019 and the 14th time since 1950.
"To me, it's kind of a captivating, like it's a really nice cap on the season," Drinkall said earlier this week as he prepared his Chippewas to play Toledo, which has arguably been the gold standard in the MAC for the past decade plus and finished first in the preseason poll.
"The team that has been the metric for what success looks like in this conference -- like elite players, elite coaching, elite scheme," Drinkall said of the Rockets. "And we get to go to battle with those guys. This is exactly what (our) guys would want. They wouldn't want it any other way."
The Chippewas are riding a two-game win streak and have won four of their last five and six of their last eight. The Rockets have won three straight and four of their last five. They have dominated the recent series with CMU, winning 13 of the last 15 meetings. Both of those wins have come at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
That said, the Chippewas have clearly turned a corner under the energetic Drinkall, who has instilled a disciplined approach built on solid defense and a foundation of seniors, such as linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski, quarterback Joe Labas, and defensive end Michael Heldman.
That trio, among many others, chose to remain in Mount Pleasant for their respective final year of collegiate eligibility and help Drinkall lay the foundation for what appears to be a promising future.
"That has been the coolest thing ever," said Drinkall, who is in his 22nd season of collegiate coaching, and his first as a head coach at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. "I mean, this has been the most rewarding, fun year of football I've ever had.
"The rebuild's over. It's done. Those (players) took care of it, not us (coaches). We just came in and implemented a system for these guys. Those guys handled all of that on their own. Everybody associated with Central Michigan is forever indebted to this group of seniors. So it's going to be awesome to get out here and honor those guys in pregame.
"I know we will play really hard and play our butts off for those guys and give them a great experience."
Certainly, there is motivation for the Chippewas to send the seniors out a winner in their final home game. But make no mistake, Toledo is, as it seemingly always is, solid from top to bottom.
The Rockets rank first in the MAC in several statistical categories, scoring offense, scoring defense, passing yards per game, total offense and rushing defense among them.
The Chippewas are set to play their home finale on Saturday (noon, ESPN+) against Mid-American Conference rival Toledo on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in a game that could send CMU to the MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit.
Both teams are 7-4 and tied for second place in the MAC at 5-2.
The Chippewas can reach the league title game under first-year coach Matt Drinkall with a win over the Rockets and losses by Ohio and Miami (Ohio), both of which are also 5-2 in MAC play. The Bobcats play at Buffalo on Friday; the RedHawks entertain Ball State on Saturday.
Whichever team emerges from that logjam after this weekend's games will meet Western Michigan in the league title game. The Broncos clinched first place with a win over Eastern Michigan on Tuesday.
Whether or not CMU makes it to Ford Field, 2025 has proven to be a turnaround year under Drinkall, a virtual unknown who was named to head the program in December when Jim McElwain retired.
The Chippewas are bowl eligible for the first time since 2021 and are eyeing an unbeaten home slate for the first time since 2019 and the 14th time since 1950.
"To me, it's kind of a captivating, like it's a really nice cap on the season," Drinkall said earlier this week as he prepared his Chippewas to play Toledo, which has arguably been the gold standard in the MAC for the past decade plus and finished first in the preseason poll.
"The team that has been the metric for what success looks like in this conference -- like elite players, elite coaching, elite scheme," Drinkall said of the Rockets. "And we get to go to battle with those guys. This is exactly what (our) guys would want. They wouldn't want it any other way."
The Chippewas are riding a two-game win streak and have won four of their last five and six of their last eight. The Rockets have won three straight and four of their last five. They have dominated the recent series with CMU, winning 13 of the last 15 meetings. Both of those wins have come at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
That said, the Chippewas have clearly turned a corner under the energetic Drinkall, who has instilled a disciplined approach built on solid defense and a foundation of seniors, such as linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski, quarterback Joe Labas, and defensive end Michael Heldman.
That trio, among many others, chose to remain in Mount Pleasant for their respective final year of collegiate eligibility and help Drinkall lay the foundation for what appears to be a promising future.
"That has been the coolest thing ever," said Drinkall, who is in his 22nd season of collegiate coaching, and his first as a head coach at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. "I mean, this has been the most rewarding, fun year of football I've ever had.
"The rebuild's over. It's done. Those (players) took care of it, not us (coaches). We just came in and implemented a system for these guys. Those guys handled all of that on their own. Everybody associated with Central Michigan is forever indebted to this group of seniors. So it's going to be awesome to get out here and honor those guys in pregame.
"I know we will play really hard and play our butts off for those guys and give them a great experience."
Certainly, there is motivation for the Chippewas to send the seniors out a winner in their final home game. But make no mistake, Toledo is, as it seemingly always is, solid from top to bottom.
The Rockets rank first in the MAC in several statistical categories, scoring offense, scoring defense, passing yards per game, total offense and rushing defense among them.
Players Mentioned
Jordan Kwiatkowski Post-Game Interview at Kent State
Friday, November 21
Michael Heldman Post-Game Interview at Kent State
Thursday, November 20
Matt Drinkall Post-Game Interview at Kent State
Thursday, November 20
Players Football Insider - 11.18.25
Tuesday, November 18