Football Hosts Wagner for Home Opener on Saturday at 1 p.m.

GAME 4: WAGNER (0-3) at CENTRAL MICHIGAN (1-2)
Saturday, September 20, 2025 • 1:02 p.m. ET • Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255)

SATURDAY MATCHUP

Television: ESPN+ (Evan Stockton, play-by-play; Doc Holliday, analyst; Sam Ramos, producer).

Chippewa Sports Radio Network: Adam Jaksa, play-by-play; Brock Gutierrez, color analyst; spotter: Steve Powers; hosts: Nathan Arbaugh, Kyle Sandel.

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-Matt Drinkall, 1^st year at CMU (1-2), 6^th year as a head coach (43-19), 22^nd year in coaching. Wagner- Tom Masella, 6^th year at Wagner (9-41), 16^th year overall (53-107).

Series: Central Michigan and Wagner meet for the first time in college football history. Central Michigan is 16-1 all-time versus FCS opponents and has won 16 consecutive games vs. FCS opponents dating back to Sept. 22, 2007.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME NOTES

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.–Central Michigan (1-2) plays its fourth overall game and first home contest when it hosts Wagner (0-3) on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is at 1:02 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME

The game will be televised on ESPN+ with Evan Stockton (play-by-play), Doc Holliday (color analyst) calling action and Sam Ramos handling production.

WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE GAME
Fans can also listen to the CMU Chippewas Sports 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 the action on the network which can be accessed on www.cmuchippewas.com, on the 98.5-FM WUPS website, or on the Black Diamond broadcasting app. Coverage begins with a one-hour pre-game show.

SATURDAY'S TOP STORYLINES

*After three consecutive road games to start the 2025 season, Central Michigan finally returns to Mount Pleasant for a home game against FCS opponent Wagner at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

*The Chippewas are looking to win their second consecutive home game and fifth win in seven games.

*CMU is 16-1 all-time vs. FCS opponents dating back to 2007. It has won 16 consecutive contests vs. FCS opponents dating back to Sept. 22, 2007.

*Central Michigan is vying to win its third consecutive home opener. The Chippewas have won five of their last six home openers.

GAME NOTES

Central Michigan (1-2) plays its fourth overall game and first home game of the 2025 season when it hosts Wagner in a Saturday contest at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is at 1:02 p.m. for a televised game on ESPN+.

Central Michigan opened its season with three straight road games for the first time since the 1972 season. The Chippewas are playing their latest home opener in a season since 2009 when it had hosted Alcorn State on Sept. 19, 2009.

Central Michigan enters the game after dropping a 63-3 loss at Michigan before 110,740 fans at Michigan Stadium on Saturday. Angel Flores led the CMU offense with a career-high 100 total yards, including a career-high 76 yards rushing, and Elijah Gordon and Elijah Rikard both finished with eight tackles on defense.

It dropped a 45-17 decision at Pittsburgh on Sept. 6. The Chippewas trailed 24-17 after DeCorion Temple scored on a 6-yard pass from Joe Labas in the third quarter, but Pitt answered 45 seconds later with a long kickoff return and 48-yard touchdown pass. The Panthers scored two more times for the final score. Central Michigan completed 20 of 27 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown in the game. The Chippewas led time of possession 36:43-23:17 but Pitt scored fast and finished with 464 yards of total offense and 340 passing yards.

In its season opener on Aug. 29, Central Michigan claimed a 16-14 come-from-behind victory at San Jose State. The Chippewas forced three first half turnovers and went up 13-0 in the second quarter. A Brenden Deasfernandes interception in the end zone stopped a Spartan scoring drive and led to a 29-yard touchdown run by Trey Cornist. A forced fumble by Michael Heldman led to a fumble return by Fernando Sanchez III and eventual 34-yard field goal by Cade Graham. Then Elijah Rikard intercepted another pass that set up a 28-yard field goal by Graham and 13-0 CMU lead. San Jose State scored before halftime and then took the lead 14-13 in the third quarter.

Central Michigan continued to battle. The Chippewas drove down to the SJSU one-yard line but couldn't convert. After the CMU defense forced a punt, Central Michigan drove 80 yards in 14 plays and used 7:16 of clock time in a drive that ended in a 28-yard field goal by Graham. That put the Chippewas up 16-14. The Chippewas defense forced two missed field goals by San Jose State to secure the win.

The win represented the first for coach Matt Drinkall as Central Michigan's football coach. Saturday's game at Wagner marks his first game coaching at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Drinkall was named the 30th football coach at Central Michigan on Dec. 9, 2024, after serving the previous six seasons on staff at Army. His 2024 Army offensive line won the Joe Moore Award for top offensive line unit in the nation and helped guide the Black Knights to a 12-2 record, No. 22 national ranking in the College Football Playoff poll, and the American Athletic Conference title in the program's first year in the league.

In his first nine months with the Central Michigan Football program, Drinkall has initiated a culture change with numerous improvements to the student-athlete experience. With a 3.2 grade point average, the Chippewas put together their best-ever academic semester in spring 2025. The Chippewas now have top-notch meals provided at their facility by CMU Dining Services, have turned rooms into areas for player use such as the VIP Lounge which was converted into a player lounge, the practice schedule has been revamped, and the team took a team-building trip to amusement park Cedar Point in the summer. Those are just a few of the many changes that he has made since his arrival.

Drinkall became the first coach at Central Michigan to win a debut game on the road since Bill Kelly won a 34-13 victory at Southern Illinois on Sept. 22, 1951.

Ranked as one of the nation's top 40 winningest FBS programs of all-time and with eight current players in the National Football League, Central Michigan is coming off three consecutive sub-.500 seasons for the first time since 2002-04. The Chippewas went 4-8 last season and 2-6 in the MAC.

HOME, SWEET, HOME

On a one-game home win streak, historically, Central Michigan enjoys a tremendous home field advantage at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Since 2019, the Chippewas are a combined 22-10 with a .688-win percentage within the confines of Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

CMU concluded the 2024 season after having won four of its last six and eight of its last 11 home contests.

The last time CMU completed a season with an undefeated home record was when the Chippewas went a perfect 6-0 in 2019. The last several seasons, CMU went 1-2 in 2020, 5-1 in 2021, 2-4 in 2022, 4-1 in 2023, and 3-2 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).

Since Kelly/Shorts Stadium opened in 1972, Central Michigan owns a 184-89-4 all-time record in 277 games played. In MAC games, the Chippewas are 140-69-4.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN VS. THE FCS

Since NCAA Division I-AA became NCAA Division I FCS in 2006, Central Michigan has accumulated a 16-1 overall record in 17 meetings against FCS opponents. All 17 games were played at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant. In addition, the Chippewas have won 16 consecutive games against those opponents. The lone loss was to FCS national power North Dakota State on Sept. 22, 2007 (44-14).

The record is a bit deceiving because several of those games were close. The Chippewas defeated Rhode Island in triple overtime (30-27) in 2017, defeated Chattanooga 20-16 in 2014, and survived against New Hampshire by three points in two games (24-21 in 2013 and 45-42 in 2023).

Here is a list of CMU's results against FCS opponents:

Date	Opponent	Score
Sept. 22, 2007	North Dakota State	L, 44-14
Aug. 28, 2008	Eastern Illinois	W, 33-12
Sept. 19, 2009	Alcorn State	W, 48-0
Sept. 2, 2010	Hampton	W, 33-0
Sept. 1, 2011	South Carolina State	W, 21-6
Aug. 30, 2012	SE Missouri State	W, 38-21
Sept. 7, 2013	New Hampshire	W, 24-21
Aug. 28, 2014	Chattanooga	W, 20-16
Sept. 12, 2015	Monmouth	W, 31-10
Sept. 1, 2016	Presbyterian	W, 49-3
Aug. 31, 2017	Rhode Island	W-3OT, 30-27
Sept. 22, 2018	Maine	W, 17-5
Aug. 29, 2019	Albany	W, 38-21
Sept. 11, 2021	Robert Morris	W, 45-0
Sept. 17, 2022	Bucknell	W, 41-0
Sept. 9, 2023	New Hampshire	W, 45-42
Aug. 29, 2024	Central Conn. State	W, 66-10

CMU VS. THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE

In Wagner, Central Michigan will play its third all-time Northeast Conference opponent. It is the second straight season that CMU has played a team from the NEC as it defeated Central Connecticut State 66-10 in last year's season opener on Aug. 29, 2024.

The Chippewas previously defeated Robert Morris 45-0 on Sept. 11, 2021.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN AMONG WINNINGEST G5 TEAMS

Central Michigan enters the 2025 season tied for the fifth winningest Group of Five team in the all-time rankings (source: CFB Home). Here is the list (as of Sept. 15, 2025):

Rk.	Team	Wins
1.	Navy	751 wins
2.	Army	740 wins
3.	Miami (Ohio)	733 wins
4.	Appalachian State	670 wins
5.	Fresno State	655 wins
6.	Central Michigan	652 wins
7.	Tulsa	651 wins
8.	Louisiana Tech	648 wins
9.	Marshall	640 wins
10.	Western Kentucky	624 wins
11.	Jacksonville State	623 wins

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 (Ohio) and Central Michigan.

Also on display at the College Football Hall of Fame is Central Michigan and Western Michigan, one of the top rivalries in all of college football.

A WIN OVER WAGNER WOULD…

•  Give Central Michigan a 2-2 record to start a season for third consecutive season and complete CMU's non-conference slate at 2-2.
•  Give Central Michigan its 17th consecutive win over FCS opponents and improve the Chippewas to 17-1 all-time vs. FCS opponents dating back to 2007.
•  Give Central Michigan a 3-0 all-time record vs. Northeast Conference opponents.
•  Give Central Michigan its second straight victory at home and fifth win its last seven home contests.
•  Give the Chippewas their third consecutive win in a home opener.

THREE QUARTERBACK SYSTEM

Over its first three games, Central Michigan played three different quarterbacks: starter Joe Labas, Angel Flores, and Jadyn Glasser.

Combined, the three quarterbacks have completed 65 percent of their passes (39-60) for 352 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

Labas has completed 20 of 32 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown and one interception, Glasser is 7-9 for 78 yards, and Flores is 12-18 for 93 yards and a team-long 47-yard completion.

Glasser missed the Michigan game.

RUN THE BALL

Central Michigan has run the ball in 68 percent of its total offensive plays, (125 of 185) this season.

In its season opener at San Jose State, Central Michigan rushed 51 times for 256 yards and a touchdown. It marked the most yards rushing for Central Michigan since the Chippewas put up 285 yards at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 19, 2024. Nahree Biggins registered career-highs for attempts (18) and yards (102) with a long of 17, while Trey Cornist finished with 13 carries for 99 yards and a 29-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Quarterback Angel Flores carried the ball 12 times for 30 yards.

Against Pitt, the Chippewas rushed 41 times for 40 yards and ran for 79 yards on 33 carries at Michigan last Saturday.

TURNOVER MARGIN TURNAROUND

In its first three games of the 2025 season, Central Michigan has a +2 turnover margin, which ranks No. 32 in FBS (5 turnovers gained/3 turnovers lost). The Chippewas also rank No. 26 nationally in turnovers gained (5). Last year, CMU was ranked No. 133 in turnover margin (-17) and tied a school record for worst turnover margin in a season.

At San Jose State, Central Michigan forced three first half turnovers including two interceptions and a fumble recovery. The Chippewas scored their first 13 points off those turnovers. CMU also limited San Jose State to just 74 yards rushing on 17 carries. The two interceptions by Brenden Deasfernandes and Elijah Rikard equaled Central Michigan's interception total from the entire 2024 season. Last year, CMU totaled just five turnovers (2 interceptions/3 fumble recoveries), the Chippewas already have registered five through three games.

At Pitt, Central Michigan registered one interception as Jordan Kwiatkowski stepped in front a pass and returned it 18 yards.

At Michigan, Brenden Deasfernandes registered an interception in the second quarter and turned it into three points.

CMU IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS

Following its first three games, Central Michigan is ranked among the nation's top 35 national leaders in seven statistical categories. The Chippewas rank:

•  No. 12 in passes intercepted (4).
•  No. 23 in passes had intercepted (1).
•  No. 24 in fourth down conversion percentage defense (0.33).
•  No. 26 in turnovers gained (5).
•  No. 29 in fewest penalty yards per game (38.00).
•  No. 32 in turnover margin (0.67)
•  No. 34 in time of possession (32:27).

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

•  Fernando Sanchez III, No. 10 in fumbles recovered (1).
•  Brenden Deasfernandes, No. 6 in interceptions per game (0.67).
•  Brenden Deasfernandes, No. 6 in interceptions (2).
•  Cade Graham, No. 22 in field goals made per game (1.67).
•  Michael Heldman, No. 29 in forced fumbles (0.33).
•  Jordan Kwiatkowski, No. 34 in interceptions (1).
•  Elijah Rikard, No. 34 in interceptions (1).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nahree Biggins

Trey Cornist

Brenden Deasfernandes

Angel Flores

Jadyn Glasser

Elijah Gordon

Cade Graham

Michael Heldman

Jordan Kwiatkowski

Joe Labas

Elijah Rikard

Fernando Sanchez III

DeCorion Temple