Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan Announces 2026 Soccer Schedule
4/27/2026 11:29:00 AM | Soccer
Head Coach James DeCosemo’s inaugural campaign features multiple key matchups
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Central Michigan Soccer announced the schedule for the 2026 season, the inaugural campaign of Head Coach James DeCosemo. The season opens Aug. 12, the home portion Aug. 27 and the Mid-American Conference slate Sept. 17.
The nonleague portion features home contests against Purdue Fort Wayne (Aug. 27), Cincinnati (Sept. 3) and Wisconsin (Sept. 6). CMU is 10-0 all-time against the Mastodons, recording a 6-1 rout on the road in 2024; both the Bearcats and Badgers evened their respective all-time series with the Chippewas last season, tied at 2-2-1 and 1-1, respectively.
CMU Soccer will make its first-ever appearance in the Palmetto State in August with visits to Charleston Southern (Aug. 20) and Coastal Carolina (Aug. 23)—the two first-time opponents on the schedule this season. The Chippewas have not won over a first-time opponent since Sept. 12, 2021 at Eastern Illinois, 0-4-1 in the last five (Butler, Green Bay, South Dakota, Texas, TCU).
Return trips to Loyola Chicago (Aug. 12) and Butler (Sept. 13) round out the road schedule. The visit to the Ramblers opens the 2026 campaign officially after exhibitions at Illinois (Aug. 5) and at home against Detroit Mercy (Aug. 8).
After 20 straight seasons of consistent membership (2005-24), the MAC slate will change for the second straight season as Northern Illinois exits for the Horizon League in 2026. Last season saw the addition of Massachusetts, which will host CMU for the first time since the programs' first meeting in 2016.
The Chippewas will host arch-rival and reigning MAC champion Western Michigan (Oct. 18) along with Buffalo (Sept. 17), Bowling Green (Sept. 26), Miami (OH) (Oct. 4), Akron (Oct. 15) and Ball State (Oct. 29).
The MAC road schedule begins at Eastern Michigan (Sept. 20), followed by Ohio (Oct. 1), Toledo (Oct. 9), Massachusetts (Oct. 25) and Kent State (Nov. 1).
The 2026 Mid-American Conference Tournament will take place Nov. 7-13 in Columbus, Ohio at Historic Crew Stadium.
