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MAC Football to Host 2026 Kickoff Event at Ford Field
7/8/2026 10:04:00 AM | Football
MAC Kickoff InformationBuy Season TicketsBuy Non Conference Road Game Tickets2026 Schedule2026 Roster
Annual event and media day to take place on Wednesday, July 22 at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., site of the 2026 MAC Championship Game.
CLEVELAND, Ohio—The Mid-American Conference (MAC) will open the 2026 season with its annual Football Kickoff event on Wednesday, July 22 at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. from 8:30 a.m. ET to 3 p.m. ET.
The MAC Football Kickoff Event launches the 2026 season, which officially begins on Saturday, August 29. and concludes with the 2026 MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, December 5 at noon on ESPN.
Central Michigan opens its 2026 season on Saturday, September 5 when it travels to Albuquerque, N.M. to play New Mexico in a 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT game on FS1.
Central Michigan Head Coach Matt Drinkall and player representatives junior cornerback Jaion Jackson and senior wide receiver Langston Lewis will make the short trip to Detroit for the event. The event will also feature remarks from MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher and will be streamed live on ESPN+. Drinkall, Jackson, and Lewis will be available to media members throughout the day.
MAC Football fans around the country will be able to watch the live show previewing the upcoming 2026 season and will also have the opportunity to interact with the head coaches, student-athletes, and the conference office at the kickoff.
Season tickets can be purchased or renewed online at Ticket Central at www.cmuchippewas.com at this link, or by calling the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at (989) 774-3045. Lock in your tickets now for the best available seats. The Chippewas will play six home games at Kramer/Deromedi Field, including five early-season contests scheduled for September and October. The Chippewas also host rival Western Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Tickets are now on sale for Central Michigan Football's two non-conference road games in September at both New Mexico (Saturday, Sept. 5) and Miami, Fla. (Saturday, Sept. 26). Road game non-conference tickets can be purchased at this link. Tickets are $35 for the New Mexico game and $37 for the Miami, Fla. game. Purchasing a ticket reserves your spot in the CMU seating section at these away games. All tickets for away games are digital.
Central Michigan's 2026 football schedule is available at this link.
Central Michigan will begin its preseason practice schedule in early August. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
MAC KICKOFF EVENT SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Detroit, Mich. | Ford Field | Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
The MAC Football Kickoff Event launches the 2026 season, which officially begins on Saturday, August 29. and concludes with the 2026 MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, December 5 at noon on ESPN.
Central Michigan opens its 2026 season on Saturday, September 5 when it travels to Albuquerque, N.M. to play New Mexico in a 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT game on FS1.
Central Michigan Head Coach Matt Drinkall and player representatives junior cornerback Jaion Jackson and senior wide receiver Langston Lewis will make the short trip to Detroit for the event. The event will also feature remarks from MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher and will be streamed live on ESPN+. Drinkall, Jackson, and Lewis will be available to media members throughout the day.
MAC Football fans around the country will be able to watch the live show previewing the upcoming 2026 season and will also have the opportunity to interact with the head coaches, student-athletes, and the conference office at the kickoff.
Season tickets can be purchased or renewed online at Ticket Central at www.cmuchippewas.com at this link, or by calling the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at (989) 774-3045. Lock in your tickets now for the best available seats. The Chippewas will play six home games at Kramer/Deromedi Field, including five early-season contests scheduled for September and October. The Chippewas also host rival Western Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Tickets are now on sale for Central Michigan Football's two non-conference road games in September at both New Mexico (Saturday, Sept. 5) and Miami, Fla. (Saturday, Sept. 26). Road game non-conference tickets can be purchased at this link. Tickets are $35 for the New Mexico game and $37 for the Miami, Fla. game. Purchasing a ticket reserves your spot in the CMU seating section at these away games. All tickets for away games are digital.
Central Michigan's 2026 football schedule is available at this link.
Central Michigan will begin its preseason practice schedule in early August. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
MAC KICKOFF EVENT SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Detroit, Mich. | Ford Field | Wednesday, July 22, 2026
| Time | Event |
| 8:30 a.m. | Football Media Preview Registration (Gate G-Ford Field) |
| 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | MAC Brunch (Gate G-Ford Field) |
| 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Head Coach/Student-Athlete 1-on-1 Availability |
| 11:10 a.m.-11:25 a.m. | MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher's Opening P.C. (Gate A-Ford Field) |
| 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | MAC Football Preview, Head Coach & Student-Athlete Availability (Gate A-Ford Field) |
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
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