Central Michigan University Athletics
125 Years of CMU Football: Championship Tradition
8/16/2026 11:37:00 AM | Football, Our Stories
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Central Michigan Football has won 16 total conference titles, Mid-American Conference championships, and appeared in 16 bowl games.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Through the years, success has been synonymous with Central Michigan Football.
Central Michigan Football has claimed 16 total conference championships, including nine in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and seven in the Mid-American Conference since it joined the league in 1975. The Chippewas won three of those MAC titles by claiming MAC Championship games in 2006, 2007, and 2009.
The Chippewas rank No. 2 in the Mid-American Conference in most total wins (658 wins) and all-time win percentage (.584) and rank No. 3 in most all-time conference titles (16) and most bowl game appearances (16). In comparing the Chippewa program to national Group of 5 Teams, Central Michigan ranks No. 7 on the most all-time wins list (658) and No. 9 in winning percentage (.584).
Central Michigan Football has a record of 658-464-36 through 125 years. The Chippewas have enjoyed 82 winning seasons, 23 seasons with 8 or more wins, 43 seven-win seasons, and 62 seasons with 6 or more wins.
Here is a list of Central Michigan's 16 conference championship teams:
Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles (9)
1952 IIAC Championship Team (outright)
7-2 record • 6-0 IIAC
First-ever IIAC championship team and CMU conference title; CMU captures first league title in third year in the IIAC, undefeated in IIAC play
Coach: Bill Kelly
1953 IIAC Championship Team (outright)
7-1-1 record • 5-0-1 IIAC
Back-to-back IIAC champions; CMU captures first back-to-back outright league titles
Coach: Bill Kelly
1954 IIAC Co-Championship Team
8-2 record • 5-1 IIAC
Third consecutive IIAC title
Coach: Bill Kelly
1955 IIAC Co-Championship Team
8-1 record • 5-1 MAC
Fourth consecutive IIAC title, outscored opponents 327-79
Coach: Bill Kelly
1956 IIAC Championship Team (outright)
9-0 record • 6-0 IIAC
Second undefeated team in school history, nine straight wins
Coach: Bill Kelly
1962 IIAC Championship Team (outright)
6-4 record • 4-0 IIAC • Sixth IIAC championship
Won six consecutive games to close the season
Coach: Bill Kelly
1966 IIAC Championship Team (outright)
5-5 record • 3-0 IIAC • Seventh IIAC championship
Won five consecutive games to close the year (3-0 in IIAC)
Coach: Bill Kelly (final season at CMU)
1967 IIAC Co-Championship Team
8-2 record • 2-1 IIAC • Back-to-back IIAC champions
CMU outscored opponents 207-84, Eighth IIAC title
Coach: Roy Kramer (first season as head coach)
1968 IIAC Co-Championship Team
7-2 record • 2-1 IIAC • Ninth IIAC title
Third consecutive IIAC championship
Coach: Roy Kramer
Mid-American Conference titles (7)
1979 MAC Championship Team (outright)
10-0-1 record • 8-0-1 MAC
First MAC championship team, third unbeaten season in school history, one tie: 7-7 at Toledo, which ended a 14-game win streak, ended season after going 18 games without a loss
Coach: Herb Deromedi (first league title)
1980 MAC Championship Team (outright)
9-2 record • 7-2 MAC
Back-to-back MAC champions, first back-to-back MAC titles
Ended season on four-game win streak, including three straight in MAC play and a 22-10 victory at Western Michigan in the season finale
Coach: Herb Deromedi
1990 MAC Co-Championship Team
8-3-1 record • 7-1 MAC
First team at Central Michigan to play in a bowl game (California Raisin Bowl); First league title in 10 years at CMU, one league loss: 13-3 vs. Ball State
Coach: Herb Deromedi (third MAC title)
1994 MAC Championship Team (Outright)
9-3 record • 8-1 MAC
1st place in the MAC regular season
Second CMU team to play in a bowl game
Coach: Dick Flynn (first season as head coach)
2006 MAC Championship Team (Outright)
10-4 record • 7-1 MAC
1st place MAC West/MAC Championship Win, 31-10 over Ohio; Motor City Bowl Champions
Coach: Brian Kelly/Jeff Quinn
2007 MAC Championship Team (Outright)
8-6 record • 6-1 MAC • 1st place MAC West/MAC Championship Win, 35-10 win over Miami (Ohio), Motor City Bowl appearance vs. Purdue (attendance: 60,624), back-to-back MAC regular season/title game championships
Coach: Butch Jones (first season as head coach)
2009 MAC Championship Team (Outright)
12-2 record • 8-0 MAC • 1st place MAC West/MAC Championship Win, 20-10 win over Ohio, GMAC Bowl Champions/First CMU team to go undefeated in MAC play, third MAC regular season title, championship game win in four years
Coach: Butch Jones/Steve Stripling (bowl game)
Central Michigan Football has claimed 16 total conference championships, including nine in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and seven in the Mid-American Conference since it joined the league in 1975. The Chippewas won three of those MAC titles by claiming MAC Championship games in 2006, 2007, and 2009.
The Chippewas rank No. 2 in the Mid-American Conference in most total wins (658 wins) and all-time win percentage (.584) and rank No. 3 in most all-time conference titles (16) and most bowl game appearances (16). In comparing the Chippewa program to national Group of 5 Teams, Central Michigan ranks No. 7 on the most all-time wins list (658) and No. 9 in winning percentage (.584).
Central Michigan Football has a record of 658-464-36 through 125 years. The Chippewas have enjoyed 82 winning seasons, 23 seasons with 8 or more wins, 43 seven-win seasons, and 62 seasons with 6 or more wins.
Here is a list of Central Michigan's 16 conference championship teams:
Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles (9)
1952 IIAC Championship Team (outright)
7-2 record • 6-0 IIAC
First-ever IIAC championship team and CMU conference title; CMU captures first league title in third year in the IIAC, undefeated in IIAC play
Coach: Bill Kelly
1953 IIAC Championship Team (outright)
7-1-1 record • 5-0-1 IIAC
Back-to-back IIAC champions; CMU captures first back-to-back outright league titles
Coach: Bill Kelly
1954 IIAC Co-Championship Team
8-2 record • 5-1 IIAC
Third consecutive IIAC title
Coach: Bill Kelly
1955 IIAC Co-Championship Team
8-1 record • 5-1 MAC
Fourth consecutive IIAC title, outscored opponents 327-79
Coach: Bill Kelly
1956 IIAC Championship Team (outright)
9-0 record • 6-0 IIAC
Second undefeated team in school history, nine straight wins
Coach: Bill Kelly
1962 IIAC Championship Team (outright)
6-4 record • 4-0 IIAC • Sixth IIAC championship
Won six consecutive games to close the season
Coach: Bill Kelly
1966 IIAC Championship Team (outright)
5-5 record • 3-0 IIAC • Seventh IIAC championship
Won five consecutive games to close the year (3-0 in IIAC)
Coach: Bill Kelly (final season at CMU)
1967 IIAC Co-Championship Team
8-2 record • 2-1 IIAC • Back-to-back IIAC champions
CMU outscored opponents 207-84, Eighth IIAC title
Coach: Roy Kramer (first season as head coach)
1968 IIAC Co-Championship Team
7-2 record • 2-1 IIAC • Ninth IIAC title
Third consecutive IIAC championship
Coach: Roy Kramer
Mid-American Conference titles (7)
1979 MAC Championship Team (outright)
10-0-1 record • 8-0-1 MAC
First MAC championship team, third unbeaten season in school history, one tie: 7-7 at Toledo, which ended a 14-game win streak, ended season after going 18 games without a loss
Coach: Herb Deromedi (first league title)
1980 MAC Championship Team (outright)
9-2 record • 7-2 MAC
Back-to-back MAC champions, first back-to-back MAC titles
Ended season on four-game win streak, including three straight in MAC play and a 22-10 victory at Western Michigan in the season finale
Coach: Herb Deromedi
1990 MAC Co-Championship Team
8-3-1 record • 7-1 MAC
First team at Central Michigan to play in a bowl game (California Raisin Bowl); First league title in 10 years at CMU, one league loss: 13-3 vs. Ball State
Coach: Herb Deromedi (third MAC title)
1994 MAC Championship Team (Outright)
9-3 record • 8-1 MAC
1st place in the MAC regular season
Second CMU team to play in a bowl game
Coach: Dick Flynn (first season as head coach)
2006 MAC Championship Team (Outright)
10-4 record • 7-1 MAC
1st place MAC West/MAC Championship Win, 31-10 over Ohio; Motor City Bowl Champions
Coach: Brian Kelly/Jeff Quinn
2007 MAC Championship Team (Outright)
8-6 record • 6-1 MAC • 1st place MAC West/MAC Championship Win, 35-10 win over Miami (Ohio), Motor City Bowl appearance vs. Purdue (attendance: 60,624), back-to-back MAC regular season/title game championships
Coach: Butch Jones (first season as head coach)
2009 MAC Championship Team (Outright)
12-2 record • 8-0 MAC • 1st place MAC West/MAC Championship Win, 20-10 win over Ohio, GMAC Bowl Champions/First CMU team to go undefeated in MAC play, third MAC regular season title, championship game win in four years
Coach: Butch Jones/Steve Stripling (bowl game)
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