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Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Football to Open Preseason Practice on Wednesday
8/3/2026 11:27:00 AM | Football
Chippewas’ Training Camp to consist of 21 practices in preparation for their season opener at New Mexico (Saturday, Sept. 5).
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—The Central Michigan Football program will open its 2026 preseason training camp on Wednesday at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium and Indoor Athletic Center. This season, the Chippewas will practice a total of 21 times during training camp as they prepare for the 2026 season opener at New Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 5 (10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT on FS1).
The Chippewas will host two preseason scrimmages on Friday, August 21 (5:30 p.m.) and Saturday, August 29. Details on those scrimmages will be announced later. Central Michigan will break camp on Sunday, August 30 and begin preparation for the season opener. Fall classes begin on Monday, August 31.
League coaches picked Central Michigan to finish fifth in the 12-team Mid-American Conference. Under Matt Drinkall, the Chippewas are coming off a 2025 season which saw them advance to a bowl game for the first time in four years (since 2021), register a 7-6 overall record, including 7-3 vs. non Power-4 opponents, and finish in fifth place in the MAC with a 5-3 league record.
Central Michigan returns a total of 13 starters (10 on offense and three on defense) and a host of players who saw extensive action during the 2025 season. CMU's 10 returning starters on offense include offensive linemen Martin Koivisto, Brady Ploucha, Jacob Russell, Dasan Smith, John Iannuzzi, and Matthew Nehf, fullback Rusty VanWetzinga, running back Brock Townsend, and wide receivers Langston Lewis (Third Team All-MAC) and Tommy McIntosh (injured for upcoming season). In addition, quarterbacks Angel Flores, Jadyn Glasser, and Marcus Beamon all saw extensive action in 2025.
On offense, Central Michigan returns both of their touchdown leaders (Flores and Townsend with 8 each), its second-leading rusher (Flores, 527 yards, 8 rushing TD), fourth leading rusher (Townsend, 418 yards, 4 rushing TD), and leading receiver in Lewis (43 receptions, 596 yards, 3 TD).
On defense, the Chippewas have just three starters back in cornerback Jaion Jackson, defensive linemen Korver Demma and defensive lineman Quavion Bird. Jackson is CMU's leading returning tackler (48 tackles). Also returning on defense are several players who have seen extensive action in a Chippewa uniform including defensive lineman JJ Douglas and linebackers Xavier White and Victor Earl.
Central Michigan's 2026 football schedule was announced in March. Click here to access that information.
Season tickets can be purchased or renewed online at Ticket Central at www.cmuchippewas.com at this link, by calling the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at (989) 774-3045 or by e-mail at ticketcentral@cmich.edu. Advance single-game tickets are also now available. It is less expensive to purchase single game tickets in advance as ticket prices rise on game day.
The Chippewas will play six home games at Kramer/Deromedi Field, including five early-season contests scheduled for September and October. Click here to access the 2026 schedule.
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
2026 CENTRAL MICHIGAN PRESEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Practice 1: Wednesday, August 5
Practice 2: Thursday, August 6 (Preseason Media Day)
Practice 3: Friday, August 7
Practice 4: Saturday, August 8
Practice 5: Monday, August 10
Practice 6: Tuesday, August 11
Practice 7: Wednesday, August 12
Practice 8: Friday, August 14
Practice 9: Saturday, August 15
Practice 10: Monday, August 17
Practice 11: Tuesday, August 18
Practice 12: Wednesday, August 19
Practice 13: Thursday, August 20
Practice 14: Friday, August 21 (FULL PADS SCRIMMAGE at 5:30 p.m., Kelly/Shorts Stadium)
Practice 15: Saturday, August 22
Practice 16: Sunday, August 23
Practice 17: Tuesday, August 25
Practice 18: Wednesday, August 26
Practice 19: Friday, August 28
Practice 20: Saturday, August 29 (SCRIMMAGE at 10:30 a.m.)
Practice 21: Sunday, August 30 (final practice of preseason)
Game Week begins for New Mexico
The Chippewas will host two preseason scrimmages on Friday, August 21 (5:30 p.m.) and Saturday, August 29. Details on those scrimmages will be announced later. Central Michigan will break camp on Sunday, August 30 and begin preparation for the season opener. Fall classes begin on Monday, August 31.
League coaches picked Central Michigan to finish fifth in the 12-team Mid-American Conference. Under Matt Drinkall, the Chippewas are coming off a 2025 season which saw them advance to a bowl game for the first time in four years (since 2021), register a 7-6 overall record, including 7-3 vs. non Power-4 opponents, and finish in fifth place in the MAC with a 5-3 league record.
Central Michigan returns a total of 13 starters (10 on offense and three on defense) and a host of players who saw extensive action during the 2025 season. CMU's 10 returning starters on offense include offensive linemen Martin Koivisto, Brady Ploucha, Jacob Russell, Dasan Smith, John Iannuzzi, and Matthew Nehf, fullback Rusty VanWetzinga, running back Brock Townsend, and wide receivers Langston Lewis (Third Team All-MAC) and Tommy McIntosh (injured for upcoming season). In addition, quarterbacks Angel Flores, Jadyn Glasser, and Marcus Beamon all saw extensive action in 2025.
On offense, Central Michigan returns both of their touchdown leaders (Flores and Townsend with 8 each), its second-leading rusher (Flores, 527 yards, 8 rushing TD), fourth leading rusher (Townsend, 418 yards, 4 rushing TD), and leading receiver in Lewis (43 receptions, 596 yards, 3 TD).
On defense, the Chippewas have just three starters back in cornerback Jaion Jackson, defensive linemen Korver Demma and defensive lineman Quavion Bird. Jackson is CMU's leading returning tackler (48 tackles). Also returning on defense are several players who have seen extensive action in a Chippewa uniform including defensive lineman JJ Douglas and linebackers Xavier White and Victor Earl.
Central Michigan's 2026 football schedule was announced in March. Click here to access that information.
Season tickets can be purchased or renewed online at Ticket Central at www.cmuchippewas.com at this link, by calling the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at (989) 774-3045 or by e-mail at ticketcentral@cmich.edu. Advance single-game tickets are also now available. It is less expensive to purchase single game tickets in advance as ticket prices rise on game day.
The Chippewas will play six home games at Kramer/Deromedi Field, including five early-season contests scheduled for September and October. Click here to access the 2026 schedule.
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
2026 CENTRAL MICHIGAN PRESEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Practice 1: Wednesday, August 5
Practice 2: Thursday, August 6 (Preseason Media Day)
Practice 3: Friday, August 7
Practice 4: Saturday, August 8
Practice 5: Monday, August 10
Practice 6: Tuesday, August 11
Practice 7: Wednesday, August 12
Practice 8: Friday, August 14
Practice 9: Saturday, August 15
Practice 10: Monday, August 17
Practice 11: Tuesday, August 18
Practice 12: Wednesday, August 19
Practice 13: Thursday, August 20
Practice 14: Friday, August 21 (FULL PADS SCRIMMAGE at 5:30 p.m., Kelly/Shorts Stadium)
Practice 15: Saturday, August 22
Practice 16: Sunday, August 23
Practice 17: Tuesday, August 25
Practice 18: Wednesday, August 26
Practice 19: Friday, August 28
Practice 20: Saturday, August 29 (SCRIMMAGE at 10:30 a.m.)
Practice 21: Sunday, August 30 (final practice of preseason)
Game Week begins for New Mexico
—CMU—
Wednesday, July 29
Wednesday, July 29
Thursday, July 23
Thursday, July 23