Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Open Preseason Training Camp
8/5/2026 2:36:00 PM | Football
Central Michigan Football completes practice No. 1 of 2026 preseason training camp.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—The Central Michigan Football program opened its fall 2026 preseason training camp with an intense and efficient one-and-a-half-hour practice session Wednesday morning at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Sporting helmets and shoulder pads, the CMU Football team worked through a spirited outdoor workout in 80-degree temperatures. The Chippewas went through individual position drills, open field blocking drills, and stretching. The team went to 7-on-7 offense vs. defense drills, wide receivers vs. defensive backs and offensive line vs. defensive line, then back to more position drills. CMU also worked on special teams.
Wednesday's first practice marks the first of 21 training camp sessions between Wednesday, August 5 and Sunday, August 30. The Chippewas will scrimmage two times during fall camp, including on Friday, August 21 at 5:30 p.m.
Tomorrow, Central Michigan will host an on-campus media day, which will include open practice, Drinkall press conference, and player availability.
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'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.
The Chippewas open their 2026 season at New Mexico on Saturday, September 5. Kickoff is at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT for a nationally televised game on FS1.
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 (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
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Sporting helmets and shoulder pads, the CMU Football team worked through a spirited outdoor workout in 80-degree temperatures. The Chippewas went through individual position drills, open field blocking drills, and stretching. The team went to 7-on-7 offense vs. defense drills, wide receivers vs. defensive backs and offensive line vs. defensive line, then back to more position drills. CMU also worked on special teams.
Wednesday's first practice marks the first of 21 training camp sessions between Wednesday, August 5 and Sunday, August 30. The Chippewas will scrimmage two times during fall camp, including on Friday, August 21 at 5:30 p.m.
Tomorrow, Central Michigan will host an on-campus media day, which will include open practice, Drinkall press conference, and player availability.
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'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.
The Chippewas open their 2026 season at New Mexico on Saturday, September 5. Kickoff is at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT for a nationally televised game on FS1.
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 (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
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
—CMU—
Tuesday, August 04
Friday, July 31
Friday, July 31
Wednesday, July 29