Central Michigan Chippewas at Eastern Michigan Eagles
Tue Nov 3 · 11:00 PM CT
By Pablo SanchezUpdated 5d ago·2 min read
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The longest-running series in the MAC turns another page on Tuesday, and this time it's a program trending up against one still trying to figure out what went wrong.
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Best BetCentral Michigan
Central Michigan enters this one with real momentum after closing 2025 by winning 5 of its last 6 games, and Year 2 under Matt Drinkall brings staff continuity Eastern Michigan doesn't have on offense. The Eagles bring back a proven quarterback in Noah Kim, but a team that fell short of preseason expectations last year needs to show it before it's backed outright. Lean Chippewas here.
Central Michigan
+Closed 2025 winning 5 of last 6 games
+Bowl eligible at 7-6, Year 2 continuity under Drinkall
−No portal QB added, wide-open 3-way battle
−Recruiting and portal classes ranked modestly nationally
Eastern Michigan
+Noah Kim returns after 2,817 yards, 18 TDs
+Defense retooled under new coordinator, named MAC dark horse
−Fell to 4-8 despite preseason 8th ranking
−Offense ranked just 107th nationally in SP+
Central Michigan heads into Year 2 under Matt Drinkall coming off a 7-6 season that ended with a bowl trip, and the Chippewas got there by winning 5 of their final 6 regular-season games after an ugly 1-2 start. Eastern Michigan can't say the same. The Eagles were picked 8th in the preseason MAC coaches poll last summer and stumbled to a 4-8 finish, a number made worse by the fact the program was barred from the postseason over an academic progress rate issue rather than anything that happened on the field.
Central Michigan's quarterback room is wide open after Joe Labas exhausted his eligibility, with Jadyn Glasser, Angel Flores and Marcus Beamon fighting it out this fall. Eastern Michigan doesn't have that uncertainty. Noah Kim is back after getting an extra year of eligibility, and he threw for 2,817 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025 — a steadying presence for a program that needs one. A MAC game this far off the board in November doesn't move much betting attention yet, but that gap in quarterback certainty is worth watching as the season unfolds.
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CMU Central Michigan
EMU Eastern Michigan
Where Eastern Michigan may have found its identity is on defense. New coordinator Greer Martini, promoted from linebackers coach, brought in transfer pass rushers DeJuan Echoles Jr. and Austin Alexander along with a couple of smaller-school additions, and ESPN tabbed the Eagles as a MAC dark horse for 2026 largely because of that side of the ball. The offense, though, ranked just 107th nationally in SP+ a year ago, and that's the piece still in question.
Central Michigan Chippewas
Oct 16?vs Western Michigan—
Oct 9?@ Ohio—
Oct 2?vs Akron—
Sep 26?@ Miami—
Sep 19?vs Wyoming—
Sep 12?vs Colgate—
Sep 5?@ New Mexico—
Eastern Michigan Eagles
Oct 16?vs Toledo—
Oct 10?@ Akron—
Oct 2?@ Massachusetts—
Sep 26?vs Lindenwood—
Sep 19?@ Wisconsin—
Sep 12?@ Michigan State—
Sep 4?vs San José State—
Aug 29?vs Sacramento State—
Recent form.
This series dates back to 1902 and has been played more than 100 times, making it the most-contested rivalry in the conference — including a wild 61-58 quadruple-overtime classic back in 2004. Neither program is being talked about as a MAC title contender this preseason, with Miami (OH), Toledo and defending champ Western Michigan getting most of that attention, but that's exactly what makes an old rivalry game like this one worth circling on a random Tuesday in November.
Central Michigan Chippewas
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Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Eastern Michigan Eagles
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Injury report — info via ESPN.
It's a long way to November, and both rosters will look different by the time kickoff arrives after fall camp and whatever the portal shakes loose. But the through-line right now is momentum: Central Michigan trending up behind continuity, Eastern Michigan trying to prove last year's letdown was the exception and not the new normal.
