2024 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

2024 Central Michigan Chippewas football
2024 Central Michigan Chippewas football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	4–8 (2–6 MAC)
Head coach	Jim McElwain (6th season);
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Robb Akey (6th season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Kelly/Shorts Stadium
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

The 2024 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Chippewas were led by Jim McElwain in his sixth year as the head coach. The Chippewas played their home games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.^[1]

2024 Mid-American Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Miami (OH) y	7	–	1	9	–	5
Ohio y$	7	–	1	11	–	3
Buffalo	6	–	2	9	–	4
Bowling Green	6	–	2	7	–	6
Western Michigan	5	–	3	6	–	7
Toledo	4	–	4	8	–	5
Northern Illinois	4	–	4	8	–	5
Akron	3	–	5	4	–	8
Eastern Michigan	2	–	6	5	–	7
Central Michigan	2	–	6	4	–	8
Ball State	2	–	6	3	–	9
Kent State	0	–	8	0	–	12
Championship: Ohio 38, Miami (OH) 3
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant

Preseason

Preseason polls

Coaches Poll

On July 19 the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Central Michigan was picked to finish eighth in the conference. They received zero votes to win the MAC Championship.^[2]^[3]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
MAC Coaches poll
1	Miami	119 (9)
2	Toledo	109 (3)
T3	Bowling Green	92
T3	Northern Illinois	92
5	Ohio	81
6	Eastern Michigan	64
7	Western Michigan	60
8	Central Michigan	59
9	Ball State	42
10	Buffalo	37
11	Akron	24
12	Kent State	13

Predicted finish	Team	Votes
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
1	Miami	10
2	Toledo	2

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 29	7:00 p.m.	Central Connecticut*	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI	ESPN+	W 66–10	18,055
September 7	6:00 p.m.	at FIU*	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL	ESPN+	L 16–52	17,852
September 14	12:00 p.m.	at Illinois*	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	Peacock	L 9–30	51,498
September 21	1:00 p.m.	Ball State	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI	ESPN+	W 37–34	18,011
September 28	3:30 p.m.	San Diego State*	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI	CBSSN	W 22–21	27,072
October 12	4:00 p.m.	Ohio	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI	ESPNU	L 25–27	22,437
October 19	2:00 p.m.	at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI (rivalry)	ESPN+	L 34–38	17,974
October 26	2:00 p.m.	at Miami (OH)	Yager Stadium Oxford, OH	ESPN+	L 7–46	10,661
November 5	7:30 p.m.	Bowling Green	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI	ESPN2	L 13–23	7,832
November 12	7:00 p.m.	at Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	ESPNU	L 10–37	14,661
November 19	7:30 p.m.	Western Michigan	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI (rivalry)	ESPN2	W 16–14	13,102
November 30	3:30 p.m.	at Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	CBSSN	L 16–24	5,843
*Non-conference game Homecoming All times are in Eastern time

^[4]

Game summaries

vs. Central Connecticut State (FCS)

Game One – Central Connecticut Blue Devils (FCS) (0-0) at Central Michigan Chippewas (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Devils (FCS)	7	0	3	0	10
Chippewas	14	28	24	0	66

at Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, MI

Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024
Game time: 7:00 PM
Game attendance: 18,055
Referee: Billy Williams
TV announcers (ESPN+): Dan Gutowsky (play-by-play) and Randy Buffington (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

(10:31) CMU – Myles Bailey 7-yard run (Tristan Mattson kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 4:04; Central Michigan 7-0)
(5:55) CCSU – Elijah Howard 3-yard run (Jack Barnum kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:37; Tied 7-7)
(5:40) CMU – Stephan Bracey Jr. 87-yard kickoff return (Tristan Mattson kick) (Central Michigan 14-7)

Second quarter

(11:50) CMU – B.J. Harris 9-yard run (Tristan Mattson kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 46 yards, 1:33; Central Michigan 21-7)
(7:34) CMU – Evan Boyd 47-yard pass from Joe Labas (Tristan Mattson kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 80 yards, 0:50; Central Michigan 28-7)
(3:16) CMU – Solomon Davis 17-yard pass from Joe Labas (Tristan Mattson kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 37 yards, 2:57; Central Michigan 35-7)
(0:37) CMU – Myles Bailey 2-yard run (Tristan Mattson kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 55 yards, 1:45; Central Michigan 42-7)

Third quarter

(11:17) CCSU – Jack Barnum 50-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 42 yards, 3:43; Central Michigan 42-10)
(8:45) CMU – Tristan Mattson 26-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 2:28; Central Michigan 45-10)
(7:04) CMU – Donte Kent 68-yard punt return (Tristan Mattson kick) (Central Michigan 52-10)
(3:45) CMU – Solomon Davis 72-yard pass from Joe Labas (Tristan Mattson kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 86 yards, 1:00; Central Michigan 59-10)
(1:48) CMU – Aakeem Snell 46-yard interception return (Tristan Mattson kick) (Central Michigan 66-10)

Fourth quarter

no scoring

Statistics	CCSU	CMU
First downs	16	22
Total yards	67–285	52–491
Rushing yards	44–194	24–113
Passing yards	91	378
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	12–23–1	21–28–0
Time of possession	34:57	25:03

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Connecticut	Passing	Brady Olson	12/20, 91 yards
	Rushing	Jadon Turner	5 carries, 61 yards
	Receiving	Michael Plaskon	4 receptions, 44 yards
Central Michigan	Passing	Joe Labas	18/24, 342 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Myles Bailey	9 carries, 68 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Solomon Davis	4 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TD

at FIU

Game Two - Central Michigan Chippewas (1-0) at FIU Panthers (0-1) - Game Summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Chippewas	0	8	8	0	16
Panthers	7	21	8	16	52

at Pitbull Stadium

Date: Saturday, September 7th, 2024
Game time: 6:00 PM
Game weather: Sunny, 89 °F (32 °C)
Game attendance: 17,852
TV: ESPN+
Box Score Gamebook

Game information

First quarter

FIU – Keyone Jenkins 4-yard run (Chase Gabriel kick), 6:55. FIU 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 33 yards, 1:59.

Second quarter

FIU – Eric Rivers 36-yard pass from Keyone Jenkins (Chase Gabriel kick), 7:45. FIU 14–0. Drive: 3 plays, 72 yards, 1:21.
FIU – Nazeviah Burris 17-yard pass from Keyone Jenkins (Chase Gabriel kick), 2:18. FIU 21–0. Drive: 6 plays, 43 yards, 3:23.
FIU – Brian Blades II 21-yard interception return (Chase Gabriel kick), 1:54. FIU 28–0.
CMU – Gavin Harris 12-yard pass from Joe Labas (Evan Boyd pass), 0:14. FIU 28–8. Drive: 9 plays, 58 yards, 1:35.

Third quarter

FIU – Kejon Owens 26-yard run (Dean Patterson pass), 6:04. FIU 36–8. Drive: 2 plays, 36 yards, 0:30.
CMU – Chris Parker 44-yard pass from Joe Labas (Gavin Harris pass), 0:39. FIU 36–16. Drive: 5 plays, 71 yards, 2:22.

Fourth quarter

FIU – Lexington Joseph 35-yard run, 12:39. FIU 42–16. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:00.
FIU – Chase Gabriel 42-yard field goal, 6:32. FIU 45–16. Drive: 6 plays, 21 yards, 3:35.
FIU – Luby Maurice Jr. 15-yard run (Chase Gabriel kick), 2:28. FIU 52–16. Drive: 2 plays, 9 yards, 0:52.

Statistics	CMU	FIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Michigan	Passing	Joe Labas	151 yards, 2 TD, 5 INT
	Rushing	Myles Bailey	54 yards
	Receiving	Chris Parker	55 yards, TD
FIU	Passing	Keyone Jenkins	124 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Kejon Owens	60 yards, TD
	Receiving	Josiah Miamen	54 yards

at Illinois

Pregame line	Over/under
Illinois –20	49.5

Game Three – Central Michigan Chippewas (1-1) vs Illinois Fighting Illini (2-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Chippewas	3	3	0	3	9
Fighting Illini	7	6	10	7	30

at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Illinois

Date: September 14
Game time: 12:00 p.m.
Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C), sunny
Game attendance: 51,498
Referee: Kole Knueppel
TV announcers (Peacock): Jac Collinsworth (play-by-play), Michael Robinson (analyst), and Caroline Pineda (sideline reporter)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	CMU	ILL
First downs	19	20
Total yards	62–309	58–379
Rushing yards	33–142	29–137
Passing yards	167	242
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–29–1	19–29–0
Time of possession	20:03	30:57

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Michigan	Passing	Joe Labas	12/25, 125 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Myles Bailey	6 carries, 49 yards
	Receiving	Evan Boyd	3 receptions, 38 yards
Illinois	Passing	Luke Altmyer	19/29, 242 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Josh McCray	8 carries, 54 yards
	Receiving	Pat Bryant	7 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD

vs. Ball State

Game Four – Ball State Cardinals (1–1) at Central Michigan Chippewas (1–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0
Chippewas	0	0	0	0	0

at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Date: September 21, 2024
Game time: 1:00pm
TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	BALL	CMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Central Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. San Diego State

Game Five – San Diego State Aztecs (1–2) at Central Michigan Chippewas (2–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Aztecs	0	0	0	0	0
Chippewas	0	0	0	0	0

at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Date: September 28, 2024
Game time: 3:30pm EDT
TV announcers (CBSSN): Chris Lewis (play-by-play) and Taylor McHargue (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SDSU	CMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
San Diego State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Central Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Ohio

Game Six – Ohio Bobcats (3–2) at Central Michigan Chippewas (3–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0
Chippewas	0	0	0	0	0

at Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, MI

Date: October 12
Game time: 4:00 p.m.
Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
TV announcers (ESPNU): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	OHIO	CMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ohio	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Central Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Eastern Michigan (rivalry)

Game Seven – Central Michigan Chippewas (3–3) vs Eastern Michigan Eagles (4–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Chippewas	0	0	0	0	0
Eagles	0	0	0	0	0

at Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, MI

Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
Game time: 2:00 p.m.
TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	CMU	EMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Eastern Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Miami (OH)

Game Eight – Central Michigan Chippewas (3–4) at Miami RedHawks (3–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Chippewas	0	0	0	0	0
RedHawks	0	0	0	0	0

at Yager Stadium, Oxford, OH

Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
Game time: 2:00 PM EST
TV announcers (ESPN+): Doug Sherman (play-by-play) and Forrest Conoly (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	CMU	M-OH
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Miami (OH)	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Bowling Green

Game Nine – Bowling Green Falcons (4–4) at Central Michigan Chippewas (3–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	3	6	7	7	23
Chippewas	0	7	0	6	13

at Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, MI

Date: Tuesday November 5, 2024
Game time: 7:30 PM EST
Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 67 °F (19 °C) • Wind: N at 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)
Game attendance: 7,832
Referee: Rich Edwards
TV announcers (ESPN2): Clay Matvick (play-by-play) and Steve Addazio (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

(9:05) BGSU – Zach Long 32-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards, 5:49; BGSU 3–0)

Second quarter

(12:55) BGSU – Zach Long 40-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 59 yards, 5:17; BGSU 6–0)
(2:28) BGSU – Zach Long 37-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 35 yards, 1:40; BGSU 9–0)
(0:31) CMU – Tyler Jefferson 1-yard run, Tristan Mattson kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:57; BGSU 9–7)

Third quarter

(12:17) BGSU – Levi Gazarek 9-yard pass from Connor Bazelak, Zach Long kick (Drive: 6 plays, 39 yards, 2:27; BGSU 16–7)

Fourth quarter

(5:42) BGSU – Jaison Patterson 1-yard run, Zach Long kick (Drive: 8 plays, 33 yards, 5:26; BGSU 23–7)
(1:50) CMU – Jadyn Glasser 1-yard run, Two-point run failed (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 3:52; BGSU 23–13)

Statistics	BGSU	CMU
First downs	19	13
Total yards	388	250
Rushing yards	181	187
Passing yards	207	63
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–30–0	6–14–0
Time of possession	35:53	24:07

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bowling Green	Passing	Connor Bazelak	19/30, 207 yards, TD
	Rushing	Terion Stewart	20 carries, 117 yards
	Receiving	Harold Fannin Jr.	7 receptions, 86 yards
Central Michigan	Passing	Jadyn Glasser	5/7, 57 yards
	Rushing	Marion Lukes	20 carries, 72 yards
	Receiving	Chris Parker	3 receptions, 25 yards

at Toledo

Game Ten – Central Michigan Chippewas (3–6) at Toledo Rockets (6–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Chippewas	3	0	0	7	10
Rockets	7	20	7	3	37

at Glass Bowl, Toledo, Ohio

Date: Tuesday November 12, 2024
Game time: 7:00 PM EST
Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 42 °F (6 °C) • Wind: W 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h)
Game attendance: 14,661
Referee: Billy Williams
TV announcers (ESPNU): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

(8:29) CMU – Tristan Mattson 34-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards, 6:25; Central Michigan 3–0)
(4:26) TOL – Tucker Gleason 9-yard run, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 10 plays, 71 yards, 3:58; Toledo 7–3)

Second quarter

(12:42) TOL – Dylan Cunanan 30-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 77 yards, 4:27; Toledo 10–3)
(4:48) TOL – Tucker Gleason 30-yard run, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:20; Toledo 17–3)
(0:22) TOL – Nasir Bowers 45-yard interception, Dylan Cunanan kick (Toledo 24–3)
(0:00) TOL – Dylan Cunanan 32-yard field goal (Drive: 2 plays, 0 yards, 0:07; Toledo 27–3)

Third quarter

(7:17) TOL – Zy'marion Lang 27-yard pass from Tucker Gleason, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 7 plays, 60 yards, 2:38; Toledo 34–3)

Fourth quarter

(9:53) TOL – Dylan Cunanan 40-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, -11 yards, 1:59; Toledo 37–3)
(1:28) CMU – Marion Lukes 2-yard run, Tristan Mattson kick (Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 4:07; Toledo 37–10)

Statistics	CMU	TOL
First downs	16	19
Total yards	236	299
Rushing yards	86	159
Passing yards	150	140
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	16–27–2	14–24–0
Time of possession	32:49	27:11

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Michigan	Passing	Jadyn Glasser	16/27, 150 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Marion Lukes	19 carries, 80 yards, TD
	Receiving	Chris Parker	5 receptions, 52 yards
Toledo	Passing	Tucker Gleason	13/23, 136 yards, TD
	Rushing	Tucker Gleason	8 carries, 66 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Jerjuan Newton	3 receptions, 40 yards

Western Michigan (rivalry)

Game Eleven – Western Michigan Broncos (5–5) at Central Michigan Chippewas (3–7) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	0	7	7	14
Chippewas	7	6	0	3	16

at Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, MI

Date: Tuesday November 19, 2024
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 54 °F (12 °C) • Wind: SE 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)
Game attendance: 13,102
Referee: Rich Edwards
TV announcers (ESPN2): Noah Reed (play-by-play), Craig Haubert (analyst) and Scott Ferrier (sideline)
Box score

Game information

First quarter

CMU – Harris, B.J. 6 yd run (Mattson, Tristan kick), 3 plays, 70 yards, TOP 01:33. CMU 7–0.

Second quarter

CMU – Mattson, Tristan 36 yd field goal, 11 plays, 74 yards, TOP 06:00. CMU 10–0.
CMU – Mattson, Tristan 47 yd field goal, 5 plays, 28 yards, TOP 00:55. CMU 13–0.

Third quarter

WMU – Hallock, Tate 78 yd interception return (Zurak, Luka kick). CMU 13–7.

Fourth quarter

CMU – Mattson, Tristan 30 yd field goal, 17 plays, 50 yards, TOP 10:17. CMU 16–7.
WMU – Buckley, Jalen 1 yd run (Zurak, Luka kick), 14 plays, 76 yards, TOP 07:34. CMU 16–14.

Statistics	WMU	CMU
First downs	10	16
Total yards	184	307
Rushing yards	50	167
Passing yards	134	140
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–26–0	8–17–1
Time of possession	23:43	36:17

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Michigan	Passing	Hayden Wolff	13/23, 126 yards
	Rushing	Jalen Buckley	12 carries, 50 yards, TD
	Receiving	Kenneth Womack	4 receptions, 47 yards
Central Michigan	Passing	Jadyn Glasser	8/17, 140 yards, INT
	Rushing	Marion Lukes	15 carries, 93 yards
	Receiving	Solomon Davis	3 receptions, 73 yards

at Northern Illinois

Game Twelve – Central Michigan Chippewas (4–7) at Northern Illinois Huskies (6–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Chippewas	0	0	0	0	0
Huskies	0	0	0	0	0

at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois

Date: Saturday November 30, 2024
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
TV: CBSSN

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	CMU	NIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "2023 Football Coaching Staff". Central Michigan University Athletics. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
^ "Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
^ "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
^ "2024 Central Michigan Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.

[1] "2023 Football Coaching Staff". Central Michigan University Athletics. Retrieved January 31, 2024.

[2] "Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.

[3] "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.

[4] "2024 Central Michigan Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.

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