2024 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

2024 Central Michigan Chippewas football
2024 Central Michigan Chippewas football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	3–2 (1–0 MAC)
Head coach	Jim McElwain (6th season);
Offensive coordinator	Vacant
Defensive coordinator	Robb Akey (6th season)
Home stadium	Kelly/Shorts Stadium
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Mid-American Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Buffalo	1	–	0	3	–	2
Central Michigan	1	–	0	2	–	2
Eastern Michigan	0	–	0	3	–	1
Toledo	0	–	0	3	–	1
Ohio	0	–	0	2	–	2
Bowling Green	0	–	0	1	–	2
Western Michigan	0	–	0	1	–	2
Akron	0	–	0	1	–	3
Miami (OH)	0	–	0	0	–	3
Kent State	0	–	0	0	–	4
Northern Illinois	0	–	1	2	–	2
Ball State	0	–	1	1	–	3
Championship: December 7, 2024
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant As of September 28, 2024 Rankings from AP Poll

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

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
October 12		Ohio	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI
October 19		at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI (rivalry, Michigan MAC Trophy)
October 26		at Miami (OH)	Yager Stadium Oxford, OH
November 5	7:30 p.m./8:00 p.m.	Bowling Green	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI	ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
November 12	7:00 p.m.	at Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	ESPN2/ESPNU/CBSSN
November 19	7:00 p.m./7:30 p.m./8:00 p.m.	Western Michigan	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI (rivalry, Michigan MAC Trophy)	ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/CBSSN
November 30		at Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL
*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
Central Connecticut (FCS)	7	0	3	0	10
Central Michigan	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
CMU	0	8	8	0	16
FIU	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.

Top passers

CMU – Joe Labas – 151 yards, 2 TD, 5 INT
FIU – Keyone Jenkins – 124 yards, 2 TD

Top rushers

CMU – Myles Bailey – 54 yards
FIU – Kejon Owens – 60 yards, TD

Top receivers

CMU – Chris Parker – 55 yards, TD
FIU – 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
Central Michigan	3	3	0	3	9
Illinois	7	6	10	7	30

at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Illinois

Date: September 14
Game time: 12:00 p.m.
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	Central Michigan	Illinois
First downs	19	20
Plays–yards	62–309	58–379
Rushes–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	Cardinals	Chippewas
First downs
Plays–yards	–	–
Rushes–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	Aztecs	Chippewas
First downs
Plays–yards	–	–
Rushes–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 (–) at Central Michigan Chippewas (–) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Ohio			0
Central Michigan			0

at Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, MI

Date: October 12
Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	Ohio	Central Michigan
First downs
Plays–yards	–	–
Rushes–yards	–	–
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int	––	––
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ohio	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Central Michigan	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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v t e Central Michigan Chippewas football
Venues	Kelly/Shorts Stadium (1972–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Eastern Michigan Western Michigan Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan: Michigan MAC Trophy
Culture & lore	Chippewa Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913–1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold