Central Michigan Preview 2025: Rebuilding Chippewas Might Go Bowling Again

Central Michigan Chippewas Preview 2025: Offense

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- The offense never clicked. The ground game was okay, but there wasn’t enough of a passing attack to get excited, turnovers were a problem, and third down conversions were a rumor. The first order of business under the new coaching staff is to get running.

- Again, Drinkall knows offensive lines. This one needs some work with little size and not enough experience after top tackle Davis Heinzen left for Wisconsin. Columbia transfer John Iannuzzi needs to be a factor at guard, but overall this will be a work in progress.

Tulane transfer Trey Cornist should be the main man on the ground right away, and the depth has to be developed.

- There will still be a battle for the starting quarterback job, but Joe Labas is the incumbent after a rough year with four players seeing time. Northern Arizona transfer Angel Flores will get a shot, but overall the experience isn’t there at the position.

The transfer portal wasn’t kind to the receiving corps. Leading target Chris Parker is at UConn, and Evan Boyd went down the road to Michigan State. There are parts still around from last year, but they’re inexperienced.

Central Michigan Chippewas Preview 2025: Defense

- It was a maddening year for the defense. Overall it wasn’t totally horrible, but it couldn’t stop the run and had zero luck creating turnovers. The one thing this bunch did at a high level was get behind the line, but the top tackle is off to Iowa.

The portal was kind here, getting Joey VanWetzinga from Iowa along with tackle Dylan Fisher from Ohio Dominican to add pop to an already okay situation

- The linebacking corps might be the team’s biggest strength around Jordan Kwiatkowski - the all-star is coming off a 96-tackle season with 14 tackles for loss. There’s veteran leadership and decent depth to work into the rotation.

- The safeties are strong and the corners are new from the portal. Caleb Spann is a great hitter at one spot, and Elijah Rikard should be all over the field and make more big plays. The spotlight is on Kalen Carroll (Cincinnati) and Maddix Blackwell (Indiana State) at the corners, because …

Central Michigan Chippewas Key to the Season

Come up with more takeaways.
There’s a ton of work to be done all over the place in the rebuild season under the new coaching staff. Job One - force a turnover.

There was one interception in the opener against Central Connecticut State, one more against Eastern Michigan - along with a fumble recovery - and two recovered fumbles against Ohio. That’s it.

Central Michigan tied with Purdue for the fewest takeaways in the nation - five.

Central Michigan Chippewas Key Player

Joe Labas, QB Sr.
The quarterback situation has to be settled. Last year the coaching staff couldn’t find the right guy - injuries had something to do with that - and the offense was a mess at times. The 6-4, 210-pound former Iowa transfer has to stay healthy, and he needs to be the steadying force who can at least move the chains a bit.

Central Michigan Chippewas Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: Trey Cornist, RB Soph.
The young runner from Tulane got in a little work with 149 yards and a touchdown for the Green Wave, but in this offense he should shine from the start. It’ll be heavy on the ground game, and he’ll get every chance to take over in fall camp.

Top Transfer Out: Davis Heinzen, OT Sr.
This was a killer. It wasn’t unexpected, but the line would’ve been a major plus from the start if the left tackle was back. It should be okay, but losing him to Wisconsin hurt.

Central Michigan Chippewas Key Game

Eastern Michigan, Sept. 27
It’ll take a bit for the team to come together. It’ll be a rough start, but beating Wagner is a must, and then comes the MAC opener against Eastern Michigan. It’s been all about the home team winning in the series over the last four years, and this time around it would be a wonderful start to the Drinkall era.
- 2025 Central Michigan Chippewas Schedule Breakdown

Central Michigan Chippewas Top 10 Players

1. Jordan Kwiatkowski, LB Sr.
2. Dakota Cochran, LB Sr.
3. Caleb Spann, S Sr.
4. Elijah Rikard, S Sr.
5. Joe Labas, QB Sr
6. Trey Cornist, RB Soph.
7. Michael Heldman, EDGE Sr.
8. Dylan Fisher, DT Sr.
9. Tyson Davis, WR Jr.
10. Maddix Blackwell, S Sr.

Central Michigan Chippewas 2024 Fun Stats

- Fumbles: Central Michigan 18 (lost 10), Opponents 8 (lost 3)

- 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 14-of-22 (64%), Central Michigan 15-of-26 (58%)

 - 1st Quarter Scoring: 44, 2nd Quarter Scoring: 108

Central Michigan Chippewas 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen

There’s way too much work to do for any MAC Championship season hopes, but if the team can handle the early growing pains it should be in the mix for a bowl if everything breaks right.

Between Wagner, UMass, Akron, and Kent State there should be at least three wins, more likely four, but there has to be more consistency on both sides of the ball, and there won’t be.

It’ll be a rocky run, but at the very least there should be a good step forward after winning just four games in two of the last three seasons.

Set The Central Michigan Chippewas Win Total At … 4.5

Likely Wins: at Kent State, UMass, Wagner

50/50 Games: at Akron, at Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, at Western Michigan

Likely Losses: at Michigan, at Pitt, at San Jose State