CMU Exits MAC Title Race Before Regular-Season Finale

Bassyonni

ago 31 minutes

CMU Exits MAC Title Race Before Regular-Season Finale

Central Michigan University’s quest for a spot in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship has come to an end. After Ohio’s narrow 31-26 win over Buffalo, CMU has been eliminated from contention. With a record of 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the MAC, they will enter their regular-season finale against Toledo on Saturday without the opportunity for a title.

MAC Championship Contenders

Three teams remain in the running to face Western Michigan University (WMU) in the MAC championship game, scheduled for December 6 at Ford Field in Detroit. The contenders are:

Ohio
Toledo
Miami

WMU secured its spot in the championship with a 31-21 victory over Eastern Michigan. This marks WMU’s return to the title game for the first time since 2016.

Upcoming Matches and Scenarios

The outcomes of the matches on Saturday will determine the finalists for the championship. The games scheduled for noon include:

Toledo vs. Central Michigan
Miami vs. Ball State

Heading into the weekend, Ohio improved its standing to 6-2 after the win on Friday. The scenarios for determining who will face WMU are as follows:

If Miami wins against Ball State, they will advance to the MAC title game.
If Miami loses, Toledo can secure a spot with a victory over Central Michigan.
If both Miami and Toledo lose, Ohio will clinch the last available slot.

CMU’s Season Reflection

While the Chippewas will not be competing for the MAC championship, they have shown significant improvement this season under the leadership of first-year head coach Matt Drinkall. This year marks the first time CMU has achieved bowl eligibility since 2021.

It is worth noting that Central Michigan and Western Michigan have never faced each other in the MAC championship game due to previous divisional formats. The MAC will eliminate these divisions starting in 2024, paving the way for future matchups between the two rivals.