A late-season rematch with defending Mid-American Conference West champion Ball State and three games on ESPN networks highlight the CMU football team’s 2009 schedule.

The team begins the season on the road with trips to Arizona (Saturday, Sept. 5) and Michigan State (Sept. 12). It opens Kelly/Shorts Stadium against Alcorn State on Sept. 19 before entering MAC play.

CMU plays Akron for the seventh time since 2000 at home on Sept. 26. The Chippewas won the last meeting between the two teams in Mount Pleasant, 24-21, in 2006.

The team then travels to Buffalo to take on the defending MAC Champions on Oct. 3. CMU won last year’s meeting 27-25 after the Bulls missed a game-ending field goal off the right upright.

The Chippewas then play Eastern Michigan at home on Oct. 10 before meeting Western Michigan in Kalamazoo on Oct. 17. CMU won the last meeting at Waldo Stadium, 34-31, but lost the last meeting against EMU at home, 48-45, in 2007.

The team plays two consecutive road games after that – against Bowling Green (Oct. 24) and Boston College (Oct. 31). The Eagles beat the Chippewas 31-24 in 2006, the last time the two teams met.

After a bye week, CMU finishes the season against MAC opponents on national television. It plays at home against Toledo on Wednesday, Nov. 11, and at Ball State on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Both games will play on ESPN2 or ESPNU.

The Chippewas finish the season at home, the day after Thanksgiving, against Northern Illinois on Nov. 27. The game will be televised on ESPNU.

The MAC Championship Game is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at Ford Field. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

2009 Season Schedule

Date Opponent Time/TV
Sat, Sept. 5 at Arizona TBA
Sat, Sept. 12 at Michigan State TBA
Sat, Sept. 19 vs. Alcorn State TBA
Sat, Sept. 26 vs. Akron* TBA
Sat, Oct. 3 at Buffalo* TBA
Sat, Oct. 10 vs. Eastern Michigan* TBA
Sat, Oct. 17 at Western Michigan* TBA
Sat, Oct 24 at Bowling Green* TBA
Sat, Oct. 31 at Boston College TBA
Wed, Nov. 11 vs. Toledo* 8 pm/ESPN2
Wed, Nov. 18 at Ball State* TBA
Fri, Nov. 27 vs. Northern Illinois TBA
Fri, Dec. 4 MAC Championship 8 pm/ESPN2

* Denotes MAC game

E-mail the author: Brian Manzullo