Game-by-game preview for CMU football's 2015 season


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Central Michigan University Head Coach John Bonamego. (Photo by Monica Bradburn | Staff Photographer) 

Week 1: CMU vs. Oklahoma State

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Sept. 3

Place: Kelly/Shorts Stadium

Opponent’s 2014 record: (7-6 overall, 4-5 in BIG XII)

Opponent’s Key Players

Offense: Sophomore quarterback Mason Rudolph (853 yards passing and six touchdowns in three games last season) Returning starters: 8

Defense: Junior defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (49 tackles, 11 sacks in 13 games last season) Returning starters: 8

What to watch for: A depleted CMU defensive secondary does not match up favorably with OK State’s pass-heavy offense. If the CMU offensive line can hold back Ogbah and the Cowboys notorious run blitz, the Chippewas can keep their highly anticipated season opener close. CMU defensive end Joe Ostman will need to keep Rudolph off balance, especially on third down and in the red zone.

Week 2: CMU vs. Monmouth

Time: 3 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Sept. 12

Place: Kelly/Shorts Stadium

Opponent’s 2014 record: (6-5 overall, 1-4 in Big South)

Opponent’s key players

Offense: Junior running back Lavon Chaney (835 yards rushing, 10 touchdowns in 2014)

Defense: Sophomore defensive back Mike Basile (78 tackles and four interceptions in 11 games during 2014)

What to watch for: Monmouth presents some interesting matchups for CMU, which has had close calls recently against FCS schools like New Hampshire and Chattanooga. Monmouth has struggled stopping the run recently, giving up nearly 300 yards per game on the ground a season ago. This could make for a potential opportunity for CMU running backs like Devon Spalding and Martez Walker. Chippewa quarterback Cooper Rush could find some early-season rhythm against a Monmouth secondary that finished near the bottom of its league in passing yards allowed.

Week 3: CMU at Syracuse 

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Sept. 19

Place: The Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York

Opponent’s 2014 record: (3-9 overall, 1-9 in ACC)

Opponent’s key players

Offense: Senior quarterback Terrel Hunt (983 yards passing in five games during 2014) Returning starters: 8

Defense: Sophomore linebacker Zaire Franklin (44 tackles and two sacks in 11 games during 2014) Returning starters: 3

What to watch for: With last year’s 40-3 loss to the Orange, the Chippewas will be out for revenge on their first road trip of the year. Syracuse graduated 22 starters, but quarterback Terrel Hunt is finally healthy. Winning in the Carrier Dome, one of only 11 indoor college football stadiums in the country, is never easy, no matter what sport you are playing.

Week 4: CMU at Michigan State

Time: TBA

Date: Saturday, Sept. 26

Place: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

Opponent’s 2014 record: (11-2 overall, 7-1 in Big Ten)

Opponent’s Key Players

Offense: Senior quarterback Connor Cook (3,214 yards passing, 24 touchdowns in 13 games during 2014) Returning starters: 6

Defense: Senior defensive end Shilique Calhoun (39 tackles, eight sacks in 13 games during 2014) Returning starters: 7

What to watch for: The result of this one is pretty predictable. MSU is likely to be one of the top 10 college football teams in the country this fall. They have a prolific offense stacked with talent coupled with an experienced defense that allowed opposing teams to score just 19.9 points per game during the regular season last year. With seven returning starters this year, MSU is likely to allow the fewest points of any Big Ten team again. The Spartans may simply be too tough to handle. CMU will be lucky to make it halftime with a single-digit deficit.

Week 5: CMU vs. Northern Illinois 

Time: 3 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 3

Place: Kelly/Shorts Stadium

Opponent’s 2014 record: (11-3 overall, 7-1 in MAC)

Opponent’s Key Players

Offense: Junior quarterback Drew Hare (2,322 passing yards, 18 touchdowns in 14 games during 2014) Returning starters: 6

Defense: Senior safety Marlon Moore (99 tackles, 3.5 for a loss in 14 games during 2014) Returning starters: 8

What to watch for: Topping Northern Illinois last season was one of the highlights of the 2014 CMU football season, being the first MAC team to win in DeKalb in 28 tries. The Chippewas will be desperate for a win on homecoming, but this year’s NIU team, especially on offense, is more experienced and more established in its system. This would be a huge vengeance win for the Huskies after the Chippewas went to DeKalb, Illinois and ruined NIU’s homecoming in 2014.

Week 6: CMU at Western Michigan 

Time: TBA

Date: Saturday, Oct. 10

Place: Ralph Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Opponent’s 2014 record: (8-5 overall, 6-2 in MAC)

Opponent’s Key Players

Offense: Sophomore running back Jarvion Franklin (1,551 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns in 13 games during 2014) Returning starters: 9

Defense: Senior linebacker Grant DePalma (102 tackles, eight for a loss in 13 games during 2014) Returning starters: 7

What to watch for: The rivalry is renewed early this year, which may work in CMU’s favor. WMU really picked up steam later in the season last fall, so CMU has a chance to knock the Broncos off before they really get going. The defending MAC West champion-Broncos did not get a full head of steam until midway through the season last fall. WMU will look to start 2015 strong with a more experienced team, including Franklin, who might be the best player in the MAC.

Week 7: CMU vs. Buffalo

Time: TBA

Date: Saturday, Oct. 17

Place: Kelly/Shorts Stadium

Opponent’s 2014 record: (5-6 overall, 3-4 in MAC)

Opponent’s Key Players

Offense: Senior wide receiver Ron Willoughby (771 yards receiving, 50 catches and nine touchdowns in 11 games during 2014) Returning starters: 7

Defense: Junior linebacker Jarrett Franklin (49 tackles, five for a loss in 10 games during 2014) Returning starters: 4

What to watch for: The Chippewas will look to take advantage of a University at Buffalo football program that has been a mess lately, most notably firing former Head Coach Jeff Quinn midway through last season. UB had the MAC’s worst special teams unit a year ago, so look for CMU utility players like Amari Coleman and Blake Serpa to make a big difference.

Week 8: CMU at Ball State 

Time: TBA

Date: Saturday, Oct. 24

Place: Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, Indiana

Opponent’s 2014 record: (5-7 overall, 4-4 in MAC)

Opponent’s Key Players

Offense: Senior wide receiver KeVonn Mabon (717 yards receiving, 59 catches and five touchdowns in 10 games during 2014) Returning starters: 10

Defense: Senior linebacker Zack Ryan (91 tackles, one sack and one interception in 12 games during 2014) Returning starters: 8

What to watch for: This is a potential trap game for the Chippewas. Ball State came up to Mount Pleasant last fall and grabbed an upset victory on a last-second 55-yard field goal. The drive to southern Indiana along with the likelihood of health issues creeping up by this point in the season will add extra challenges for the Chips.

Week 9: CMU at Akron

Time: TBA

Date: Saturday, Oct. 31

Place: InfoCision Stadium, Akron, Ohio

Opponent’s 2014 record: (5-7 overall, 3-5 in MAC)

Opponent’s Key Players

Offense: Senior quarterback Kyle Pohl (2,189 yards passing and nine touchdowns in 10 games during 2014). Returning starters: 6

Defense: Senior linebacker Jatavis Brown (99 tackles in 12 games during 2014). Returning starters: 6

What to watch for: Akron has been a perennial MAC East bottom-feeder, so CMU should start the push for a strong finish to the season here. The Zips have too many problems on the defensive line to stop CMU rushers like Devon Spalding.

Week 10: Bye

Week 11: CMU vs. Toledo

Time: 8 p.m.

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 10

Place: Kelly/Shorts Stadium

Opponent’s 2014 record: (9-4 overall, 7-1 in MAC)

Opponent’s Key Players

Offense: Junior running back Kareem Hunt (1,631 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns in 10 games during 2014). Returning starters: 5

Defense: Senior defensive end Trent Voss (77 tackles, 4.5 sacks in 13 games during 2014). Returning starters: 8

What to watch for: The Rockets are an all-too-familiar opponent for CMU, who might be fighting to stay in the MAC West race at this point of the season. Toledo loves to push the tempo, a vast contrast from Akron’s pound-the ball-approach CMU will see a week earlier. The mid-week “MACtion” starts this week, and so too does CMU’s push for the postseason.

Week 12: CMU at Kent State 

Time: 8 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 18

Place: Dix Stadium, Kent, Ohio

Opponent’s 2014 record: (2-9 overall, 1-6 in MAC)

Opponent’s Key Players:

Offense: Junior quarterback Colin Reardon (2,466 yards passing, 14 touchdowns in 11 games during 2014) Returning starters: 8

Defense: Senior safety Jordan Italiano (96 tackles, 3.5 for loss and three interceptions in 11 games during 2014). Returning starters: 8

What to watch for: Don’t let the Golden Flashes’ record last season fool you; Kent State football is a program on the rise. Making things even more interesting is Kent’s favorable schedule up until this point (They play UMass and South Alabama at home this fall). Kent could be floating around .500 when the Chips arrive in Eastern Ohio, but the Golden Flashes still have a long way to go toward relevance in the MAC East. .

Week 13: CMU vs. Eastern Michigan 

Time: TBA

Date: Friday, Nov. 27

Place: Kelly/Shorts Stadium

Opponent’s 2014 record: (2-10 overall, 1-7 in MAC)

Opponent’s Key Players

Offense: Senior running back Darius Jackson (295 yards rushing and one touchdown in 12 games during 2014). Returning starters: 5

Defense: Senior linebacker Great Ibe (133 tackles, 11 for a loss in 12 games during 2014). Returning starters: 8

What to watch for: CMU football’s home and regular-season finale will be on Black Friday, as the Chippewas will likely be making one last case for a bowl bid in their regular season finale. This MAC West showdown won’t be the game of the weekend, as the Eagles are projected to finish at the bottom of the division.

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About Dominick Mastrangelo

Dominick Mastrangelo is the Editor in Chief of Central Michigan Life. Contact him at: editor@cm-life.com 

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