Football to face Rhode Island in home opener
Head coach John Bonamego and his staff are back for their third season with the Central Michigan football team.
Coming off a 6-7 season in 2016, featuring a triumphant victory at Oklahoma State and a disappointing bowl game loss to Tulsa, the Chippewas were picked to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference West Division in the 2017 preseason media football poll. CMU was picked to end its season behind Toledo, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan.
The Toledo Rockets and Ohio Bobcats are projected to win the West and East Divisions in the poll. Toledo was picked to win the 2017 MAC Championship Game at Ford Field after finishing with 21 votes. Western Michigan, Bowling Green and Miami earned one vote each. CMU did not receive any votes to win the MAC Championship Game.
The Chippewas’ 2017 season kicks off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 31 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium against Rhode Island. This is during the first week of classes for the fall semester at CMU, but the game will be available on ESPN3.
Fans will have an opportunity to see the football team operate under a new offensive spread system, including a new quarterback that has not yet been named and new offensive coordinator, Chris Ostrowsky, who was the head football coach of Northern Michigan before coming to Mount Pleasant.
Here is the full schedule for the upcoming football season:
Thursday, August 31 vs. Rhode Island @ 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 9 at Kansas @ 4 p.m.
Saturday, September 16 at Syracuse @ 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 23 vs. Miami (OH) @ TBA
Saturday, September 30 at Boston College @ TBA
Saturday, October 7 at Ohio @ TBA
Saturday, October 14 vs. Toledo @ 3:30 p.m. (Homecoming)
Saturday, October 21 at Ball State @ 3 p.m.
Wednesday, November 1 at Western Michigan @ 8 p.m.
Wednesday, November 8 vs. Eastern Michigan @ TBA
Tuesday, November 14 at Kent State @ TBA
Friday, November 24 vs. Northern Illinois @ TBA
Every CMU home sporting event is free to students with an active student ID card.
CMU has five home games in Kelly/Shorts Stadium this season and seven away games. Follow Central Michigan Life on Facebook and Twitter (@CMLifeSports) to see when and where to watch the Chippewas when they travel.
