Bowl projections for Central Michigan following Week 10
Central Michigan needed a win over Northern Illinois to secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2017 and 11th time in 14 seasons.
As the game clock in Kelly/Shorts Stadium hit zeroes on Saturday, CMU had earned the win it needed over the Huskies, 48-10.
Simply put, the Chippewas (6-4, 4-2 MAC) dominated their Mid-American Conference foe.
The win moved Central Michigan into bowl qualification in coach Jim McElwain's first season at the helm in Mount Pleasant.
"It's awesome," McElwain said. "I really can't tell you how happy I am for that locker room. That team in that locker room at the beginning of the season was picked dead last in this conference.
"I think we proved that we're getting better."
After dominating the Huskies, the Chippewas head into their first of two bye weeks after playing 10-straight games. The stretch was the longest in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
McElwain said that earning that sixth win is huge for the program, it does not mean a bowl game is guaranteed.
"You're obviously happy for the people in the organization," McElwain said. "Yet, that six doesn't guarantee you anything, based on the numbers in our league."
As Central Michigan earns its sixth win of the season and heads into the bye week, here are the bowl projections for the Chippewas.
ESPN: Kyle Bonagura: Boca Raton Bowl (Dec. 21) vs. Utah State; Mark Schlabach: Not projected to make bowl game
CBS Sports: Not projected to make bowl game
Sports Illustrated: Boca Raton Bowl (Dec. 21) vs. Central Florida
Sporting News: Frisco Bowl (Dec. 20) vs. Temple
247Sports: Texas Bowl (Dec. 27) vs. Oklahoma State
Bleacher Report: Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 20) vs. Western Kentucky
Yahoo Sports: Camellia Bowl (Dec. 21) vs. Georgia State
Stadium: Mobile Bowl (Jan. 6) vs. Georgia State
