A look into upcoming CMU football season
The Central Michigan University football team plays in a spring game that they host for the first time since 2018 in Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2025. The team is divided into team Deromedi and team Kramer for the game. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)
The turf at Kelly/Shorts Stadium is quiet now, but in less than two weeks, the stands will be filled again. As Central Michigan gears up for the 2025 season, the Chippewas step into a new era—one defined by change, renewal and the unknown.
The most visible change stands on the sideline. After six seasons, Jim McElwain retired following a 4-8 overall finish in 2024. In his place arrives Matt Drinkall, a coach known for his offensive creativity and blunt intensity during his time at Army. He brings with him a new staff—offensive coordinator Jim Chapin and defensive coordinator Sean Cronin—each charged with reshaping a program hungry for stability.
“This is one of the best teams I have ever been around for internal leadership,” Drinkall said back in April. “One thing about our team is … they’ve been exposed to a lot, and they are really affective at communicating. There are no egos, they’re looking for authenticity, they want to get better.”
For Central Michigan, 2025 is less about chasing perfection and more about rediscovering identity.
Defense Leads the Way
If CMU is going to climb back toward Mid-American Conference relevance, it will start on defense. Few position groups in the conference can match the Chippewas’ experience at linebacker.
Senior linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski, who earned All-MAC second team honors last fall, returns as the heart of the defense. Flanking him are seasoned teammates Dakota Cochran, Lawaiʻa Brown and Fernando Sanchez III—all seniors with game reps and leadership roles already established. Together, they form the kind of unit coaches dream about: veterans who can communicate without words and set the tone in practice.
The secondary is also expected to be a strength. The Chippewas lost Donte Kent, who is now a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they’re not empty-handed. Returners Marcus Badgett, Brenden Deasfernandes, Jaion Jackson and Aakeem Snell bring valuable experience. They’re joined by Cinncinatti transfer Kalen Carroll, who saw action in the spring game back in April.
Behind them sits a safety duo including Caleb Spann, the team’s second-leading tackler last season, is known for his ability to sniff out plays before they develop. His partner, Elijah Rikard, added 56 tackles of his own and provides a steadying presence in the back end. Together, they give CMU a hard-hitting safety net that fans should grow to appreciate.
Offense Searching for an Identity
Running back Trey Cornist, who transferred from Tulane, may be the most intriguing newcomer. Once a highly touted recruit, Cornist rushed for 149 yards in limited opportunities last season, but brings a bruising running style that could translate well to the MAC.
Alongside him in the running back room is Nahree Biggins, Mekhi Jenkins, Brock Townsend and Jakivion Calip, who all return this year.
Wide receiver Tyson Davis should see the field again this year after an injury took him out of the 2024 season. As a player who has seen the field and is a vet on the team, Davis will look to lead a young wide receiver room.
A Brutal Start
The 2025 schedule does the Chippewas no favors. They open with three straight road games at San Jose State, Pittsburgh and a Big Ten matchup against the University of Michigan.
Despite a tough start for CMU, the odds could be in CMU’s favor in the opener. San Jose State lost its starting quarterback and is in transition. Pitt has talent but is coming off a down year. And while Michigan will be a challenge, surviving that stretch with confidence and health would be a win in itself.
CMU finally returns home in week four against Wagner, a game that could serve as a reset before the grind of conference play. Matchups with Buffalo, UMass and Kent State could be easy winnable moments.
Preseason polls slotted Central Michigan ninth in the conference, while oddsmakers set the Chippewas’ win total at 5.5. This placement gives CMU a lot of room to work, but in the unpredictable world of MAC football, that number could swing dramatically in either direction.
Things to watch this season
The first storyline begins under center. Quarterback play has often been a deciding factor for CMU, and this year is no different. With a fresh competition for the starting job, the Chippewas are searching for a steady hand who can not only manage the game, but also push the offense to new heights.
On the other side of the ball, the defense will be tasked with forging a new identity. Returning leaders bring valuable experience, but several positions will rely on younger players adjusting to the speed of Division I football.
If the Chippewas can re-establish themselves as a disciplined, hard-hitting unit, it will give them a fighting chance in a conference where physical defenses often separate contenders from the rest of the pack.
Offensively, balance has been difficult in recent years. The run game has long been a strength in Mount Pleasant, but too often the passing attack has lagged behind, forcing the offense to become predictable. This fall, the ability to spread the field and keep defenses honest will be a focal point.
Then come the rivalry games. Matchups with Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Toledo have a way of defining seasons, regardless of records. A win in either rivalry could spark momentum, a loss could deepen the growing pains.
Finally, all eyes will be on the new faces. From promising freshmen to transfers eager for a second chance, this roster is filled with players looking to carve out their role. Fans should expect at least a handful of newcomers to emerge as key contributors by midseason. How quickly they adapt will determine whether this is a rebuilding year or the start of a resurgence.
