Fresh off a dominant 27–6 win at Bowling Green, Central Michigan football returns to Kelly/Shorts Stadium this Saturday for Homecoming. For head coach Matt Drinkall, it’s not just another game. It’s a chance to celebrate a team that’s “finally found its identity” and to showcase a program he says the Mount Pleasant community can be proud of.

“I thought they were really well prepared emotionally,” Drinkall said. “Coming off of a loss and out of a bye week, there’s a lot of unknowns… and for those guys to come out and play as well as they did and be prepared, I thought that was awesome.”

Now, the challenge shifts from emotional recovery to consistency. With only five home games all season, Drinkall and his staff are focused on making this one special — not just for the players, but for alumni and fans returning to campus.

“It’s gonna be neat,” Drinkall said. “I think you’re going to have a great turnout because it’s a team that’s easy to cheer for and root for. We’re so excited to finally meet all the people, all these names, and see everybody come back and welcome every alumni and fan with open arms — and just make it the best weekend in Central football history.”

Meet the opponent

The University of Massachusetts enters Mount Pleasant in search of its first conference win of the season. While their record may not reflect it, the Minutemen have shown flashes of explosive offense, averaging over 20 points per game and leaning on tempo to keep opponents off balance.

UMass has struggled against physical ground attacks this year, giving Central Michigan a potential advantage with its deep backfield rotation and balanced scheme.

For Drinkall, though, it’s less about the opponent and more about maintaining the mindset that produced last week’s success.

“We talk about emotional consistency a lot,” he said. “You get one whole day to enjoy the win, then you move on. You self-reflect, correct errors, and get ready for the next one. The key is always being consistently ready to go.”

Keys to victory

Drinkall credited his team’s best week of practice yet to a new leadership approach inspired by the book The Starbucks Experience.

“We made a change after the Akron game,” he said. “We’ve assigned out daily leaders for the rest of the season. The kids’ internal leadership has provided us an unbelievable amount of energy and really good practice habits.”

That player-driven energy will be crucial Saturday. If the Chippewas bring the same focus and intensity that powered them through Bowling Green, they’ll be difficult to stop.

Central Michigan’s offense found balance last week, using both tempo and ball control to dictate the game. Against UMass, early scoring drives could deflate the Minutemen and ignite what Drinkall expects to be a loud homecoming crowd.

CMU’s recent success has come from minimizing mistakes and staying level-headed.

“If you see me on fourth-and-one in the game, I’m just kind of like this,” Drinkall said, showing calmness. “That’s my strength, being consistent. But the players have really taken ownership of the emotional side.”

If the Chippewas can combine that composure with continued aggressiveness, their first back-to-back conference wins since 2022 are within reach.

For Drinkall, Saturday represents more than just another date on the schedule. It’s an opportunity to reconnect the program with the Central Michigan community and reignite pride in Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

“Our fans are going to come to our game Saturday and meet incredible people,” he said. “They’re going to eat great food, have a great environment, and see kids that play hard. People are going to come back to Homecoming, and it will ignite a fire in them — like, ‘Oh man, I remember this. I remember why this place is so awesome and so special.’”

Central Michigan (4-3) vs. UMass (0-7)

Time: 3:30 ET

Date: Saturday, Oct. 25

Stadium: Kelly/Shorts Stadium

Location: Mount Pleasant, MI

TV: ESPN+