Central Michigan football is turning the page after two straight home victories, with its sights now set on the state of Florida for a significant road test against the Miami Hurricanes.

Miami, the No. 6 team in the country according to this week’s AP Top 25 poll, was the runner-up in the 2025 College Football National Championship Game. Boasting a reworked roster for the 2026 season, the Hurricanes have begun the year hot with a 3-0 record.

After his squad handled business 24-10 against Wyoming, CMU head coach Matt Drinkall is now looking forward to facing such a prominent program for the final non-conference game of 2026.

“You get to find out a lot about yourself in games like this,” Drinkall said. “When you get a chance to fight a Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali, you step up to the plate. You don’t cower down.”

This is the second time Central Michigan has ever faced Miami, with the only other matchup resulting in a 17-12 defeat for the Chippewas in 2019.

Meet the opponent

Head coach Mario Cristobal has led Miami to a 38-19 record and a National Championship appearance during his five years at the helm.

Over this time, Cristobal has built a team that’s difficult to slow down. The Hurricane's offense averages 594.3 yards per game, leading the NCAA, as well as ranking third in the country with 51.7 average points scored.

Junior quarterback Darian Mensah, a transfer from Duke, has thrown for 873 yards and eleven touchdowns through the first three games. Wide receiver Malachi Toney has been Mensah’s top pass-catcher, hauling in 444 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

Defensively, the Hurricanes have found a similar level of success, allowing only 11 points per game. Despite losing stars like Reuben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor to the NFL draft, Miami has maintained success in the pass rush with juniors Marquise Lightfoot and Armondo Blount.

“They’re a professional football organization in every sense of the word,” Drinkall said. “There’s teams in this sport at this level, and this is arguably the most well-resourced and operating, functioning unit in the whole thing.”

Keys to victory

Central Michigan is aware it has a long fight ahead, but the team is embracing the opportunity to play talent of this level.

“This game can change the whole team’s lives,” junior cornerback Jaion Jackson said. “If everybody comes together and plays hard, I feel like it’d put the team on the map.”

According to Drinkall, the Chippewas played their most complete game of the season so far against Wyoming, committing to the run with 329 yards on the ground.

"We obviously functioned in all three phases a lot better this last game, so that was outstanding to see," Drinkall said. "That was much more of our brand overall."

Quarterback Angel Flores led the team with 163 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. Flores ranks 15th in the NCAA in total rushing yards with 315, making him the second-most productive rushing quarterback in the country, second only to West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins Jr.

CMU’s offensive identity will be put to the test against Miami, with the Hurricanes allowing an average of just 45.7 rushing yards per game, placing third in the nation.

“It’s a traditional, really good school, and they have great players,” Flores said. “Being able to go against those first-rounders and second-rounders is an honor, and I’m excited to play against them.”

If the Chippewas hope to move the ball, it may be time to lean into the passing game against a Miami secondary which has only forced one turnover this year.

Flores took every offensive snap last week, a departure from rotating between quarterbacks in previous weeks, yet only went 4 of 7 for 32 yards in the air. There was not a single pass attempt in the second half.

“Last week was more based on analytics,” Drinkall said. “Once we got the first two stops in the second half, that really shifted analytically what we were going to just not turn it over.”

As for Central Michigan’s defense, limiting Miami’s playmakers will be a tall task. The Chippewas thrive on forcing turnovers, and Mensah has not thrown an interception yet this season.

Additionally, the unit will need to adjust without defensive lineman Hunter Zirkle, who will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn right pectoral muscle.

“No matter who’s in front of me, I’m always going to give them a fight,” Jackson said of his mentality going into the week. “I’m always going to have that grit in me. I’m going to be ready to ball … on national television.”

Should the defense be able to limit the Hurricanes’ productive offense, it will come down to finding a heartbeat on offense in this final contest before Mid-American Conference play.

Central Michigan (2-1) vs. No. 6 Miami (3-0)

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Date: Saturday, Sep. 26

Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium

Location: Miami Gardens, Florida

TV: The CW