Junior quarterback Jadyn Glasser, who defeated the Broncos as a freshman in 2024, audibly gagged upon hearing the school’s name. Cornerback Jaion Jackson can’t stand to even look at the colors brown and gold.

The hatred for WMU continues to grow for the Chippewas, with both programs deep in preparation for the latest edition of the Battle for the Victory Cannon.

“Man, it just lights a fire in me,” quarterback Angel Flores said. “We don’t really like those guys over there, and I know they don’t like us either.”

CMU fell to WMU 24-21 in Kalamazoo last season, with the Broncos scoring the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter to seal the Chippewas’ fate. One year later, Central Michigan is looking to reclaim the Victory Cannon trophy.

Oct. 17 marks the 97th meeting of the in-state foes, with Western Michigan leading the all-time series 54-40-2. It is the first time the annual showdown has fallen on a Saturday in Mount Pleasant since the 2018 season.

“It’s amazing, the first Saturday game in eight years,” Jackson said. “It’s a lot of history between Central Michigan and Western, we just want to come out on top. … I expect a packed stadium.”

With a 31-14 defeat against Ohio behind them, the Chippewas understand the stakes of facing the Broncos, currently red-hot after silencing Kent State 38-7 following weeks of national attention.

Meet the opponent

All eyes have been on Western Michigan in 2026, with the reigning Mid-American Conference champions being regarded as the favorites to repeat according to the MAC Football Coaches Preseason Poll.

WMU opened its season with a showdown against the University of Michigan, which concluded in a controversial Hail Mary attempt by the Wolverines to hand the Broncos their first loss of the season.

“Their record says 4-2 but they are 5-1,” CMU head coach Matt Drinkall said. “They beat Michigan. You watch the football tape, call it whatever you want to call it, but they won the football game.”

Since this outcome, fourth-year head coach Lance Taylor has led the Broncos to four wins and a 2-0 start against conference opponents, only taking one loss to Boise State. Taylor, the 2025 MAC Coach of the Year, is 24-21 overall during his tenure with WMU.

“Not only does Coach Taylor do a tremendous job, not only with the scheme and the culture, but for them to be able to retain as many players as they did through the offseason, it’s unheard of in our conference,” Drinkall said.

Among the returning production was quarterback Broc Lowry, the 2025 MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Lowry has scored ten touchdowns, while passing for 996 yards and rushing for 222 through the first half of the season.

Running back Jalen Buckley, coming off his second 1,000-yard season, also returned to play in Kalamazoo. He leads the WMU run game with 392 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Keys to victory

CMU is 7-1 at home under Drinkall and is currently undefeated at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in 2026. Additionally, CMU is 17-7-1 in Mount Pleasant against WMU since both programs moved to Division I in 1975.

Despite having the historical edge, the Broncos have taken six of the last seven games at the Chippewas’ home stadium.

“I didn’t quite understand all the way when I was walking into it a year ago, and I certainly have a much better understanding now,” Drinkall said. “If I didn’t understand before, Western went and won the league and was really, really good. They make you understand.”

The Broncos currently lead the MAC in scoring defense, allowing 17.3 points per game. WMU has continued to find production on the pass rush, producing 13 sacks on the season, along with bringing back veterans Jarvarius Sims and Joshua Franklin to bolster the secondary.

Setting the tone early will be crucial for the Chippewas, controlling the clock while preventing Lowry and the Western Michigan offense from seeing much time on the field.

“We know we need to step it up for this next week to showcase who we really are,” Central Michigan running back Brock Townsend said of the offensive struggles. “We’ve got to go in, do our job, sweep house and get that Cannon trophy back.”

The team’s rushing attack may be impacted as running back Jayden Clerveaux is in the concussion protocol, leaving him questionable for the game. He ranks second on the team in rushing yardage, only behind Flores.

Winning the turnover battle will also be key for a CMU team which has given the ball away nine times in 2026. WMU has largely avoided disaster on offense, only losing the ball twice through the first half of the year.

Central Michigan’s defense, with eight takeaways on the season, aims to focus on its own game to keep Western Michigan off the field.

“A lot of people think it’s about the team we play, I’m just going to make it all about us,” Jackson said. “We can hate them, but at the same time we’ve got to play our ball, we can’t base it on them.”

The latest installment of this rivalry kicks off Saturday at 1:30 p.m. following the pregame drum ceremony by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, originally postponed due to weather .

CMU is convinced it will be another strong showing at Kelly/Shorts Stadium by the maroon and gold faithful.

“It’s going to be packed, I already know it,” Townsend said. “There’s going to be tons of people here, it’s going to be cool.”

Central Michigan (3-3) vs. Western Michigan (4-2)

Time: 1:30 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 17

Stadium: Kelly/Shorts Stadium

Location: Mount Pleasant, Michigan

TV: ESPN+