Last Week’s Matchup
Eastern Michigan won its first game of the season, improving to 1-3 after a tight 34-31 homecoming victory over the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
“The main phrase of the week was ‘flip the script’—we just needed to flip that switch, turn that knob, and unlock our true potential of what we really can do as a team,” senior defensive back Bryce Llewelyn said.
The main difference in play for the Eagles was on defense, with the team going from having no interceptions on the season to pulling in two in one game. The interceptions came from Llewelyn and Caleb Dobbs, each recording one.
“The defensive staff has worked really, really hard and really well to put our guys in a position to succeed,” Eagles coach Chris Creighton said. “I’m so happy for them and so proud of them because they have been working hard. There was a lot of good that happened today.”
As for the offense, quarterback Noah Kim has been leading the Mid-American Conference in passing yards for multiple weeks and is at 993 yards going into Week Five.
Running back Tavierre Dunlap also stood out against Louisiana with two rushing touchdowns to help Eastern Michigan take down the Ragin’ Cajuns.
The deciding factor to victory for the Eagles came on special teams with a last-second field goal by Rudy Kessinger. With the clock winding down, the freshman knocked down a 42-yard field goal to put Eastern Michigan ahead 34-31 and seal the win.
This Week’s Matchup
This week, the Eagles begin conference play with their first MAC game on the road in Mount Pleasant, Mich. against in-state rival Central Michigan.
The Central Michigan Chippewas are 2-2 after beating Wagner 49-10 to snap a two-game losing streak that came against the University of Pittsburgh and Michigan.
Central Michigan’s offense is led by senior quarterback Joe Labas, who has 422 passing yards, four touchdowns and one interception. The Chippewas also use a second quarterback, Angel Flores, who is a rushing threat with 155 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Through the air, these quarterbacks spread the ball across multiple receivers. The team has five receiving touchdowns, each by a different receiver. The Chippewas are averaging 303 offensive yards per game, while Eastern Michigan is averaging 393.
Central Michigan has had a lot of success on defense. The Chippewas have five sacks and five interceptions, showing they have a balanced defensive group capable of changing momentum in a game. While Eastern’s offense has been more productive, Central’s defense ranks higher, allowing 394 yards per game compared to 504 for Eastern.
The matchup looks close. The ESPN matchup predictor gives Eastern a 50.8% chance of winning, while the betting line has the Eagles as 5.5-point underdogs.
The Michigan MAC Trophy
Each year the Michigan-based Mid-American Conference schools — Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Central Michigan — play for a three-team rivalry championship. The trophy is awarded to the team with the best record in the rivalry games. This Week Five matchup between Eastern and Central is the first step in deciding this year’s winner.
Where to Watch
Viewers can tune into ESPN+ at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, to watch Eastern Michigan face Central Michigan.
