For the first time since 2021, the Central Michigan Chippewas are bowl eligible.
First-year head coach Matt Drinkall elevated the program into MAC contention status in year one at the helm, and Wednesday
night in Mount Pleasant was an excellent step in the right direction. Central Michigan (6-4, 4-2 MAC) handled fellow conference contender Buffalo (5-5, 4-2 MAC) 38-19 and is now tied with three other teams for the best overall record in the MAC.
Central Michigan thrived through turnover creation. The Chippewas defeated the Bulls 5-2 in the turnover battle, raising havoc for all four quarters of action. Central Michigan first got on the board on a 48-yard pick-six by inside linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski. Then in the fourth quarter, outside linebacker Dakota Cochran recovered a strip sack for an 85-yard touchdown. It marked the first time since Oct. 7, 2006 that Central Michigan scored two defensive touchdowns in one game.
In addition to their two defensive scores, the Chippewas forced two additional fumbles and one interception — most notably jarring the ball loose from Buffalo inside the 10-yard line in the first quarter. Free safety Elijah Gordon had his fingerprints all over this game recording one of each in the defensive-driven win. Meanwhile, Buffalo committed five turnovers for the second time in three games, also losing to Akron on Oct. 25 with the same output. The Bulls were overwhelmed by Central Michigan’s pressure, and the Chippewas produced five sacks, including two from Michael Heldman.
Offensively, Central Michigan switched up from its traditional ground and pound style, favoring the air. Buffalo presented a potent defense led by potential All-American linebacker Red Murdock, and the Chippewas tested the passing game instead. They set the tone with four-straight passes on the opening possession and went from there. Quarterback Joe Labas set a new season-high with 247 passing yards on an 18-of-24 performance, while his top target Langston Lewis set a career-high with 118 yards on six receptions.
Right after Buffalo sliced the deficit to 17-13 in the third quarter, Labas and Lewis teamed up for the game-changing play to give Central Michigan eternal cushion. The quarterback found his receiver over the top of the defense for a 75-yard bomb, sparking a 21-0 second half run for Central Michigan. The run was concluded in the fourth quarter by Tommy McIntosh, who logged season-highs of five catches and 85 yards in the win.
Buffalo utilized three different quarterbacks in the game. Ta’Quan Roberson earned the starting nod and played the entire first half. Jason Wright briefly played a portion of a third quarter scoring drive as a more mobile option, but Roberson checked back in to conclude the possession. In the fourth, Roberson limped off the field due to injury, causing Gunnar Gray to finish the matchup. Buffalo passes for a collective 262 yards with wide receiver Nik McMillan starring in a 7-reception, 122-yard, 2-touchdown performance in spite of the loss.
The Bulls hadn’t surrendered more than 24 points in any of their first four defeats, but the abundance of turnovers caused them to allow a season-high 38 to the Chippewas. Buffalo exceeded its loss total from 2024 but remains in a crowded MAC title race as one of five teams with a 4-2 conference record. Central Michigan is one of those five teams as well, and both will play a pair of monumental games to finish November. The Bulls are searching for their first MAC title since 2008 and the Chippewas their first since 2009.
