Central Michigan 2026 Preview
The College Football Experience (@TCEonSGPN) on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network continues its 138 college football team preview series with the Central Michigan Chippewas 2026 Season Preview. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) break down the 2026 Central Michigan Chippewas roster and what to expect in the MAC this season. Can Matt Drinkall build on a 7-6 debut after arriving from Jeff Monken’s Army staff? How much does returning quarterback Angel Flores, a senior transfer from NAU, raise the ceiling with 62% of the production back? Is OC Jim Chapin’s group ready to climb after finishing 113th in total offense a year ago?
Can wide receivers Langston Lewis and Tommy McIntosh give Flores enough firepower to stress MAC defenses? Will Quavion Bird up front and Korver Demma at linebacker hold up a defense that returns just 29% of its production under DC Sean Cronin? What is a gameday like at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, and is the Bird Bar & Grill really the best spot in town? How does a schedule with a New Mexico opener, a trip to Miami, and home dates against Western Michigan and Miami (OH) actually break? And where’s the betting value on the Central Michigan Chippewas win total, MAC odds and College Football Playoff chances? We talk it all and more on this episode of The College Football Experience.
A 7-6 Debut Sets The Baseline
First, Matt Drinkall arrived from Jeff Monken’s Army staff and went 7-6 in year one. The record looks clean, but the margins were thin. Central Michigan went just 1-2 in games decided by seven points or less. They opened by knocking off San Jose State as a road underdog. They also dropped the Battle for the Victory Cannon to Western Michigan, who went on to win the MAC. So the Chippewas were closer to the top of the league than the standings suggest.
Angel Flores Runs The Show
Quarterback Angel Flores is back for another year. He is a senior transfer from NAU with 16 rushing touchdowns and 10 passing scores across 21 career games. That dual-threat profile also fits OC Jim Chapin’s plan. The offense ranked 113th in total offense last season, so there is real room to grow. The good news is continuity. Central Michigan also returns 62% of its production, and most of the offensive line is back. Then Langston Lewis and Tommy McIntosh give Flores proven targets on the outside.
A Defense In Transition
The defense was the steadier unit in 2025. It finished 53rd in total defense under coordinator Sean Cronin. The problem this year is roster turnover. The Chippewas return just 29% of their defensive production. Quavion Bird anchors the line and Korver Demma also leads the linebackers. Almost everything else is new. That matters because the 2026 schedule is loaded with better offenses, so regression is a live concern.
Gameday In Mount Pleasant
Kelly/Shorts Stadium is a proud home for a proud fan base. The crowd shows up and the Fire Up Chips energy carries. First, the Bird Bar and Grill is the spot in town before the game for a cold one and a game of pool. Central Michigan has also produced real talent over the years. Antonio Brown, J.J. Watt, Cooper Rush, Joe Staley and Dan LeFevour all passed through the program.
The 2026 Schedule
The slate opens on the road at New Mexico in Albuquerque. Home dates with Colgate and Wyoming follow before a tough trip to Miami. The MAC grind brings Akron and a road game at Ohio. Then come the games that decide the season. Western Michigan and the Victory Cannon also visit Mount Pleasant, and Miami (OH) follows. The back half then includes Eastern Michigan at Ford Field in Detroit, Sacramento State at home, and road trips to Buffalo and Ball State.
Where’s The Betting Value
The Chippewas open with a win total of 6.5. That number also reflects a favorable path, with the toughest MAC opponents drawing into Mount Pleasant. The odds to win the MAC sit around +750, and the hosts flagged the conference price as the sprinkle to make. A College Football Playoff berth is a long shot at +17500. Finally, the schedule sets up for a bounce, and the MAC ticket is where the value lives.
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Podcast Chapters
00:00 Download the SGPN App Today!
03:27 Welcome to the Chippewas Preview
05:04 2025 Season in Review
07:59 Matt Drinkall’s Hot Seat and Program History
09:04 The Offense and OC Jim Chapin
10:09 QB Angel Flores and Returning Production
15:49 The Defense and DC Sean Cronin
18:08 The Bird Bar & Grill and Kelly/Shorts Stadium
22:46 Chippewa Football Legends
23:47 State of the Program
25:32 Schedule: Week 1 vs New Mexico
27:14 Colgate, Wyoming and the Miami Trip
29:50 Akron, Ohio and the Victory Cannon
31:57 Miami (OH), Eastern Michigan and the Home Stretch
35:17 Win Total, MAC Odds and the +800 Play
