There won’t be a rematch between Western Michigan and Central Michigan this season.
With Ohio’s 31-26 victory over Buffalo on Friday, Central Michigan has been officially eliminated from contention to play in the Mid-American Conference championship game.
CMU (7-4, 5-2) is out of the running, before its regular-season finale against Toledo at home Saturday.
Ohio, Miami and Toledo remain in the mix to play Western Michigan in the MAC championship game, Dec. 6 at Ford Field in Detroit. WMU (8-4, 7-1) secured its spot with a 31-21 victory over Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, and the Broncos will play in the championship game for the first time since 2016.
Toledo and Central Michigan play at noon Saturday, as do Miami and Ball State.
Ohio, CMU, Toledo and Miami all entered Friday at 5-2 in the MAC, and in the mix to play Western Michigan, based on the regular-season finale results, and potentially a series of tiebreakers. Ohio improved to 6-2 on Friday.
According to Mitten Football’s Andrew Graham, a Detroit News contributor, if Miami wins Saturday, it will play WMU. If Miami loses, Toledo can make the MAC title game with a win. If both Miami and Toledo lose, the spot is Ohio’s.
While the Chippewas won’t play for a MAC championship, there has been stark and fast improvement under first-year head coach Matt Drinkall, who has CMU bowl-eligible for the first time since 2021.
Central Michigan and Western Michigan have never played in the MAC championship game, as before 2024, it wasn’t even possible because they played in the same division. The MAC went away from divisions in 2024.
Ohio beat Miami, 38-3, in last year’s MAC championship game. Toledo last made the MAC title game in 2023.
MAC championship game
WESTERN MICHIGAN VS. TBD
➤ Kickoff: Noon Dec. 6, Ford Field, Detroit
➤ TV: ESPN
➤ Opponent: Western Michigan, in the MAC championship game for the first time since 2016, will play either Ohio, Toledo or Miami. WMU’s opponent will be determined by the final regular-season games Saturday.
➤ Tickets: Starting at $18.80, available at detroitlions.com.
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