Ohio (3-2 overall, 1-0 Mid-American Conference) returns home for the first time in MAC play this season to take on the Central Michigan University (3-2 overall, 1-0 MAC). These two programs have a handful of parallels when put up against each other so far in 2026, but the main difference for Ohio will be the hometown crowd, the backbone of it15 consecutive wins at Peden Stadium.
Central Michigan and Ohio both look to take this battle to the trenches. The Bobcats use junior running back Duncan Brune, while the Chippewas rely heavily on the legs of quarterback Angel Flores, who has almost 500 yards on the ground this year.
The running game will set the tempo, but MAC football will also always come down to the little things. Ohio needs to find ways to win time of possession and the turnover battle on top of the already hard-hitting action on the line. These two teams seem ready for a heavy clash and here’s all you need to know about Central Michigan before the ball is kicked off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon in Athens.
Head coach
Matt Drinkall took over as head coach of the Chippewas in 2025. Drinkall’s 22 years of experience saw an immediate impact as Central Michigan made a bowl game for the first time in four seasons during his first season. The team seems poised to do so again with its current pace this year.
Drinkall pushes a physical brand of football on both sides of the ball. Central Michigan wants to control possession with a dominating run game and take advantage of mistakes by opponents on the defensive side of the ball.
Ohio plays a similar way and the coach can put together the pieces better Saturday, especially in the turnover department. He will have his group in position to win.
Quarterback
Flores and the Central Michigan offense have not seen much production through the air, with only 384 passing yards between Flores and backup quarterback Jadyn Glasser. This team has run the ball more than 100 times than it has passed. Flores has run 81 times in 2026 for 494 yards and four touchdowns.
If the Bobcats can contain Flores and make him beat them with his arm, Ohio can rely on its strong defensive backs and pass rush to give them an advantage.
Running backs
Flores leads the running game, but the backfield is also home to a committee of runners, including Jayden Clerveaux and Vaughn Blue, who have each run for a touchdown this year and have over 135 yards a piece.
Central Michigan’s running backs will be critical to countering Ohio’s pass rush and opening up the game for Flores to be the dual threat weapon he has been so far in 2026, but if Ohio continues its strong defensive intensity up front, it could be a lot of day to be a Chippewas fan on Saturday afternoon.
Receiving core
So far, Central Michigan has scored two receiving touchdowns in 2026. The two recipients are receivers Langston Lewis and Shawn Foster II. These two have 114 and 74 yards respectively and need to be bigger producers if Ohio can take away Flores and the run game.
Defense
Turnovers have been something Ohio head coach John Hauser has preached limiting the past couple of weeks, but Central Michigan looks to take advantage. Central Michigan has six interceptions and two fumble recoveries already this season, while also having eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss from their defensive front.
Homecoming
“Defending the Frank” is something Hauser and Ohio players say every time they walk out of a home win over more than two seasons in Athens. The Bobcats have won 15 straight games at home, but the Chippewas pose a threat to end the second longest home winning streak in the FBS.
Ohio needs to keep up the intensity it's shown over the past two weeks and rely on the Homecoming crowd to give the team another leg up in a fiery contest between these conference foes.
