Midweek football returns to Kelly/Shorts Stadium for the first and last time this season as Central Michigan prepares for its first-ever match with Sacramento State on Nov. 11.
After a 35-7 victory over Eastern Michigan last week, the Chippewas seem to have found a spark offensively with quarterback Jadyn Glasser at the helm.
“That was by far the best we have framed a game this entire season as far as like the offense, defense, special teams working together and execution,” head coach Matt Drinkall said. “It is nice to be on that side of it because in reality in game one that is almost exactly what happened to us the other way.”
Still, CMU has its work cut out for it as its bowl eligibility status hinges on whether the team is able to finish the season strong.
“We are just trying to be much more where our feet are instead of talking about goal-setting and what is down the road,” Drinkall said. “Really just handing our business that is right in front of us right now. For whatever reason, making our focus smaller and more recent has been very, very helpful to us.”
The Hornets joined the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in 2026, and in its first year in the Mid-American Conference, hold a 1-6 conference record.
While Sacramento State struggled early in its first season in the FBS, the Hornets have begun finding their footing, beating Kent State before playing a close game with Toledo a week ago, narrowly losing 20-17.
“They have gotten way better in the last couple weeks, they have made some personnel changes, who is in the game, they have made some coordinator changes, with who is calling it and they have made some staffing changes with who is working there now,” Drinkall said. “Coach has done a great job out there in the last couple weeks, they have gotten the right people in the right spots doing the right things and they have played really, really well.”
“Unfortunately for us they are getting it all right at the right time.”
The Hornets defense has shown improvement over the last few weeks, holding Kent State to 10, and Toledo to 20 points.
“They are really unique defensively,” Drinkall said. “There is a ton of movement, they change their fronts a lot, they can come get you and create a lot of havoc and explosive plays defensively and they have a new play caller on defense.”
“There is a lot to get ready for and hopefully the travel will be difficult for them.”
Offensively, Sacramento State has struggled with injuries, with starting quarterback Carson Conklin missing most of the season.
However, Drinkall has been preparing in the event that Conklin makes his return against the Chippewas.
“We are not positive which quarterback we are going to get,” Drinkall said. “They have a starter that has been out for the whole year and they said initially in camp that he will probably be back for the Central game, so we will see.”
The Chippewas offense has struggled this season, ranking ninth in the MAC in total offense. However, with Glasser taking over at quarterback after an injury that left Angel Flores sidelined, the team seems to have found the passing attack that it had been missing.
“He [Glasser] has been incredible,” Drinkall said “His ability to execute and execute decisively has been so impressive and that was kind of his Achilles heel earlier, was he is so talented, but he was maybe trying to do a little bit too much.”
Running back Nick Woodford has also emerged that last few weeks, finishing with 124 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Eastern Michigan.
“We are kind of spoiled in that room because there is a bunch of good players, and they are all incredibly selfless people,” Drinkall said.
Being able to scheme its offensive talent will be crucial for Central Michigan against a Sacramento State defense that has proven to be so dynamic over the last few weeks.
If CMU can continue its offensive success while maintaining the same identity that it has built this season on defense, Central Michigan will have all it needs to win its last home game of the season.
