Central Michigan Athletics announced on July 24, 2026, that the 2026 home football season will feature six specially themed games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
The schedule opens on September 12 with a family‑friendly matchup against Colgate, offering a $26 Family & Friends ticket bundle that includes a food voucher, while teachers and professors can purchase discounted Educators Appreciation tickets for $18 general admission or $25 reserved seats.
A week later, the September 19 contest against Wyoming will celebrate CMU & You Day and Band Day, featuring a tribal drum ceremony by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and a Traditions Day ceremony.
Homecoming and Hall of Fame Highlights
The October 3 Homecoming game against Akron marks the 100th all‑time Homecoming contest for Central Michigan University, complete with a parade and recognitions of Homecoming Grand Marshals and Maroon & Gold Ambassadors.
Two weeks later, the October 17 showdown with Western Michigan will be the annual Battle for the Victory Cannon Trophy, honoring the 2026 CMU Athletics Hall of Fame class and the 2006 MAC Championship team.
Senior Day on October 24 against Miami (Ohio) will spotlight the graduating class, while the November 11 Veterans Day game against Sacramento State will include Community Night, a Salute to Service promotion and a nationally televised MACtion Wednesday night contest, with active‑duty service members and veterans able to purchase $18 general admission or $25 reserved tickets using a promotional code or military ID.
Fans can arrive early to enjoy the Kids' Zone, which opens three hours before each game and offers bounce houses, yard games, face painting and a coloring station, and they can pick up "Beat" buttons for each opponent at Fan Central near the stadium’s northwest entrances.
Season tickets are available for purchase or renewal online at www.cmuchippewas.com or by calling the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at (989) 774-3045, and the university will also break ground on a new golf facility near Theunissen Stadium as part of the Forge the Future capital campaign.