On April 21, 2026, Central Michigan University’s football team took the field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium for its season opener, only to see a 38-7 defeat at the hands of New Mexico, dropping the Chippewas to a 0-1 record. The team entered halftime trailing 20-0 after amassing a mere 33 total yards, and managed just four possessions before the break.
Opening Day Struggles
The opening quarter was marked by two three-and-out drives, while New Mexico capitalized with back-to-back field goals, extending the lead to 14-0. Combined passing production from quarterbacks Angel Flores and Jadyn Glasser amounted to only 30 yards, underscoring the offensive stagnation that plagued the Chippewas throughout the first half.
Defensively, Central Michigan could rely on only three returning starters, a shortage that allowed New Mexico’s quarterbacks Luke Moga and Toa Fa’avae to sustain drives, and left the secondary vulnerable after starter Jack Layne was sidelined with an injury.
Head coach Matt Drinkall admitted the team’s shortcomings, stating that the performance did not surpass New Mexico’s level, and pointed to Nasir Williams’ 23-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as the lone bright spot in an otherwise scoreless stretch until that point.
The Chippewas are now set to host Colgate at Kelly/Shorts Stadium on September 12 at 1 p.m., hoping to recover from the early-season setback and build momentum for the remainder of the schedule.