Central Michigan University’s football team marks 125 years of competition, a milestone that underscores a century‑plus tradition of excellence. The program’s identity is built on a relentless pursuit of conference dominance, a narrative that stretches from its early days in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to its more recent achievements in the Mid‑American Conference.
The Chippewas have compiled 658 victories against 464 defeats and 36 ties, yielding a .584 win percentage that places them among the most successful programs in the Group of Five. Rankings reflect this longevity, with the team positioned seventh in all‑time wins among Group of Five schools and ninth overall in winning percentage.
Iconic Coaches and Title Runs
Bill Kelly stands as one of the most influential figures in the program’s history, guiding the team to multiple outright IIAC championships and laying the groundwork for later success. Decades later, Butch Jones added his own chapter by capturing MAC titles in 2006 and 2009, moments that also produced the program’s first undefeated regular seasons.
The 2006 squad secured the Motor City Bowl with a 31‑10 victory over Ohio, while the 2009 team followed with a GMAC Bowl win and an undefeated MAC regular season. Those campaigns highlighted a rare stretch of three consecutive MAC regular‑season and championship game appearances, cementing the Chippewas’ reputation as a clutch postseason contender.
Beyond the recent successes, the program’s bowl history stretches back to the 1979 season, when the first MAC championship team earned a berth in the California Raisin Bowl. Earlier milestones include a 1956 undefeated campaign that produced nine straight wins, and a 1990 co‑championship that broke a decade‑long bowl drought.