American college football season
The 2021 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season . They were led by third-year head coach Jim McElwain and played their home games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference .
The Chippewas completed their regular season with an 8–4 record and accepted a bid to the Arizona Bowl , where they were due to face the Boise State Broncos . On December 27, Barstool Sports (the title sponsor of the bowl) founder David Portnoy announced the withdrawal of the Broncos from the bowl due to COVID-19 issues within the program; organizers stated that they would attempt to secure a replacement team to face the Chippewas.[ 1] Later in the day, the Arizona Bowl was canceled,[ 2] and Central Michigan was named as a replacement team for the Sun Bowl to face the Washington State Cougars .[ 3]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 4 4:00 p.m. at Missouri * SECN L 24–34 46,327 September 11 3:00 p.m. Robert Morris * ESPN3 W 45–0 16,128 September 18 7:30 p.m. at LSU * SECN L 21–49 92,547 September 25 12:00 p.m. FIU * Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI ESPN+ W 31–27 18,382 October 2 3:30 p.m. at Miami (OH) ESPN+ L 17–28 15,065 October 9 3:30 p.m. at Ohio ESPN+ W 30–27 20,928 October 16 3:30 p.m. Toledo Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI CBSSN W 26–23 OT 20,112 October 23 12:00 p.m. Northern Illinois Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI ESPNU L 38–39 15,232 7:00 p.m. at Western Michigan ESPNU W 42–30 13,137 8:00 p.m. Kent State Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI ESPNU W 54–30 9,213 7:00 p.m. at Ball State ESPNU W 37–175,602 November 26 12:00 p.m. Eastern Michigan ESPNU W 31–10 7,708 12:00 p.m. vs. Washington State CBS W 24–21 34,540 *Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
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Central Michigan at Missouri 1 2 3 4 Total Central Michigan 7 7 0 10 24 • Missouri 7 10 7 10 34
Pregame line Over/under MIZ –14.0 59.0
Statistics Central Michigan Missouri First downs 27 26 Total yards 475 468 Rushing yards 174 211 Passing yards 301 257 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 31:59 28:01
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Jacob Sirmon 23/45, 295 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Lew Nichols III 19 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD Receiving JaCorey Sullivan 8 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TDs Missouri Passing Connor Bazelak 21/32, 257 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Tyler Badie 25 carries, 203 yards, 1 TD Receiving D'ionte Smith 2 receptions, 69 yards
Robert Morris at Central Michigan 1 2 3 4 Total Robert Morris 0 0 0 0 0 • Central Michigan 7 21 14 3 45
Pregame line Over/under CMU –37.0 53.5
Statistics Robert Morris Central Michigan First downs 3 28 Total yards 109 515 Rushing yards 96 287 Passing yards 13 228 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 23:21 36:45
Team Category Player Statistics Robert Morris Passing George Martin 5/8, 13 yards Rushing Jaylon Brown 3 carries, 37 yards Receiving Bryce Bevins 1 reception, 12 yards Central Michigan Passing Jacob Sirmon 12/16, 110 yards, 3 TDs Rushing De'Javion Stepney 9 carries, 81 yards Receiving Dallas Dixon 5 receptions, 73 yards, 2 TDs
Central Michigan at LSU 1 2 3 4 Total Central Michigan 7 0 7 7 21 • LSU 21 14 7 7 49
Pregame line Over/under LSU –19.5 60.5
Statistics Central Michigan LSU First downs 17 23 Total yards 284 484 Rushing yards 56 84 Passing yards 228 400 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 33:02 26:58
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Jacob Sirmon 17/24, 156 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Myles Bailey 7 carries, 29 yards Receiving JaCorey Sullivan 5 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD LSU Passing Max Johnson 26/35, 372 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Corey Kiner 12 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD Receiving Deion Smith 5 receptions, 135 yards, 2 TDs
FIU at Central Michigan 1 2 3 4 Total FIU 0 14 13 0 27 • Central Michigan 0 10 0 21 31
Date: September 25, 2021Location: Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MIGame start: 12:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 18,382Game weather: SunnyReferee: Jon NoliTV announcers (ESPN+ ): Jim Barber and Randy Buffington Scoring summary 2 8:36 CMU Marshall Meeder 35-yard field goal(11 plays, 73 yards, 4:35) CMU 3–0 5:51 FIU Tyrese Chambers 31-yard pass from Max Bortenschlager (Chase Gabriel kick)(6 plays, 77 yards, 2:33) FIU 7–3 1:33 FIU Kamareon Williams 3-yard pass from Max Bortenschlager (Chase Gabriel kick)(7 plays, 99 yards, 1:19) FIU 14–3 0:34 CMU Dallas Dixon 11-yard pass from Jacob Sirmon (Marshall Meeder kick)(2 plays, 7 yards, 0:10) CMU 14–10 3 9:32 FIU D'Vonte Price 5-yard run (kick blocked)(5 plays, 73 yards, 2:10) FIU 20–10 3:17 FIU Rishard Dames 6-yard punt return (Chase Gabriel kick) FIU 27–10 4 10:57 CMU Lew Nichols III 15-yard pass from Daniel Richardson (Marshall Meeder kick)(10 plays, 80 yards, 3:57) FIU 27–17 7:12 CMU JaCorey Sullivan 14-yard pass from Daniel Richardson (Marshall Meeder kick)(8 plays, 76 yards, 1:53) FIU 27–24 4 1:18 CMU Dallas Dixon 27-yard pass from Daniel Richardson (Marshall Meeder kick)(5 plays, 80 yards, 0:42) CMU 31–27
Pregame line Over/under CMU –12.0 55.5
Statistics FIU Central Michigan First downs 18 29 Total yards 437 599 Rushing yards 42 202 Passing yards 395 397 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 26:40 33:20
Team Category Player Statistics FIU Passing Max Bortenschlager 20/38, 395 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing D'Vonte Price 17 carries, 50 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tyrese Chambers 6 receptions, 175 yards, 1 TD Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 16/23, 276 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Lew Nichols III 25 carries, 152 yards Receiving Dallas Dixon 8 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TDs
Central Michigan at Miami (OH) 1 2 3 4 Total Central Michigan 0 7 3 7 17 • Miami (OH) 14 0 0 14 28
Pregame line Over/under CMU –2.0 56.0
Statistics Central Michigan Miami First downs 25 26 Total yards 430 514 Rushing yards 52 164 Passing yards 378 350 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 26:45 33:15
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 22/41, 326 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Myles Bailey 8 carries, 29 yards Receiving Dallas Dixon 7 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD Miami Passing AJ Mayer 13/18, 179 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Keyon Mozee 13 carries, 83 yards Receiving Mac Hippenhammer 8 receptions, 170 yards
Central Michigan at Ohio 1 2 3 4 Total • Central Michigan 7 6 7 10 30 Ohio 3 7 9 8 27
Pregame line Over/under CMU –5.0 57.5
Statistics Central Michigan Ohio First downs 23 22 Total yards 461 369 Rushing yards 204 179 Passing yards 257 190 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:33 33:27
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 16/30, 257 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Lew Nichols III 30 carries, 186 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dallas Dixon 4 receptions, 91 yards Ohio Passing Armani Rogers 13/18, 190 yards Rushing De'Montre Tuggle 19 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD Receiving Cameron Odom 4 receptions, 88 yards
Toledo at Central Michigan 1 2 3 4 OT Total Toledo 0 3 7 13 0 23 • Central Michigan 7 10 3 3 3 26
Date: October 16, 2021Location: Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MIGame start: 3:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 20,112Television network: CBSSN
Pregame line Over/under TOL –5.0 53.0
Statistics Toledo Central Michigan First downs 20 13 Total yards 350 332 Rushing yards 142 128 Passing yards 208 204 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 31:33 28:27
Team Category Player Statistics Toledo Passing Dequan Finn 15/32, 208 yards Rushing Bryant Koback 15 carries, 87 yards Receiving Isaiah Winstead 4 receptions, 108 yards Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 21/35, 204 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Lew Nichols III 29 carries, 136 yards Receiving Kalil Pimpleton 6 receptions, 103 yards
Northern Illinois at Central Michigan 1 2 3 4 Total • Northern Illinois 7 11 11 10 39 Central Michigan 14 14 7 3 38
Date: October 23, 2021Location: Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MIGame start: 12:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 15,232Television network: ESPNU
Pregame line Over/under CMU –6.0 56.0
Statistics Northern Illinois Central Michigan First downs 25 25 Total yards 548 500 Rushing yards 197 189 Passing yards 351 311 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 36:09 23:51
Team Category Player Statistics Northern Illinois Passing Rocky Lombardi 17/27, 348 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Jay Ducker 31 carries, 183 yards Receiving Trayvon Rudolph 6 receptions, 160 yards, 2 TDs Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 23/36, 289 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Lew Nichols III 22 carries, 192 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Kalil Pimpleton 6 receptions, 130 yards, 1 TD
At Western Michigan (Michigan MAC Trophy)[ edit ] Michigan MAC Trophy 1 2 3 4 Total • Central Michigan 0 21 7 14 42 Western Michigan 7 7 10 6 30
Pregame line Over/under WMU –9.0 64.5
Statistics Central Michigan Western Michigan First downs 17 25 Total yards 389 445 Rushing yards 148 169 Passing yards 241 276 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 25:14 34:46
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 10/18, 230 yards, 1 TD Rushing Lew Nichols III 26 carries, 163 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Kalil Pimpleton 5 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD Western Michigan Passing Kaleb Eleby 22/36, 276 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Sean Tyler 15 carries, 59 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Corey Crooms 7 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD
Kent State at Central Michigan 1 2 3 4 Total Kent State 14 3 13 0 30 • Central Michigan 0 26 14 14 54
Date: November 10, 2021Location: Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MIGame start: 8:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 9,213Television network: ESPNU
Pregame line Over/under CMU –2.5 76.5
Statistics Kent State Central Michigan First downs 23 33 Total yards 456 505 Rushing yards 134 221 Passing yards 322 284 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 23:03 36:57
Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 28/38, 322, 2 TDs Rushing Marquez Cooper 21 carries, 83 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Dante Cephas 5 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 21/27, 268 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Lew Nichols III 43 carries, 215 yards, 4 TDs Receiving JaCorey Sullivan 5 receptions, 61 yards
Central Michigan at Ball State 1 2 3 4 Total • Central Michigan 7 21 6 3 37 Ball State 7 10 0 0 17
Pregame line Over/under CMU –2.5 57.0
Statistics Central Michigan Ball State First downs 26 18 Total yards 567 329 Rushing yards 285 159 Passing yards 282 170 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:47 27:13
Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 20/25, 283 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Lew Nichols III 32 carries, 219 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Kalil Pimpleton 7 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD Ball State Passing Drew Plitt 21/39, 170 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Carson Steele 20 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jayshon Jackson 6 receptions, 61 yards
Eastern Michigan (Michigan MAC Trophy)[ edit ] Michigan MAC Trophy 1 2 3 4 Total Eastern Michigan 0 3 7 0 10 • Central Michigan 7 3 7 14 31
Date: November 26, 2021Location: Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MIGame start: 12:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 7,708Television network: ESPNU
Pregame line Over/under CMU –8.5 63.5
Statistics Eastern Michigan Central Michigan First downs 15 22 Total yards 226 366 Rushing yards 5 236 Passing yards 221 130 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 27:17 32:43
Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Michigan Passing Ben Bryant 24/35, 221 yards Rushing Bryson Moss 5 carries, 26 yards Receiving Tanner Knue 7 receptions, 70 yards Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 12/24, 130 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Lew Nichols III 44 carries, 194 yards, 1 TD Receiving JaCorey Sullivan 4 receptions, 46 yards, 2 TDs
Vs. Washington State (Sun Bowl)[ edit ] Sun Bowl 1 2 3 4 Total Washington State 0 0 14 7 21 • Central Michigan 13 8 0 3 24
Scoring summary 1 6:51 CMU Marshall Meeder 49-yard field goal(6 plays, 51 yards, 2:20) CMU 3–0 2:18 CMU Marshall Meeder 49-yard field goal(7 plays, 36 yards, 3:15) CMU 6–0 0:57 CMU Lew Nichols III 1-yard rush (Marshall Meeder kick)(3 plays, 23 yards, 1:21) CMU 13–0 2 1:48 CMU Joel Wilson 15-yard pass from Daniel Richardson, Kalil Pimpleton conversion pass from Daniel Richardson(3 plays, 9 yards, 0:46) CMU 21–0 3 4:02 WSU Travell Harris 5-yard run (Dean Janikowski kick)(7 plays, 74 yards, 3:05) CMU 21–7 2:24 WSU De'Zhaun Stribling 5-yard pass from Victor Gabalis (Dean Janikowski kick)(6 plays, 23 yards, 1:23) CMU 21–14 4 9:11 CMU Marshall Meeder 43-yard field goal(4 plays, 7 yards, 1:26) CMU 24–14 3:13 WSU Lincoln Victor 16-yard pass from Victor Gabalis (Dean Janikowski kick)(4 plays, 86 yards, 1:39) CMU 24–21
Pregame line Over/under WSU –5.5 56.0
Statistics Washington State Central Michigan First downs 11 15 Total yards 243 338 Rushing yards 18 145 Passing yards 225 193 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 24:43 35:17
Team Category Player Statistics Washington State Passing Victor Gabalis 11/23, 180 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Nakia Watson 15 carries, 58 yards Receiving Lincoln Victor 4 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 16/29, 193 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Lew Nichols III 28 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD Receiving JaCorey Sullivan 6 receptions, 73 yards
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