Live updates

FINAL: Central Michigan pummels Akron, 41-17

Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. for homecoming at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

(Via Central Michigan Athletics/Matt MacPhee)

Mt. Pleasant — MAC play begins for Central Michigan at 3:30 p.m. at Kelly/Shorts Stadium with Akron coming to visit in what’s shaping up as a chance for revenge, or redemption, on homecoming vs. a team CMU faceplanted against a year ago.

The game will be streamed on ESPN+, showing off two teams that have generally been struggling on offense — albeit against better competition, largely — with more success likely on the ground overall on Saturday.

Akron returns star tailback Jordan Gant, who gashed CMU last year, and Chippewas head coach Matt Drinkall has raved about how highly he thinks of Joe Moorhead, Akron’s head coach, for how he dials up great offensive game plans.

It should be a good crowd, and CMU has a chance to build on a solid passing performance vs. Miami (Fl.) a week ago, while continuing to run the way it has much of the season.

Subscribe to Mitten Football to support independent coverage of Michigan's FBS teams

FINAL: Central Michigan 41, Akron 17

Central Michigan dominated in all facets after going down 7-0 to Akron, reeling off 28 unanswered en route to a 41-17 homecoming victory.

A mop-up time touchdown by Akron with :33 left didn't obscure what the last few hours made obvious: Central Michigan dominated.

Both Angel Flores and Jadyn Glasser threw touchdown passes for the Chippewas, the first of the season for CMU. Flores also came up with one of CMU’s four rushing touchdowns, which opened the scoring for the Chippewas.

Flores finished 7-of-14 for 78 yards and a touchdown while Glasser went 1-of-3 for 71 yards and a touchdown, as Langston Lewis took a screen from the latter and raced past the defense for a long score.

Flores also led the Chippewas on the ground, carrying 18 times for 157 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. Jayden Clerveaux led the charge among the running backs, carrying 12 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. Brock Townsend and Nick Woodford both also rushed for touchdowns.

And CMU dominated defensively, too, with a pair of interceptions, an early stand on a goal-to-go series (that ended with a punt after Akron got seriously backed up) and a blocked field goal. That group gave up just 10 points while thrashing Akron QB Brayden Roggow, who completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes for 149 yards and the two picks.

CMU finished with three sacks, a trio of quarterback hits, five passes broken up and three tackles for loss. Coen Ali and Justin Taylor came up with the interceptions for CMU.

Two minute warning: CMU 41, Akron 10

Akron has the ball just into CMU territory. Have to assume the CMU defense doesn't want to give up any more points before the game ends here.

Touchdown, CMU — Lewis takes screen the distance

A quick screen to the flat from Jadyn Glasser to Langston Lewis became a 71 yard touchdown pass after Lewis broke free from the tackler and sprinted down the sideline for a touchdown.

It's the second passing touchdown of the day for the Chippewas, as both quarterbacks who have played have one. PAT is no good, and it's 41-10 CMU with 5:32 to play.

Interception, CMU — Taylor snags his second of the season

Akron's probably about ready for this one to end as safety Justin Taylor hauls in an errant pass to give CMU possession at the 21 with 7:03 to play.

Neither team has scored in the fourth quarter and that's just fine by the Chippewas bleeding out the game here. CMU is at 325 rushing yards.

End of 3: Central Michigan 35, Akron 10

The Chippewas are turning the screws on a dominant MAC opening win, up 25 points with 15 minutes left to play. The offense will have 2nd and 4 at its own 26 yard line to start the fourth quarter.

It's a safe bet there will be decent doses of Jadyn Glasser and likely Marcus Beamon at quarterback.

Interception, CMU — Ali ranges over to snag it

Akron tossed up a prayer to the back left corner of the end zone and Coen Ali ranged over to haul it in for CMU's first takeaway of the day.

CMU sends out Jadyn Glasser at quarterback for the first time today as the third quarter comes to an end.

Touchdown, CMU — Chippewas keep pouring it on

On a 3rd and 8 carry, it looked like Jayden Clerveaux would be short of the line to gain on an inside carry but then he spun out to the right, found open grass, and chugged into the end zone to put CMU up 35-10.

It's a commanding lead for the Chippewas with 3:35 left to play in the third quarter. Five different Chippewas have touchdowns, including four different rushers.

This one is pretty much a matter of final margin and stat counting.

Zips go for field goal

It's 28-10, CMU, with 7:43 left in the third quarter after the Akron drive stalls out in the red zone and ends with a field goal — this one not blocked and good.

The best play of the drive was a sideline throw into the breadbasket of Jordan Gant, which got Akron into scoring position.

Three score game remains a three score game.

Akron gets great field position to start next drive

A long return with a late hit out of bounds by Nick Atiemo has Akron's offense starting at the 46.

Touchdown, CMU — Woodford gets 1st career score

Central Michigan's offense picks up the second half where it left off in the first, this time with sophomore running back Nick Woodford churning through the line and shooting out into the middle of the field to scamper 27 yards to the end zone.

CMU takes a 28-7 lead with 11:34 left in the third quarter. The offensive line is just mashing for CMU.

Vaughn Blue gets first carry

Blue, who missed last week with a thigh contusion, gets his first carry of the game on a jet sweep look and turns the corner for a 1st down.

Wasn't entirely clear if he was held out for injury in the first half or just how the rotation shook out; evidently the latter.

CMU starts 2nd half with ball

Justin Ruffin Jr. returns the kick off out of the end zone to the 26 and the Chippewas take over on offense with a chance to seize total control in this game.

HALF: Central Michigan 21, Akron 7

Central Michigan went down 7-0 early in the second quarter then ripped off 21 straight points to take a commanding-feeling lead into the half.

Angel Flores is 7-of-12 for 78 yards and a touchdown passing and has 13 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Brock Townsend has the other rushing touchdown, and took two carries for six yards. Jayden Clerveaux has led the way with production from the tailbacks, with eight carries for 44 yards. Vaughn Blue, questionable with a thigh contusion, has not been on the field yet.

Shawn Foster is the leading receiver for the Chippewas, with two catches for 53 yards, including a 48 yard catch and run for the second touchdown of the day for CMU.

And the Chippewa defense, outside of giving up 51 yards on six plays on Akron's TD drive, has surrendered 44 net yards on 22 plays and has three sacks and four pass breakups. The CMU defensive line in general has overwhelmed Akron's pass protection, especially.

Touchdown, CMU — speed option right gets Townsend in

The Chippewas blocked the perimeter up brilliantly, Flores flipped out an easy pitch and Brock Townsend took the corner easily to glide into the end zone for an easy touchdown with :18 until halftime.

CMU takes a 21-7 lead as Townsend scores his second of the year. After Akron took a 7-0 lead, Central Michigan has been bludgeoning the visiting Zips into paste.

Chippewas get the ball after halftime, too.

Two minute warning: CMU 14, Akron 7

The Chippewas are driving, and will have 2nd and 8 and the Akron 27 when coming back out of this timeout.

The CMU offense came alive after the Flores long TD run, and the defense has been lights out save for the one Akron scoring drive. And getting the ball out of halftime, CMU can score here, then try and double it up out of halftime and bury the Zips in short order.

Flores is 7-of-12 for 78 yards and a touchdown through the air, and also has 11 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown on the ground as he propels the CMU offense.

CMU's defense has three sacks and four pass breakups.

Touchdown, CMU — Flores to Foster for 48 yards

It was just a little sit down route over the middle that Angel Flores found foster on, and the Chippewas take a 14-7 lead as Foster turns and runs through the middle of the field with no defenders deeper than him.

The Zips had brought the safeties down within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage so it was a clear path for Foster to scamper away for the score.

And that's the first passing TD of the season for CMU, coming in Week 5.

CMU forces 3 and out

The defensive line has been feasting for the Chippewas, with JJ Douglas generating constant pressure, along with Max Van Fleet and Jaxon Cherry, among others.

Van Fleet came up with a drive-ending sack on the last series as the Chippewas already have three sacks and three QB hits. Douglas doesn't have a sack but does have two QB hits.

Touchdown, CMU — Angel Flores from 55 yards on 4th down

That's the third fourth down TD rush of the season for Flores, and the fourth touchdown on fourth down that CMU has scored this season. The Chippewas are 9-of-10 on fourth down attempts in 2026 and have converted eight in a row.

That's a career-long rush for Flores. 7-7, with 10:37 to halftime.

Touchdown, Akron — Gant around the left edge

A bit of a slow mesh lets Gant take it around the edge untouched from inside the 10. Akron marched right down the field on CMU's defense that drive, and got bailed out on a 3rd down incompletion by a penalty in the secondary on Justin Taylor, who then committed a late hit the next play to put Akron in a goal-to-go situation.

7-0, Zips, with 13:59 to halftime.

End of 1: Akron 0, Central Michigan 0

Akron has had way more yards (76-28) but keeps getting gummed up in CMU territory. The Chippewas, with a turnover and a couple three and outs, have yet to get close to crossing midfield.

Akron will have a 1st and 10 and the CMU 37 out of the media timeout.

Akron FG attempt is blocked

Facing 4th and 3 at the CMU 23, Akron tried for a 41 yard field goal, but the Chippewas block it — either Jaion Jackson off the edge or JJ Douglas or Max Van Fleet in the middle getting a big paw on it.

That's twice that CMU's defense and special teams have stood up in clutch situations to keep it 0-0. 5:29 left in the first quarter.

Akron back into CMU territory

CMU went three and out after the turnover stop, and Akron takes its first play after the punt to complete a long pass to get to the CMU 30.

QB Brayden Roggow connected with WR Miles Burris for the chunk gain. It looked like Akron had another but then a holding call undoes the chunk down inside the CMU 5.

Instead it's Akron ball at the CMU 40, 1st and 20.

CMU's defense bows up big time — Akron punts on 4th and goal

Akron got to 1st and goal at the CMU nine, but then a short run gave way to a sack by Jaxon Cherry and Xavier White, plus an after-the-play personal foul on Akron sent the Zips back for 3rd and goal from the 38. That play went incomplete.

Akron's 4th and goal punt (!) went into the end zone for a touchback.

And that's 1.5 sacks for Cherry already.

Fumble, Akron recovers

CMU looked good on its first two plays, taking a chunk on the ground then a quick screen to get the first down. But a botched exchange between Angel Flores and Brock Townsend put the ball on the ground and Akron recovers immediately at the CMU 16.

Akron goes 3 and out, CMU takes over

A solid punt from Akron puts the ball at the CMU 19 before a penalty for holding on the Chippewas is assessed, moving the ball to the CMU 9. Penalty was on D.J. Bennett.

JJ Douglas gets immediate pressure, Jaxon Cherry cleans up 1st play sack

It's a good start for the Chippewas, who have had some issues getting quarterbacks sacked and to the ground, despite some decent pressure at times.

Akron wins toss, elects to receive

The Zips want to give the offense the ball to start, and CMU will probably be content to send the defense out first.

And a long kick return from just inside the end zone will have Akron starting at the 37.

Injury report

The MAC availability report is out, and Vaughn Blue (thigh contusion) is questionable, as is Jaion Jackson for the second-straight week. Both are expected to play.

The following players are out for Central Michigan: