Notebook: Injuries, Mike Jacobs’ EMU connections, Aidan Chiles playing sharp, and Michiganders vying for Victory Cannon
Catch up on injury news of note and dig into the deep Michigan connections on both the Central and Western Michigan rosters.
With the Pat Fitzgerald of it all, it’s easy to overlook that Saturday’s game vs. Northwestern in East Lansing is the return of former Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles.
And along with being the third of three former quarterbacks MSU will face this season — the Spartans are 1-1 so far, beating Noah Kim and losing to Katin Houser — Chiles has been lighting it up. Defensive coordinator Joe Rossi complimented the former Spartan when speaking from the podium, but noted there have been times in the past he’s faced a former quarterback he’s known a lot about.
Mostly, though, Rossi complimented how effective Northwestern’s offense has been with Chip Kelly at the helm. The Wildcats have been doing creative, incisive stuff on offense by running old-school option formations with modern twists.
And it’s working. Northwestern is No. 41 in total offense with 437.4 yards per game. The Wildcats are No. 37 in scoring offense, racking up 35.4 points per game.
“I think it's pretty unique what they're doing and it's a testament to them because they're scoring a lot of points and moving the ball and running the ball for a lot of yards against some good defenses,” Rossi said on Wednesday.
Chiles, specifically, is playing well and is No. 52 among all players in total offense per game, putting up 249 yards per game. What’s been most impressive about Chiles this season is protecting the football. He’s thrown for nine touchdowns and rushed for six more while throwing no interceptions. He does need to avoid sacks better and has put the ball on the turf four times but not lost a fumble, a risky proposition.
But all in all, the former Spartans has been set up for success and in turned helped fuel Northwestern’s offense as a real pesky and productive outfit in 2026.
Mike Jacobs’ EMU connections
Toledo’s first year head coach, Mike Jacobs, got his coaching career started at Eastern Michigan back in 2002, serving for two years as a graduate assistant in Ypsilanti.
And by the time Chris Creighton arrived late in 2013, he was already hearing plenty of good things about Jacobs, who had been coaching the defensive line at California (Pa.) University for the last five seasons. In fact, Creighton interviewed Jacobs at the time.
“And so that was my first time ever meeting him. And really enjoyed it,” Creighton said. “And that time of my life, is so confusing and hard to remember. The amount of people I interviewed in those first couple months and whatnot. But he came highly recommended. The people that I knew well knew him and so that's the first time that we met, was when I first got here. And then he was at Notre Dame College and did an awesome job there and Lenoir-Rhyne and then Mercer.”
Creighton didn’t end up hiring Jacobs then, but now he and the Maumee, Ohio, native will get to face off on Saturday at Rynearson Stadium when Jacobs brings the Toledo Rockets to town.
And the last two games between these two teams in Ypsilanti have been close, decided by a field goal or less.
Andrew Graham
Andrew Graham
Andrew Graham
56 Michigan high school alums across WMU, CMU
In-state rivalries tend to be so fierce in part because the two teams have rosters stacked with local players. Old rivalries carry over, or get quashed as foes in high school become teammates. Old teammates can become new rivals.
All told, of the 56 players from Michigan high schools in the Battle for the Victory Cannon, 33 play for Central Michigan and 23 play for Western Michigan.
The Ottawa-Kent Conference (various divisions) has nine alumni, six playing for Central Michigan. Another eight come from the Catholic High School League (Central and AA divisions), a quintet of Chippewas and a trio of Broncos. The Saginaw Valley League (both divisions) has produced another five players in this game, with three for CMU and two for WMU; so too has the Oakland Activities Association, with a trio of Broncos and two Chippewas hailing from that league.
Several high schools have produced players currently on both sides of the rivalry, too:
- Walled Lake Western: WMU’s Donovan Triplett and Liam Vaughan, CMU’s Lucas Hoffmeyer
- Rockford: CMU’s Camden Kruisenga, WMU’s Nolan Miller
- Davison: WMU’s Jaxson Dosh, CMU’s Braylen Naves
- Detroit Catholic Central: CMU’s Josh Atiemo, WMU’s Michael Dersa
The most players on either team from one high school hail from mid-Michigan powerhouse DeWitt, which has a trio of alumni at Central Michigan: Tommy McIntosh, Matthew Nehf and Trav Moore.
WMU has two players from schools in Detroit proper: Edison’s Max Baker and Cass Tech’s Noah Bishop, while CMU has the only players from the Upper Peninsula in this game: Dasan and Talon Smith, both from Marquette.
And while plenty of the Michiganders on either roster are reserves or freshmen who may not see the field, there will be plenty of local fare for both rosters come Saturday — a big reason this rivalry is so potent.
Michigan is reportedly adding two midseason portalers
Both CB Jonathan Earby and TE Alex Bauman are reportedly transferring to Michigan and will join the football team after being granted an extra year of eligibility via a Washtenaw County court ruling.
That case is one of the many that comprise the ongoing legal wrangling over the NCAA’s new eligibility ruleset.
Earby is a cornerback who played at Boise State last season as a senior and was highly productive. The other is Bauman, a tight end who started for Miami on its run to the national title last season as a senior. How soon either player could actually see the field is a major question, and neither is even confirmed to be on the team yet. Both do appear to be enrolled at Michigan, though.
But as college football at the highest levels continually professionalizes, it might make sense to start getting used to mid-season roster additions.
Injuries of import
WMU S Micah Davis: Seems unlikely to play, still day-to-day with injury and hadn’t started practicing as of Monday, though WMU begins practices on Tuesday. Seems likely to return to games quickly once cleared to start practicing; it’s about clearing that hill.
CMU LB Jeremiah Alston: Out vs. WMU, per Matt Drinkall, after undergoing surgery.
CMU DB Kameran Hayward: Out vs. WMU, per Drinkall, after also undergoing surgery.
CMU RB Jayden Clerveaux: Questionable vs. WMU, per Drinkall. Needs to clear concussion protocol.
CMU DB Tysen Campbell: Expected back vs. WMU, on track to clear concussion protocol per Drinkall.
CMU DL Max Van Fleet: Doubtful after hurting foot/ankle area vs. Ohio, per Drinkall.
EMU RG Cole Dellinger: Expected back this season, still, despite being out since Week 2, the third game for EMU. He had his right foot and ankle in a walking boot vs. the Spartans.
EMU RT Elijha Payne: Has appeared in one game (UMass) while dealing with an undisclosed injury. Was out vs. Akron, though expected to return to lineup this season.
EMU S Jason Marshall: Played sparingly vs. Akron after missing two prior games. Expected to continue progressing back.
EMU RB Amareon Blue: One carry after being listed as questionable at Akron. Worth monitoring on Saturday.
MSU LB Jordan Hall: Listed as out on Wednesday injury report. Dealing with multiple injuries.
MSU CB Chuck Brantley: Listed as out on Wednesday injury report.
MSU CB Tre Bell: Listed as out on Wednesday injury report. Left second half vs. Illinois with injury.
MSU QB Cam Fancher: Listed as out on Wednesday injury report. Got banged up vs. Wisconsin.
MSU CB Tyran Chappell: Listed as out on Wednesday injury report.
MSU LB Brady Pretzlaff: Listed as out on Wednesday injury report. Suffered apparent head/neck injury vs. Illinois.
MSU LB Caleb Wheatland: Listed as out on Wednesday injury report. Out for second-straight week after getting hurt vs. Wisconsin.
MSU LT Ben Murawski: Listed as out on Wednesday injury report.
UM DE Dom Nichols: Listed as questionable on Wednesday injury. Been playing through it since before bye.
UM OL Jake Guarnera: Listed as questionable, seems likely to play if at all possible.
UM DE John Henry Daley: Played vs. Minnesota after getting dinged up vs. Iowa. Listed as questionable again.
UM OL Andrew Sprague: Remains out with mystery injury/ailment.
UM OL Andrew Babalola: Questionable after suffering setback with ACL recovery earlier this year. Would make Michigan debut if he plays.
