Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan Releases 2022 Football Opponents
1/14/2022 1:00:00 PM | Football
The schedule features six games inside “The Factory” at Rynearson Stadium
2022 Schedule.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics released the opponents on its 2022 football schedule today, Jan. 14. Dates are set for the four non-conference games, but will be announced later for the eight Mid-American Conference contests.
Ticket information for the 2022 season will be announced at a later date.
EMU kicks off the year at home against Eastern Kentucky University, Sept. 2, before traveling to the University of Louisiana, Sept. 10. Eastern remains on the road with a trip to Tempe, Ariz. to take on Arizona State University, Sept. 17. The non-conference schedule concludes Oct. 1 with a home date against former MAC foe, the University of Massachusetts.
Eastern Michigan will host four Mid-American Conference opponents: Buffalo, Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Toledo. MAC road games will be at Akron, Ball State, Kent State, and Western Michigan.
EMU put together yet another impressive season in 2021, adding to the success that has come to define the last eight years under Head Coach Chris Creighton. With its seven regular season wins, Eastern clinched a winning record, the third under Creighton; Prior to Creighton's arrival, EMU had not had a winning record since the 1989 season.
The Green and White took part in its fourth bowl game in the last six years when it participated in the LendingTree Bowl in Mobile, Ala. EMU made previous appearances in the 2016 Bahamas Bowl, the 2018 Camellia Bowl, and the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl.
The 2021 regular season had plenty of exciting moments. One of the most memorable occasions in recent EMU history, the Eagles erupted for a 52-49 win over MAC-West rival Toledo, Nov. 2. It was the program's first victory inside the Glass Bowl (UT's home stadium) since the 1999 season. Coming into the game, Eastern had lost 10 consecutive road games to Toledo. EMU's most impressive home win came in Week 11, when the Green and White used late-game defensive heroics to upend in-state foe Western Michigan, 22-21, on Senior Night in "The Factory." The victory marked the third straight for Eastern over Western, the best stretch for the program since it notched the same number between 2011-13.
EMU was one of the most disciplined teams in the country last season. The Eagles ranked second in the nation in fewest penalties per game (3.85), third in fewest penalties (50), fourth in fewest penalty yards per game (34.5), and fifth in fewest penalty yards (448).
Eastern Michigan's offense was one of the best scoring units in the Mid-American Conference in 2021. Averaging 30.2 points per game, EMU put up 392 total points on 48 touchdowns, 19 field goals, and 47 extra points. In total, 15 different Eagles found the pay dirt in 2021, including nine players who scored multiple touchdowns. Samson Evans led all Eagles and ranked fourth in the league and 37th nationally with 13 touchdowns. That number is tied for fourth-most in a single season by any EMU player.
Wide receiver Hassan Beydoun set the EMU record for receptions in a season with 97, as he racked up 1,015 yards through the air. His 2021 tally ranks fourth in the Eastern Michigan record book, while he also became EMU's first 1,000-yard wide out since Eric Deslauriers did so in 2004. He has seven career 100-yard receiving contests, and four games with 10-or-more catches. Furthermore, Beydoun has his sights set on the top spot for receptions in an Eastern career, needing just 82 to surpass Deslauriers.
On the defensive end, EMU was impressive as well. EMU forced 16 turnovers in 2021, and scored points off of 14 (10 touchdowns, 4 field goals). Eastern scored 82 points off those turnovers, three times as a direct result of the play, and 11 times in its subsequent offensive possession. Eastern Michigan was one of the best teams in the nation when it comes to recovering fumbles in 2021. The Eagles picked up eight loose balls last season, which ranked fourth in the MAC and 39th nationally.
Individually, defensive end Jose Ramirez was one of the biggest challenges for offensive linemen in the league. He ranked eighth in the MAC with 6.5 sacks, a career-best mark for the Lake Alfred, Fla. native. In the backfield, Russell Vaden IV emerged as an elite defender. The Louisville, Ky. native led all Eagles with three interceptions. That number tied for third in the conference and 36th in the FBS.
The Eagles were elite on special teams. As a unit, EMU ranked first in the MAC and 15th nationally with a 42.65 yards per punt average. Individually, senior punter Jake Julien cemented himself as EMU's all-time record holder in punt average at 44.0 yards per kick. In a program-best 54 career contests, he had 51 kicks of 50-or-more yards to go along with 72 placed inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
In the kicking game, Chad Ryland was unbelievable. A season of records for the Lebanon, Pa. native, Ryland kicked his way into the No. 1 overall spot on the EMU all-time scoring list in 2021. He currently has 309 points for the top spot in program history while also adding the single-season mark with 104. Ryland also set the program's all-time record in PAT attempts (145), PAT makes (141), longest field goal (t-1; 55 yards), and field goals in a game with five against Western Michigan, Nov. 16.
Overall, Eastern Michigan was one of eight bowl eligible teams from the Mid-American Conference. All six teams in the MAC West Division finished with a .500 record or better.
2022 Eastern Michigan University Football Schedule
Friday, Sept. 2 vs. Eastern Kentucky
Saturday, Sept. 10 at Louisiana
Saturday, Sept. 17 at Arizona State
Saturday, Oct. 1 vs. UMass
Mid-American Conference Games
Home: Buffalo, Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Toledo
Road: Akron, Ball State, Kent State, and Western Michigan
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics released the opponents on its 2022 football schedule today, Jan. 14. Dates are set for the four non-conference games, but will be announced later for the eight Mid-American Conference contests.
Ticket information for the 2022 season will be announced at a later date.
EMU kicks off the year at home against Eastern Kentucky University, Sept. 2, before traveling to the University of Louisiana, Sept. 10. Eastern remains on the road with a trip to Tempe, Ariz. to take on Arizona State University, Sept. 17. The non-conference schedule concludes Oct. 1 with a home date against former MAC foe, the University of Massachusetts.
Eastern Michigan will host four Mid-American Conference opponents: Buffalo, Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Toledo. MAC road games will be at Akron, Ball State, Kent State, and Western Michigan.
EMU put together yet another impressive season in 2021, adding to the success that has come to define the last eight years under Head Coach Chris Creighton. With its seven regular season wins, Eastern clinched a winning record, the third under Creighton; Prior to Creighton's arrival, EMU had not had a winning record since the 1989 season.
The Green and White took part in its fourth bowl game in the last six years when it participated in the LendingTree Bowl in Mobile, Ala. EMU made previous appearances in the 2016 Bahamas Bowl, the 2018 Camellia Bowl, and the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl.
The 2021 regular season had plenty of exciting moments. One of the most memorable occasions in recent EMU history, the Eagles erupted for a 52-49 win over MAC-West rival Toledo, Nov. 2. It was the program's first victory inside the Glass Bowl (UT's home stadium) since the 1999 season. Coming into the game, Eastern had lost 10 consecutive road games to Toledo. EMU's most impressive home win came in Week 11, when the Green and White used late-game defensive heroics to upend in-state foe Western Michigan, 22-21, on Senior Night in "The Factory." The victory marked the third straight for Eastern over Western, the best stretch for the program since it notched the same number between 2011-13.
EMU was one of the most disciplined teams in the country last season. The Eagles ranked second in the nation in fewest penalties per game (3.85), third in fewest penalties (50), fourth in fewest penalty yards per game (34.5), and fifth in fewest penalty yards (448).
Eastern Michigan's offense was one of the best scoring units in the Mid-American Conference in 2021. Averaging 30.2 points per game, EMU put up 392 total points on 48 touchdowns, 19 field goals, and 47 extra points. In total, 15 different Eagles found the pay dirt in 2021, including nine players who scored multiple touchdowns. Samson Evans led all Eagles and ranked fourth in the league and 37th nationally with 13 touchdowns. That number is tied for fourth-most in a single season by any EMU player.
Wide receiver Hassan Beydoun set the EMU record for receptions in a season with 97, as he racked up 1,015 yards through the air. His 2021 tally ranks fourth in the Eastern Michigan record book, while he also became EMU's first 1,000-yard wide out since Eric Deslauriers did so in 2004. He has seven career 100-yard receiving contests, and four games with 10-or-more catches. Furthermore, Beydoun has his sights set on the top spot for receptions in an Eastern career, needing just 82 to surpass Deslauriers.
On the defensive end, EMU was impressive as well. EMU forced 16 turnovers in 2021, and scored points off of 14 (10 touchdowns, 4 field goals). Eastern scored 82 points off those turnovers, three times as a direct result of the play, and 11 times in its subsequent offensive possession. Eastern Michigan was one of the best teams in the nation when it comes to recovering fumbles in 2021. The Eagles picked up eight loose balls last season, which ranked fourth in the MAC and 39th nationally.
Individually, defensive end Jose Ramirez was one of the biggest challenges for offensive linemen in the league. He ranked eighth in the MAC with 6.5 sacks, a career-best mark for the Lake Alfred, Fla. native. In the backfield, Russell Vaden IV emerged as an elite defender. The Louisville, Ky. native led all Eagles with three interceptions. That number tied for third in the conference and 36th in the FBS.
The Eagles were elite on special teams. As a unit, EMU ranked first in the MAC and 15th nationally with a 42.65 yards per punt average. Individually, senior punter Jake Julien cemented himself as EMU's all-time record holder in punt average at 44.0 yards per kick. In a program-best 54 career contests, he had 51 kicks of 50-or-more yards to go along with 72 placed inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
In the kicking game, Chad Ryland was unbelievable. A season of records for the Lebanon, Pa. native, Ryland kicked his way into the No. 1 overall spot on the EMU all-time scoring list in 2021. He currently has 309 points for the top spot in program history while also adding the single-season mark with 104. Ryland also set the program's all-time record in PAT attempts (145), PAT makes (141), longest field goal (t-1; 55 yards), and field goals in a game with five against Western Michigan, Nov. 16.
Overall, Eastern Michigan was one of eight bowl eligible teams from the Mid-American Conference. All six teams in the MAC West Division finished with a .500 record or better.
2022 Eastern Michigan University Football Schedule
Friday, Sept. 2 vs. Eastern Kentucky
Saturday, Sept. 10 at Louisiana
Saturday, Sept. 17 at Arizona State
Saturday, Oct. 1 vs. UMass
Mid-American Conference Games
Home: Buffalo, Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Toledo
Road: Akron, Ball State, Kent State, and Western Michigan
Players Mentioned
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