Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, October 18
Oxford, Ohio
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Miami
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Eagles Travel to Face Miami Saturday Afternoon
10/13/2025 1:55:00 PM | Football
Game 8 • Oct. 18, 2025 • 12 p.m. ET • Oxford, Ohio • Yager Stadium
| Football at Miami | |
| Date | Saturday, Oct. 18 | 12 p.m. |
| Venue | Yager Stadium | Oxford, Ohio |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) | Press Conference Video |
| Watch | Stats | ESPN+ | Media Stats |
| Listen | WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) | The Varsity Network App | SiriusXM | Eastern Insider Podcast |
| Follow Us On X | @EMUFB | @EMUAthletics |
| Tickets | Click Here to Purchase YOUR Tickets for Oct. 25! |
OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – After securing its first Mid-American Conference win of the season, the Eastern Michigan University football team will look to make it two in a row when the Eagles venture to Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio, to take on the Miami University RedHawks Saturday, Oct. 18. The game between the Eagles (2-5, 1-2 MAC) and RedHawks (3-3, 2-0 MAC) is scheduled to kick off at 12 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN+. The game can be heard live on WEMU (89.1 FM), The Varsity Network app, and SiriusXM with Tom Helmer (play-by-play), Rob Rubick (analyst), and Elena Davis (sideline) on the radio call.
KESSINGER EARNS MAC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK (AGAIN)
For the second time this season, kicker Rudy Kessinger was named the MAC's Special Teams Player of the Week, Oct. 13. He tied his career-high with three field goals (35, 49 and 28) as he was a perfect 3-of-3 on the day while adding one extra point for 10 points in the game against NIU, Oct. 11.
BACK-TO-BACK OVER THE CENTURY MARK
Dontae McMillan has rushed for over 100 yards in each of his past two games, accumulating 117 yards at Buffalo (Oct. 4) before collecting 104 against Northern Illinois (Oct. 11). Those totals mark the first time since the 2019 season that EMU had a player rush for over 100 yards in back-to-back contests when Shaq Vann ran for 182 against Akron (Nov. 12, 2019) and 101 against NIU (Nov. 19, 2019). If McMillan can crack the century mark at Miami this week, he would be the first EMU runner to surpass the 100-yard mark in three consecutive games since Darius Jackson accomplished the feat in 2015 with games of 112 against Akron (Oct. 10), 113 against Toledo (Oct. 17), and 101 against NIU (Oct. 24).
BATCH ENTERS PENNSYLVANIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Charlie Batch, EMU quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be inducted into the Pennsylvania State Sports Hall of Fame, Oct. 18, at the Sheraton Hotel at Station Square in Pittsburgh. Batch earned four letters at EMU, set multiple school records for career passing yards (7,592), touchdowns (53), and single-season offensive yards (3,229 in 1995, 3,390 in 1997), and was named EMU's Most Valuable Player in 1997. Drafted 30th overall in 1998 by the Detroit Lions, he played 12 NFL seasons with Detroit and Pittsburgh, winning Super Bowls XL and XLIII and earning the 2006 Steelers Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. He will be honored alongside 11 other distinguished inductees, including Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion Swin Cash, MLB All-Star Sean Casey, heavyweight boxing champion Michael Moorer, NFL player and coach Gary L. Brown, and multiple other athletes and contributors who have left a lasting mark on Pennsylvania sports. Off the field, Batch has dedicated himself to youth through his Best of the Batch Foundation and Project C.H.U.C.K.
KNOW THE FOE: MIAMI
The RedHawks are 3-3 overall and 2-0 in MAC play following their 20-7 road win at Akron, Oct. 11, which also marked their third consecutive win of the year after opening the season 0-3 with losses at Wisconsin and Rutgers of the Big Ten and a close 41-38 to undefeated UNLV. Dequan Finn has thrown for 838 yards with four touchdowns and five picks while leading the team with 274 yards rushing and one score. Defensively, Eli Blakey leads the way with 50 tackles while Adam Trick has 7.5 TFLs, including a team-best 5.0 sacks.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE REDHAWKS
The Eagles and RedHawks have met just 26 times in their respective histories. The two schools first met in 1974, but have squared off only eight times since 2000. MU leads the all-time series, 20-6, but EMU has taken two of the last three meetings after snapping a nine-game skid in 2017.
STABILITY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME
In his 12th season in Ypsilanti, EMU Head Coach Chris Creighton is the eighth-longest-tenured Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) head coach. While they are both in their 12th season, Creighton is technically the second-longest-tenured head coach in the conference by hiring date, falling just nine days short of Miami's Chuck Martin.
LAST MEETING WITH MIAMI
Brett Gabbert threw four touchdown passes, Miami scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, and the RedHawks defeated Eastern Michigan, 38-14, Oct. 12. Miami led 21-14 in the final period before putting the game away with Gabbert's 24-yard TD pass to Cole Weaver, a 44-yard field goal by Dom Dzioban, and Jordan Brunson's 44-yard touchdown run. The three drives totaled 191 yards of offense, nearly half of Miami's 421 yards for the game, with only 16 first downs.
Gabbert was 10-of-13 passing for 222 yards, averaging 17 yards per attempt and 22 yards per completion. Miami's Keyon Mozee ran for 100 yards and Reggie Virgil caught three passes for 113 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown on the first play of the game. Cole Snyder and Delbert Mimms III each had 1-yard touchdown runs for the Eagles.
LAST TRIP TO OXFORD
Brogan Roback threw a pair of third-quarter touchdown passes to Sergio Bailey, rallying Eastern Michigan to a 27-24 victory over Miami, Nov. 15, 2017, in which the Eagles quarterback became the school's all-time total offense leader. Roback connected with Bailey on 32- and 10-yard touchdown passes to lead 27-17.
Ryan Smith caught an 11-yard score from Gus Ragland with two minutes remaining to get Miami within three, but it failed to recover the onside kick and had no timeouts left to stop the clock.
Roback scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter before Miami's Kenny Young ran for a pair of touchdowns, 6 and 5 yards, in the second quarter with the RedHawks leading 17-13 at halftime. Roback threw for 269 yards and ran for 3, giving the senior 8,811 in his career to pass Walter Church (1996-2000) at 8,628.
The loss ended Miami's nine-game winning streak against the Eagles dating to 1994 and dashed the RedHawks' hopes of a bowl appearance. Maxx Crosby had three sacks for 11 this year, tying the Eagles' single-season record. Ian Eriksen rushed for 112 yards.
EMU'S LAST WIN IN THE SERIES
Ben Bryant's 16-yard pass to Bryson Cannon over the middle was the lone touchdown in a game that saw six field goals provide the bulk of the scoring as EMU edged Miami, 13-12, at Rynearson Stadium, Oct. 9, 2021.
The touchdown capped an eight-play, 73-yard drive as Cannon crashed through a pair of defenders to give Eastern Michigan a 7-6 lead midway through the second quarter. Chad Ryland tacked on field goals of 47 and 33 yards as the Eagles extended their lead to 13-6.
Graham Nicholson, who kicked four field goals for the RedHawks, booted 31 and 44-yarders that cut the gap to 13-12 with 6:29 left to play. Eastern Michigan sealed the one-point win when A.J. Mayer's fourth-down pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage, ending the RedHawks' final drive with under two minutes to go.
The Eagles took over and wound the clock down to almost zero before punting. Miami outgained the Eagles 385 yards to 257, with Mayer throwing for 259 yards. Jack Sorenson had 123 yards on seven catches for MU.
TIES BETWEEN EMU AND MIAMI
Despite not playing regularly, EMU and Miami do share some common bonds. MU Head Coach Chuck Martin was the linebackers coach at EMU from 1998-99 before departing to Grand Valley State University. Associate Head Coach James Patton served as EMU's offensive line coach/run game coordinator in 2019-20. EMU's offense was electric in 2019, amassing 5,271 total yards, 49 touchdowns, and 379 total points. Overall, the EMU offense set the program's season records for touchdowns (49), touchdown passes (27), and passes completed (313). Additionally, Darrell Hallberg, Miami's Associate AD/Sport and Facility Services, worked for four years at EMU as the department's equipment manager before departing for Oxford. Meanwhile, EMU linebacker Carter Herriman redshirted in 2024 as part of a Miami team that won the MAC Regular Season title and took home the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl championship.
TURNOVERS TELL THE STORY VS. MIAMI
Turnover margin has been the single most reliable indicator of success for Eastern Michigan in its modern series with Miami. Since 1995, EMU has played 11 games against the RedHawks and holds a 2-0 record when finishing with an even or positive turnover margin, compared to a 0-9 mark when finishing in the negative. Both victories came without committing a single turnover—27-24 on the road in 2017 and 13-12 at home in 2021. In those two wins, EMU overcame significant challenges elsewhere. The Eagles were outgained on the ground by 76 yards in 2021 and 55 yards in 2017, but clean execution and disciplined play allowed them to control field position and limit Miami's scoring opportunities. Both contests also came down to fourth-quarter execution, with EMU's mistake-free approach proving decisive. The numbers reinforce the trend. Across the nine losses since 1995, EMU has averaged 1.3 more turnovers per game than Miami. During that span, the Eagles have been outscored by 12.8 points per game when losing the turnover battle.
GOING GREEN IN THE RED ZONE
Eastern is one of six FBS teams and the only squad in the MAC with a perfect red-zone record this season, scoring on all 23 trips in 2025. The 23 appearances, which rank third among the six perfect teams (Memphis with 25 and Cincinnati with 24), have seen the Eagles score 13 touchdowns (nine rushing/four passing) while kicking 10 field goals, the most among the six schools. The Eagles remain the only team in the MAC that is among the top 60 nationally with Northern Illinois next on the list at 61st with an 87.5% conversion rate (7-of-8).
MAKING IT WORK WITHOUT 300 YARDS
Eastern Michigan's 16–10 win over Northern Illinois, Oct. 11, marked just the 11th time since 1995 that the Eagles have won a game with fewer than 300 total yards — finishing with exactly 296. It is the fifth time since 2023 that EMU has pulled off this type of win, also doing so against Kent State (218 yards, Oct. 14, 2023), Ball State (253, Oct. 7, 2023), Howard (285, Sept. 1, 2023), and Miami (257, Oct. 9, 2021). In each case, EMU held opponents to 14 points or fewer and minimized mistakes. Under Chris Creighton, the Eagles are now 6-27 in sub-300-yard contests as the NIU victory snapped a seven-game losing skid in such games. Additionally, EMU joins Georgia (at Auburn - 296) as the only FBS teams to accomplish the feat in 2025.
THE EASTERN 500
Through games played Oct. 11, EMU holds an all-time record of 497-635-47, leaving it three wins shy of 500. The Eagles are one of two teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) that could reach 500 wins this season along with Rice (499). Temple (500) and Wake Forest (500) reached the milestone earlier this season.
LOCKDOWN MODE
Eastern Michigan continued its long-standing trend of defensive success with a 16-10 win over NIU (Oct. 11). The victory marked EMU's 17th consecutive win when holding an opponent to 10 points or fewer, a streak that stretches back nearly three decades. The last time the Eagles lost under those conditions came on Oct. 5, 1995, in a 7-0 defeat at Ohio. Since 1975, EMU has limited opponents to 10 points or fewer in 49 games, compiling an impressive 41-5-3 record in those contests. The program's formula for success has been consistent -- when the defense sets the tone, wins follow. Recent performances illustrate this trend. EMU blanked Saint Francis (PA) 36-0 in 2024, shut down Ball State 24-10 in 2023, and recorded back-to-back defensive gems in 2018 with victories over Akron and Central Michigan, each allowing only one score. The Eagles' ability to control the tempo and limit big plays continues to define their identity, making every low-scoring game an opportunity for victory.
LOW-SCORING SUCCESS RARE, BUT IMPORTANT
Eastern Michigan's 16-10 win over Northern Illinois, Oct. 11, broke a rare statistical trend. Since 1975, EMU has scored 16 points or fewer in 245 games, going 16-226-3 in those contests. The victory ended a nine-game drought in such games, last achieved in a 13-12 win over Miami, Oct. 9, 2021. Defense carried the day. EMU held NIU to 10 points and turned limited offense into a key home win. It marked Chris Creighton's third victory at EMU when scoring 16 or fewer, joining wins over Miami in 2021 and Rutgers in 2017. The win was also EMU's first MAC triumph under that threshold since 2017. Creighton's teams have delivered three of EMU's last five low-scoring wins since 2000, going 3-27 in such games since 2017.
LIMBO LINE
Dating back to the 1976 season, their first year in the league, the Eagles have played 38 MAC games that have finished with 26 or fewer combined points with EMU holding a 12-23-3 record following the 16-10 (26) win over NIU, Oct. 11. The game marked the fifth time the Eagles and Huskies have finished with 26 or fewer combined points, which ties Central Michigan for the second-most such meetings behind the six contest with Ball State.
EMU STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT
Eastern Michigan ranks near the top of the MAC in efficiency, execution, and ball security. The Eagles are first nationally and in the MAC in red zone offense, converting 100 percent of opportunities. They have lost only four turnovers, ranking first in the MAC and 12th nationally, while allowing the fewest sacks and tackles for loss in the league. Offensively, EMU is third in the MAC in total offense (365.9 yards per game) and fourth in scoring (23.7 points per game). The passing game ranks third in the league (211.9 yards per game), with strong third- and fourth-down conversions. Defensively, the Eagles limit passing yards (sixth in MAC, 206.4 per game) and perform well in the red zone and on kickoff returns. Special teams rank second in the MAC in net punting (39.6 yards). Discipline also helps, with EMU in the top half nationally in penalty yards per game.
NO. 134 IN THE 734
Eastern Michigan is currently playing its 134th season of football with the program first playing in 1891. Tied with NC State and Iowa State for 29th on the all-time ledger in seasons played, the Eagles are third in the Mid-American Conference behind newcomer UMass (143rd season) and Miami (137th). Along with Miami, the only other team on this year's schedule that has played more is UK (135th).
EAGLES AMONG MAC & NATIONAL LEADERS
Eastern features key players ranked among the nation's best in multiple categories. Dontae McMillan leads the MAC with 637 rushing yards and ranks 10th nationally. He averages 91.0 yards per game and 6.07 yards per carry, second-best in the league in all-purpose yards at 118.3 per game. Noah Kim ranks first in the MAC with 1,483 passing yards and 211.9 per game. He has eight touchdown passes (third in the league) and sits among the MAC's top seven in both completion rate (62.6%) and efficiency (125.5). His 228.3 total yards per game rank second in the MAC. Rudy Kessinger leads the MAC with 2.0 field goals per game and 58 points, ranking top five nationally in both categories. Defensively, Bryce Llewellyn shares the MAC lead with two interceptions, while Jason Marshall and Barry Manning are among EMU's top tacklers. Special teams remain a strength. Mitchell Tomasek leads the MAC and ranks ninth nationally at 47.3 yards per punt, and Jayvin Norman ranks sixth in the MAC with a 21.6-yard kickoff return average.
UPPER HALF
Since 2016, Eastern has posted 56 wins, which ranks as the sixth-most victories of any team in the MAC.
75 • Toledo
72 • Ohio
64 • Western Michigan
63 • Miami
58 • Buffalo
56 • Eastern Michigan
52 • Northern Illinois
51 • Central Michigan
42 • Ball State
39 • Bowling Green
32 • Kent State
28 • Akron
18 • UMass
* updated through 2025 Week 7 games
SINGLE SCORES
Since the start of the 2016 season, Eastern is second nationally with 61 one-score games played, sitting behind Northern Illinois (65).
1. Northern Illinois - 65 (31-34)
2. Eastern Michigan - 61 (30-31)
4. Iowa State - 59 (26-33)
3. Texas - 59 (26-33)
5. Nebraska - 57 (17-40)
6. Kansas State - 56 (26-30)
7. North Carolina - 52 (22-30)
8. Oklahoma State - 51 (31-20)
9. Tulsa - 51 (23-28)
DONTAE DOES IT ALL
Dontae McMillan is emerging as one of EMU's most efficient backs in recent memory. Through seven games, he has 105 carries for 637 rushing yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, which places him third in EMU history since 1995 among players with at least 100 touches. He trails only Bronson Hill (6.5 YPC in 2012) and Jawon Hamilton (6.2 YPC in 2021). McMillan's 91 rushing yards per game ranks among the top in the MAC, and he has added two rushing touchdowns. Beyond his ground game, he has accumulated 123 total touches for 828 scrimmage yards, showing he can contribute in both designed runs and screen passes.
McMILLAN CLOSING IN
Through seven games, Dontae McMillan has tallied 637 yards rushing, an average of 91 yards per game. If he can maintain his pace over the final five games of the regular season, he would become only the 15th back in program history to rush for 1,000+ yards in a season and the first since Samson Evans in 2022 (1,166). Additionally, he would become only the sixth running back on the list in the 2000s with Darius Jackson (1,078) in 2015 the last name added to the ledger before Evans joined.
KEEPING IT 100 (PLUS)
Dontae McMillan finished the game with NIU (Oct. 11) with 104 yards rushing to mark the third time this season he has surpassed the 100-yard mark in a game after running for 126 against Louisiana and 117 at Buffalo last week. The three, century-mark games are the most in a single season for the back, surpassing the two he tallied with Weber State during the 2022 season. McMillan has now rushed for 100+ yards in a game seven times in his collegiate career (one each in 2020 and 2021).
CENTURY MARKS
Dontae McMillan's 104 yards rushing against Northern Illinois marked the 231st game in program history that an EMU player has rushed for over 100 yards in a single game. Coupled with his games of 126 yards against Louisiana (Sept. 20) and 117 at Buffalo (Oct. 4), he became the 41st different player in program history (134 years) to record multiple 100-yard rushing games in a career and the 37th to do so in the same season. Additionally, McMillan became the 31st Eagle to record three or more 100-yard games in his EMU career and the first to have three or more in the same season since 2022 when Samson Evans tallied four.
KESSINGER'S IMPACT
Rudy Kessinger has made an immediate impact as a freshman kicker for Eastern Michigan, converting 14 of 18 field goal attempts for a 77.8% success rate while also connecting on all 16 extra points through the first seven games of the season. His longest field goal of 50 yards demonstrates both range and confidence in high-pressure situations, giving the Eagles a reliable scoring option from distance. Kessinger's total of 58 points ranks among the top single-season performances in program history for a freshman, putting him in company with standout kickers like Andrew Wellock, who hit 21 field goals at 91.3% in 2004, and Chad Ryland, who went perfect on extra points in 2021.
WHERE'S THE MACcoon?
Bryce Llewellyn recorded his second interception of the year, setting up Rudy Kessinger's 28-yard field goal that gave the Eagles a 16-10 lead over Northern Illinois, Oct. 11. Llewellyn has accounted for two of EMU's three interceptions and the team has converted turnovers into six points this season, including a 42-yard field goal at Buffalo, Oct. 4, following a sack-fumble. Under Chris Creighton, EMU has consistently turned defensive stops into scoring opportunities. Since 2014, the Eagles have forced one, two, or more turnovers in 97 games, generating multiple scoring chances that have ranged from three points off a single takeaway to 12 points when the defense created multiple turnovers in a game.
LEADER OF THE MAC
Noah Kim continues to find himself among the MAC leaders for quarterbacks as he has accumulated 1,483 yards on 142-of-227 passing, the highest in the league. Ranked first with 142 completions, Kim's 211.9 yards per game average is 0.9 yards per game better than the next quarterback. Overall, Kim is averaging 20.3 completions per game, which leads the MAC.
THROUGH THE AIR
Noah Kim has accounted for 12 touchdowns through seven games, including a career-high eight passing and four rushing. Kim added one passing score against NIU, Oct. 11, to give him at least one passing touchdown in six of seven games played this season while surpassing his previous single-season passing touchdown total of six recorded in 2023 with Michigan State.
ONE IF BY LAND...
While Noah Kim has shown off his arm strength, he also featured his legs recently. Entering the game at Kentucky (Sept. 13), Kim had never tallied a rushing touchdown and proceeded to not only record his first rushing scoring against the Wildcats but followed with a land-based touchdown in four consecutive games, a streak that ended in the game with NIU (Oct. 11). All told, Kim and Dontae McMillan lead the team with four rushing scores while Tavierre Dunlap and Joshua Long are third with three total touchdowns each.
KICKING CAREER
Mitchell Tomasek, the MAC leader and ninth-ranked punter in the FBS at 47.3 yards per punt, has made his way into the program's all-time top five in career punting yardage as he has accumulated 8,662 yards during his time with the Eagles, which ranks fifth. The sixth punter in EMU history to surpass the 8,000-yard barrier, Tomasek moved ahead of Jay Kurtz (2010-12), who previously held the fifth position with 8,063 yards.
PULLING OUT THE DRIVER
Mitchell Tomasek has hit 55 of his 194 career punts for 50+ yards (28.4%), including 13 over 60 yards, while recording just 17 touchbacks (8.8%). For his career, Tomasek has recorded a best of 72 yards at Jacksonville State (Sept. 23, 2023) while hitting a 70-yarder at home against Ball State (Oct. 7, 2023). He has recorded at least three punts of 62 yards or better in all three seasons he has played for the Eagles and is one away already from making four consecutive years after recording punts of 63 and 62-yards at Texas State.
MAKING DEBUTS • TRANSFERS
Eastern has seen 34 players take their first snaps with the team this years with 21 transfers (20 in 2025 and one from 2024) on that list, including: Kadin Bailey, Duke Clayton, Caleb Coley, Nathan Dibert, Caleb Dobbs, Tavierre Dunlap, Makhi Gilbert, Ronn Hardin, Nick Harris, James Jointer Jr., Noah Kim, Tanner Lemaster, Joshua Long, Ja'Quel Mack, Andrew Marshall, James Monds III, Marco Patierno, Benson Prosper, Porter Rooks, Juan Salas Jr., and Warren-Stevens Tayou.
ON THE STARTING LINE
Through the NIU game (Oct. 11), 23 different players have earned their first starts with the Eagles, including four against the Huskies - Joey Mattord, Juan Salas, Bryce Eliuk, and Hector Gonzalez.
Along with latest addition, the 19 other players to earn starts with Eastern this year include: Messiah Blair, Tylan Boykin, Dodji Dahoue, Nick Deveraux, Caleb Dobbs, Tavierre Dunlap, Nicholas Gallegos, Makhi Gilbert, Noah Kim, Bryce Llewellyn, Joshua Long, Andrew Marshall, Jason Marshall, Sterling Miles, Benson Prosper, Donmiel Rogers, Porter Rooks, Terrance Saunders, and Owen Snively.
2025 Most First-Time Starters
23 - Eastern Michigan
14 - Navy, Louisiana Tech, Bowling Green
13 - Old Dominion, NC State
12 - Oregon, UTSA, Syracuse, Fresno State
MAKING DEBUTS • FRESHMEN
Twelve freshmen have seen their first collegiate playing time this season with redshirt freshman Javon Thomas taking the field at Kentucky. He joins the list of first-year players that also includes: Tylan Boykin, Quincy Byas, Marvell Eggelston Jr., Antonio Floyd, Reggie Gardner, Hector Gonzalez, Ray Hester, Rudy Kessinger, Harold Mack Jr., Zah'eed Pierre, and Donmiel Rogers.
BACK ON THE LANES?
The Eagles will look to return to the postseason in 2025 and claim their seventh appearance under Chris Creighton. For the 2025 season, the MAC has affiliations with four games: the former Bahamas Bowl (vs. Conference USA), the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl (vs. Mountain West), the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (vs. MWC), and the GameAbove Sports Bowl (vs. Big Ten). Additionally, the MAC could send teams to two of the following: 68 Ventures Bowl (vs. Sun Belt), Boca Raton Bowl (vs. Group of Five), Camellia Bowl (vs. ACC/Sun Belt), Cure Bowl (vs. Group of Five), Frisco Bowl (vs. Group of Five), Myrtle Beach Bowl (vs. ACC/SBC), and New Mexico Bowl (vs. CUSA).
BOWL APPEARANCES
Since 2016, 12-of-13 current MAC teams have played in at least one bowl, with the Eagles appearing in six, which ranks tied for third-most with Miami while Ohio and Toledo lead the way with seven.
7 • Ohio, Toledo
6 • Eastern Michigan, Miami
5 • Buffalo, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan
4 • Central Michigan
3 • Bowling Green
2 • Ball State, Kent State
1 • Akron
0 • UMass (only bowl was 1964)
THEY HAVE THE TOUCH
Over the past 11 seasons (2014-24), the Eagles' 26 blocked kicks have them tied for third-most among all teams in the MAC as Eastern, Miami, and Toledo are one off the pace set by both Central Michigan and Northern Illinois, who each have 27. Over that span, Eastern has tallied at least one block in nine consecutive years (20 blocks) with Akron next with six consecutive years (8). EMU is one of three schools (CMU and Toledo) that has recorded at least one block in 10-of-11 seasons during the current span.
NO KICKING ZONE
Since taking over the program in 2014, Chris Creighton's teams have blocked 26 kicks, including at least one in each of the past nine consecutive years. In 2024, the Eagles blocked four kicks, the second-highest total for the team under Creighton behind only the six blocks tallied in 2014. Last year, Eastern blocked one punt and one point-after try at Washington (Sept. 7), blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown at home against St. Francis (Sept. 21), and blocked a 31-yard field goal attempt at Ohio (Nov. 13). The four blocks tied for the MAC lead with Northern Illinois while ranking sixth among all NCAA FBS teams. Overall, in the 11 seasons under Creighton, EMU has blocked 10 field goal attempts, 10 punts with five being returned for touchdowns, and six extra-point attempts with one returned for a two-point defensive score.
EARLY DRIVES SET THE TONE
Eastern Michigan's opening-drive results over the past two seasons show mixed outcomes on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Eagles scored on four of 17 first-half drives, producing three touchdowns and one field goal, while most ended in punts or turnovers. Second-half starts showed a slight improvement, with five scoring drives in 17 opportunities, including four touchdowns, though 10 ended in punts. The most recent came against Central Michigan, Sept. 27, marking EMU's first second-half opening-drive touchdown since the 2024 season finale at Western Michigan, Nov. 30. Defensively, opponents found success on scripted series. Seven of 17 first-half drives resulted in touchdowns, with the same number coming on second-half opening possessions. EMU forced 17 combined stops across both halves, highlighted by takeaways against Toledo and Ohio and a missed field goal by LIU.
EXTENDING DRIVES: THIRD-DOWN CONTROL
Eastern Michigan ranks second in the MAC in third-down conversions at 40.9%, ranking 66th nationally. Noah Kim, completing 70% of his passes and ranking fourth in the MAC, is 35-for-57 throwing the ball on third down, with 22 of those completions resulting in the chains moving. Even more impressive, Kim is 23-of-39 on third-and-long situations and 9-of-12 on third-and-medium.
AYE, AYE CAPTAINS!
The Eagles will be led by six captains in the 2025 season. Following a vote of the current roster, the players selected Jefferson Adam, Tavierre Dunlap, Dramarian McNulty, Noah Kim, Zach Mowchan, and Mickey Rewolinski to serve as captains this season.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern Michigan returns to action Saturday, Oct. 25, when the Eagles play host to the Bobcats of Ohio University inside Rynearson Stadium. CBS Sports Network (CBSSN) will televise the game beginning at 12 p.m. Tom Helmer (play-by-play), Rob Rubick (analyst), Elena Davis (sideline), and Greg Steiner (halftime) will have the call on WEMU (89.1 FM), The Varsity Network app, and SiriusXM.
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