Eastern Welcomes Ohio to 'The Factory' Saturday at Noon

Football vs. Ohio
Date	Saturday, Oct. 25 \| 12 p.m.
Venue	Rynearson Stadium \| Ypsilanti, Mich.
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF) \| Press Conference Video
Watch \| Stats	CBS Sports Network \| 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!

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team returns to action at home this weekend when the Eagles play host to defending Mid-American Conference Champion Ohio University Saturday, Oct. 25, inside 'The Factory' at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti. The Eagles (2-6, 1-3 MAC) and Bobcats (4-3, 2-1 MAC) are slated to kick off at 12 p.m. with the game being televised on CBS Sports Network. 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.

MADE IN MICHIGAN DAY
Surrounding the game, Eastern will honor the heart of Michigan itself as it will be Made in Michigan Day, alongside High School Band Day and Community Day. This event will spotlight the pride and talent of the state with a massive halftime performance featuring Michigan's top high school marching bands joining forces with the EMU Pride of the Peninsula Marching Band. Simultaneously, local businesses, artisans, and community leaders will be honored, creating a hometown celebration that brings the whole region together in support of the Green and White. Participating schools include Allen Park, Birch Run, Blissfield, Crestwood, Edon Northwest, Hudson, Jonesville, Kearsley, Mason, Milan, Monroe Jefferson, Onsted, South Lake, Star International Academy, Summerfield, Swartz Creek, West Bloomfield, Whiteford Agricultural, Woodhaven, and Ypsilanti Community.

KNOW THE FOE: OHIO
The Bobcats enter the game with a 4-3 record and stand 2-1 in the MAC after their 48-21 Homecoming win over Northern Illinois. Ohio, who is 0-3 away from home, lost its most recent road contest, 20-14, at Ball State two weeks ago. The Bobcats opened their season with three consecutive games against Power Four teams with road losses at Rutgers (34-31) and at No. 1 Ohio State (37-9) sandwiched around a 17-10 home win over West Virginia. Parker Navarro leads the offense with 210.1 yards per game and nine touchdowns while Sieh Bagura is second in the MAC in both rushing yards per game (89.7) and total rushing yards (628). Michael Molnar leads the defense with 58 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE BOBCATS
Eastern is 12-21-1 all-time against Ohio and has not won in the series since 2016 when it knocked off the Bobcats, 27-20, in Athens, Oct. 15. The series has swung in streaks. EMU dominated the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning seven of nine meetings between 1985 and 1994. Ohio responded with control since 2000, taking 11 of the last 12 matchups, including a double-overtime thriller in 2017 and a 35-10 win in 2024. The series has featured close finishes as five games have been decided by seven points or fewer.

LAST MEETING WITH OHIO
Parker Navarro passed for a career-high 277 yards and ran for 106 yards and four touchdowns to lead Ohio to a 35-10 win over Eastern Michigan in Athens, Nov. 13, 2024. Anthony Tyus III contributed a rushing touchdown and Coleman Owen had eight receptions for 139 yards for the Bobcats. The defense contributed a season-high four takeaways against an Eagles team that had seven turnovers coming in. All the Eastern Michigan giveaways went to quarterback Cole Snyder, who came in with three interceptions but threw one on three consecutive drives. He also suffered a strip sack. Those turnovers led to 21 points. The backbreaker was the third, when Tank Person jumped an inside route and nabbed the ball at the EMU 25 for his second pick. On the next play Navarro went around the left side to make it 21-7. Eastern Michigan answered with a 16-play, 64-yard drive taking almost eight minutes but only got a field goal. The Bobcats then went 85 yards for a score and then just 19 yards after Ben McNaboe, who earlier had an interception, forced a fumble that Kaci Seegars jumped on. Both TDs were short Navarro runs. Snyder finished 18 of 30 for 155 yards with a touchdown pass to Delbert Mimms III.

LAST TIME IN YPSILANTI AGAINST OHIO
Kurtis Rourke threw three touchdown passes, Ohio gained 265 yards on the ground, and the Bobcats defeated EMU, 34-26, on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Ypsilanti. Rourke, who was 9-of-17 passing for 230 yards, had 32 fewer completions than his counterpart, Ben Bryant of Eastern Michigan. Bryant completed 41 of 57 passes for 354 yards with a touchdown and an interception. After Eastern Michigan scored to tie the game at 20 in the third quarter, Ohio took control with a 20-yard Isaiah Cox touchdown run and a 66-yard touchdown pass from Rourke to Cameron Odom. Eastern Michigan scored on a Samson Evans 3-yard run with 2:36 to go but Ohio recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. De'Montre Tuggle led Ohio with 78 yards rushing. Eastern got 62 yards and two rushing touchdowns from Evans. Tanner Knue had 127 receiving yards.

EMU'S LAST WIN IN THE SERIES
Brogan Roback threw for a career-high 347 yards and three touchdowns to lead Eastern Michigan to a 27-20 win over Ohio in Athens, Ohio, Oct. 15, 2016. Two of the touchdowns were big-time receptions in the fourth quarter that allowed the Eagles to beat the Bobcats for the first time since 1999, and the first time on the road since 1994. All told, it also marked EMU's first three-game road winning streak since 1967. Sergio Bailey II reached over a defensive back to haul in a 14-yard pass early in the fourth quarter to make it 20-10 and Antoine Porter dragged several defenders into the end zone for an 11-yard score with 3:47 to play. Bailey, who had career highs of eight receptions for 143 yards, set up Porter's touchdown when he turned a 20-yard reception into a 57-yard gain. After an Ohio field goal, a career-long 47-yarder by Louie Zervos, cut it to 27-20 with 3:47 left, the Eagles, who had a combined three wins the previous two seasons, ran out the clock.

TIES BETWEEN EMU AND OHIO
One member of the Ohio coaching staff has ties to EMU: Scott Isphording (passing game coordinator/quarterbacks). Isphording coached at EMU from 2004-08 and was the offensive coordinator in his final two seasons there. In 2008, he led the Eagles to a school-record 5,010 total yards and topped the league in red-zone efficiency, red-zone touchdown efficiency and time of possession. Isphording mentored EMU quarterback Andy Schmitt, who set NCAA single-game records in 2008 with 76 pass attempts without an interception vs. Temple and 58 pass completions in a 56-52 win over Central Michigan. On the EMU side, Andrew Marshall spent the 2023 season at Ohio University, where he appeared in one game and recorded one solo tackle. Before joining the Bobcats, he was a standout at Bloom-Carroll High School, earning three varsity letters in football along with honors in wrestling and track.

YARDAGE TELLS THE STORY
Eastern Michigan's last 15 matchups with Ohio have been defined by wide swings in total yardage since 1995. Over that span, the Eagles have been outgained in several lopsided contests, including a 287-yard deficit in 1997 and a 254-yard deficit in 2012. EMU's largest positive margin came in its 1995 and 1999 wins, when the Eagles out-gained Ohio by 85 and 25 yards, respectively. In many losses, both the rushing and passing games struggled, such as in 2024 when EMU fell 35-10 while being outgained 45 yards on the ground and 122 yards through the air for a total margin of -167. Conversely, EMU has managed to win despite being outgained in some matchups, including the 2016 27-20 victory, when the Eagles were out-rushed by 36 yards but gained 56 more passing yards to finish +20 in total yardage. Across the series, yardage margins correlate closely with outcomes: the Eagles' victories typically coincide with balanced or positive yardage, while deficits over 100 total yards have historically led to defeats.

PASSING THE TEST
Eastern Michigan's passing game against Ohio over the last 15 meetings has seen big highs and lows. The Eagles' completion rate has ranged from 42.9 percent in 2012 to 74.4 percent in 2016. EMU's two most productive passing games came in wins, including 347 yards and three touchdowns in 2016 and 384 yards with three scores in 1999. Low-output games, like 138 yards in 2012 or 162 yards in 2013, often coincided with turnovers and losses. Interceptions have been a consistent issue, including three in 2024 and three in 1996, showing the link between turnovers and struggles in the passing game.

HISTORIC DEBUT FOR MACK
Freshman wide receiver Harold Mack Jr. entered the Miami game without a single career reception but ended the night with six catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns. His 179 yards marked the 142nd 100-yard receiving game in Eastern Michigan history and tied for the 17th-highest total on record. Mack became the first EMU player to post 100+ receiving yards against Miami since Dieuly Aristilde had 193 yards on Oct. 29, 2016.

RARE COMPANY AMONG FRESHMEN
Harold Mack Jr. became the first EMU freshman in nine years to record a 100-yard receiving game and only the fifth since 1995. He also joined an exclusive group of EMU freshmen to catch two touchdown passes in a single contest, becoming just the fifth player to do so in the past 30 seasons.

EMU Frosh w/100+ Yards Receiving (since 1995)
1. Dieuly Aristilde • 193 yds • 10-29-16 vs. Miami
2. Harold Mack • 179 yds • 10-18-25 at Miami
3. Eddie Daugherty • 109 yds • 9-26-15 vs. Army
4. Dieuly Aristilde • 107 yds • 11-8-16 at Ball State
5. Eddie Daugherty • 107 yds • 10-10-15 vs. Akron
6. Eddie Daugherty • 105 yds • 9-12-15 at Wyoming

NATIONAL AND CONFERENCE IMPACT
Harold Mack Jr.'s 179-yard effort was the highest by any FBS freshman wide receiver this season, surpassing Michigan's Andrew Marsh (136 yards vs. USC). Within the MAC, he became only the third freshman in 2025 to surpass 100 receiving yards, joining Akron's Kyan Mason (125 vs. CMU) and Kent State's Cade Wolford (109 vs. Merrimack). All told, it marked the first time since the 2022 campaign that any MAC freshman had gone over the century mark in yards receiving. Furthermore, Mack's 179 yards are the most by a freshman wideout since Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith caught seven balls for 187 yards and two scores against Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, 2025.

DUAL THREAT THROUGH THE AIR
EMU featured a rare two-receiver performance at Miami as Harold Mack Jr. and Nick Devereaux each hauled in two touchdown receptions. It marked only the fifth time since 1995 that two EMU players have caught multiple touchdown passes in the same game. The last occurrence came on Nov. 11, 2011, when Demarius Reed and Garrett Hoskins each scored twice against Buffalo.

EMU Games w/ Two Receivers w/ Multiple TDs (since 1995)
Oct. 18, 2025 at Miami • Harold Mack (2) / Nick Devereaux (2)
Nov. 11, 2011 vs. Buffalo • Demarius Reed (2) / Garrett Hoskins (2)
Oct. 13, 2007 at Ohio • Jacory Stone (2) / Tyler Jones (2)
Nov. 8, 1997 at NIU • Brandon Campbell (2) / Ta-if Kumasi (2)
Oct. 21, 1995 at Ball State • Ryan Wheatley (2) / Steve Clay (2)

KIM JOINS ELITE PASSING COMPANY
Noah Kim threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns against Miami, becoming only the eighth EMU player since 1995 to record at least 300 passing yards and four touchdown passes in a single game. Kim joined a select group that includes Walter Church (1998), Kainoa Akina (2001), Troy Edwards (2002), Matt Bohnet (2004, 2005), Andy Schmitt (2008), and Tyler Benz (2012). His performance marked the first such effort by an EMU quarterback in 13 seasons and the program's first on the road since Church's 439-yard outing at Western Michigan on Oct. 17, 1998. Since 1995, Bowling Green has led all MAC programs with 22 games featuring a quarterback throwing for at least 300 yards and four touchdowns. Ball State ranks second with 16, followed by Central Michigan with 13 and Akron with 12. Toledo has recorded 11 such games, while Western Michigan stands at 10. Miami (OH) follows with nine, and both Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan have produced eight each. Buffalo has tallied six, Ohio five, and Kent State three.

EMU QBs Since 1995 with 300+ Yards Passing and 4 TDs
Noah Kim at Miami (10/18/25) • 20-36, 309yds (4TD)
Tyler Benz vs. Army (10/20/12) • 19-13, 369yds (5TD)
Andy Schmitt vs. CMU (11/28/08) • 58-80, 516yds (5TD)
Matt Bohnet vs. WMU (11/5/05) • 40-48, 399yds (4TD)
Matt Bohnet vs. CMU (11/6/04) • 31-54, 367yds (4TD)
Troy Edwards vs. Akron (10/5/02) • 25-39, 390yds (4TD)
Kainoa Akina at Akron (11/24/01) • 27-50, 392yds (6TD)
Walter Church at WMU (10/17/98) • 24-37, 439yds (4TD)

TRIO LEADS DEFENSIVE EFFORT AT MIAMI
Eastern Michigan's defense delivered a strong tackling performance against Miami, highlighted by three players reaching double figures. Barry Manning led the unit with 12 tackles, followed by Andrew Marshall with 11 and Bryce Llewellyn also reaching double digits. It marked only the seventh time in the Chris Creighton era that three or more Eagles have recorded at least 10 tackles in a single game, and the first occurrence since 2020 against Central Michigan.

Games in the Creighton Era with 10+ Tackles By 3 Players
at Miami (10-18-25) • Barry Manning (12)/Andrew Marshall (11)/Bryce Llewellyn (10)
vs. CMU (11-27-20) • Terry Myrick (17)/Kempton Shine (15)/Korey Hernandez (12)/Tariq Speights (12)
vs. NIU (9-29-18) • Kyle Rachwall (16)/Jaylen Picket (12)/Vince Calhoun (12)/Brody Hoying (11)
vs. Toledo (11-28-14) • Great Ibe (12)/Pat O'Connor (12)/Anthony Zappone (11)
at Ball State (11-22-14) • Great Ibe (12)/Jason Beck (12)/Jalen Williams (11)
at UMass (10-18-14) • Great Ibe (21)/Kevin Johnson (12)/Willie Creear (12)/Jason Beck (11)
vs. Buffalo (10-11-14) • Anthony Zappone (12)/Great Ibe (12)/Kevin Johnson (12)

GOING GREEN IN THE RED ZONE
Eastern is one of five FBS teams and the only squad in the MAC with a perfect red-zone record this season, scoring on all 25 trips in 2025. The 23 appearances, which rank second among the five perfect teams (Cincinnati with 28), have seen the Eagles score 15 touchdowns (nine rushing/six 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 50 nationally with Ohio next on the list at 58th with an 88.0% conversion rate (22-of-25).

TAKING CARE
As a team, the Eagles rank among the top 25 in a trio of categories in keeping the offense moving, including standing as one of five teams nationally that have not lost a fumble. Eastern also ranks 16th in tackles for loss allowed at 3.88 per game, just behind Miami (3.71) for best in the league, while sitting 21st in turnovers lost with six, just off the five of Central Michigan.

EAGLES AMONG MAC & NATIONAL LEADERS
Eastern features key players ranked among the nation's best in multiple categories. Mitchell Tomasek ranks eighth in the FBS and first in the MAC with 47.1 yards per punt while fellow specialist Rudy Kessinger is 14th nationally (second in the MAC) with 1.75 field goals per game and 25th (first in the MAC) with 60 points. Offensively, Dontae McMillan is 13th (first MAC) with 674 rushing yards, 34th (third) with 84.3 rushing yards per game, and 38th (fourth) with 108.9 all-purpose yards while Noah Kim is 22nd (first) with 1,792 passing yards and 35th (first) with 20.25 completions per game. Jayvin Norman ranks 15th (fourth) with 331 yards of kick returns and 27th (sixth) with 20.7 yards per return.

LEADER OF THE MAC
Noah Kim continues to find himself among the MAC leaders for quarterbacks as he has accumulated 1,792yards on 162-of-263 passing, the highest in the league. Ranked first with 162 completions, Kim's 224.0 yards per game average is 1.2 yards per game better than the next quarterback. Overall, Kim, is averaging 20.3 completions per game, is 208 yards away from reaching 2,000 yards for the first time in his career and, if he accomplishes the feat, would be the 11th different EMU quarterback to reach the milestone and mark the 18th, 2,000-yard season in program history.

THROUGH THE AIR
Noah Kim has accounted for 16 touchdowns through eight games, including a career-high 12 passing and four rushing. Kim added four passing scores at Miami, Oct. 18, to give him at least one passing touchdown in seven of eight games played this season while surpassing his previous single-season passing touchdown total of six recorded in 2023 with Michigan State. His 14 passing scores are tied for the 12th-most in a single season.

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.

McMILLAN CLOSING IN
Through eight games, Dontae McMillan has tallied 674 yards rushing, an average of 84.3 yards per game. If he is able to maintain his pace over the final four 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 18 extra points through the first eight 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 60 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.

KESSINGER CLIMBINGS
Rudy Kessinger has scored 14 field goals in 2025, which currently ties for the 10th-most in a single season in program history with four other kickers, including Andrew Wellock (2003), Kody Fulkerson (2011), Chad Ryland (2019), and Jesus Gomez (2022). Wellock holds the all-time record with 21 field goals in 2004.

KICKING CAREER
Mitchell Tomasek, the MAC leader and eighth-ranked punter in the FBS at 47.1 yards per punt, has made his way into the program's all-time top five in career punting yardage as he has accumulated 8,844 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. Tomasek is now 156 yards shy of becoming just the fifth EMU punter to break the 9,000-yard barrier with David Rysko next on the list with 9,072 yards.

PULLING OUT THE DRIVER
Mitchell Tomasek has hit 56 of his 198 career punts for 50+ yards (28.3%), including 13 over 60 yards, while recording just 17 touchbacks (8.6%). 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. Overall, he is averaging 44.7 yards per punt over his career, which ranks as the best in program history and makes him one of only two punters to average 44.0+ with Jake Julien (2017-21) joining him at 44.0.

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 98 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.

UPPER HALF
Since 2016, Eastern has posted 56 wins, which ranks as the sixth-most victories of any team in the MAC.
76 • Toledo
73 • Ohio
64 • Western Michigan
64 • Miami
59 • Buffalo
56 • Eastern Michigan
52 • Northern Illinois, Central Michigan
43 • Ball State
39 • Bowling Green
32 • Kent State
28 • Akron
18 • UMass
* updated through 2025 Week 8 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)
3. Texas - 60 (27-33)
4. Iowa State - 59 (26-33)
5. Nebraska - 57 (17-40)
6. Kansas State - 56 (26-30)
7. North Carolina - 53 (22-31)
8. Oklahoma State - 51 (31-20)
9. Tulsa - 51 (23-28)

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 Miami game (Oct. 18), 24 different players have earned their first starts with the Eagles, including Ronn Hardin versus the RedHawks. Along with latest addition, the 23 other players to earn starts with Eastern this year include: Messiah Blair, Tylan Boykin, Dodji Dahoue, Nick Deveraux, Caleb Dobbs, Tavierre Dunlap, Bryce Eliuk, Nicholas Gallegos, Makhi Gilbert, Hector Gonzalez, Noah Kim, Bryce Llewellyn, Joshua Long, Andrew Marshall, Jason Marshall, Joey Mattord, Juan Salas, Sterling Miles, Benson Prosper, Donmiel Rogers, Porter Rooks, Terrance Saunders, and Owen Snively.

2025 Most First-Time Starters
24 - Eastern Michigan
21- Bowling Green
17 - Louisiana Tech
16 - Navy
15 - Syracuse
14 - UTSA
13 - Old Dominion, NC State
12 - Fresno State, Oregon

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 20 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 20 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 20 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.

AYE, AYE CAPTAINS!
The Eagles will be led by five captains in the 2025 season. Following a vote of the current roster, the players selected Jefferson Adam, Dramarian McNulty, Noah Kim, Zach Mowchan, and Mickey Rewolinski to serve as captains this season.

ON THE HORIZON
Following a bye in the schedule, the final Saturday home game of the 2025 season awaits the Eagles next when Eastern plays host to Bowling Green State University, Nov. 8, inside Rynearson Stadium with the game time and television designation being announced next week. 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.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Jefferson Adam

Kadin Bailey

Messiah Blair

Tylan Boykin

Quincy Byas

Duke Clayton

Caleb Coley

Dodji Dahoue

Nick Devereaux

Nathan Dibert

Caleb Dobbs

Tavierre Dunlap

Bryce Eliuk

Antonio Floyd

Nicholas Gallegos

Reggie Gardner

Makhi Gilbert

Hector Gonzalez

Ronn Hardin

Nick Harris

Ray Hester

Rudy Kessinger

Noah Kim

Tanner Lemaster

Bryce Llewellyn

Joshua Long

Harold Mack

Ja'Quel Mack

Barry Manning

Andrew Marshall

Jason Marshall

Joey Mattord

Dontae McMillan

Dramarian McNulty

Sterling Miles

Delbert Mimms III

James Monds III

Zach Mowchan

Jayvin Norman

Marco Patierno

Zah'eed Pierre

Benson Prosper

Mickey Rewolinski

Donmiel Rogers

Porter Rooks

Juan Salas

Terrance Saunders

Owen Snively

Cole Snyder

Warren-Stevens Tayou

Javon Thomas

Mitchell Tomasek

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