Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, August 29
Ypsilanti, Mich.
6:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Sacramento State
Football Welcomes Sac State in MAC Opener
8/24/2026 4:52:00 PM | Football
Eastern opens its 135th season at home with FBS & MAC newcomer Sacramento State
| Football vs. Sacramento State | SEASON, HOME, & MAC OPENER | |
| Date | Saturday, Aug. 29 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Venue | The Factory at Rynearson Stadium | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| 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 |
| Follow Us On X | @EMUFB | @EMUAthletics |
| Tickets | Purchase Your Tickets HERE! |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Football at The Factory is back! The Eastern Michigan University football team is set to open its 2026 campaign Saturday, Aug. 29, as the Eagles will play host to the Hornets of Sacramento State on Crosby Field at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti. The 6:30 p.m. contest will see the Eagles (0-0) open their 135th varsity campaign with a Mid-American Conference game against the Hornets (0-0), the newest member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the MAC.
TUNE IN
The season opener between Eastern Michigan and Sacramento State will be aired live on ESPN+ with Mick Tidrow (play-by-play) and Jerod Cherry (analyst) on the call. The Voice of the Eagles, Tom Helmer, is back on the air with play-by-play calls on WEMU (89.1 FM) with Rob Rubick joining him in the booth to break down all the action that can be heard live on WEMU.org, The Varsity Network app, and SiriusXM.
FIRST AND TEN THINGS TO KNOW
• Eastern is playing in its 135th varsity season in 2026 and holds an all-time record of 499-637-47.
• The Eagles are one win away from becoming the 111th FBS program to record 500 victories.
• Eastern is 64-62-8 all-time in its season opener and 81-47-5 in home openers.
• The Eagles are 14-36-0 in their MAC opener and 6-16-0 when the MAC opener is played at home.
• The game with Sacramento State is the third-earliest in program history (twice played Aug. 28).
• Eastern is 6-2 all-time (4-2 against the MAC) when its first game is against a conference foe.
• EMU is 1-3 all-time when facing a team playing in its first FBS season (CSUS is debuting this week).
• EMU has never hosted a California school in its previous 1,183 games played. Starting with this week's game, it will host two in back-to-back weeks (San Jose State, Sept. 4).
• Nick Devereaux was honored by being selected to wear 'The Deuce', which is reserved for the top senior receiver. He began his career as a walk-on before earning a scholarship last year.
• Eastern will face rival Central Michigan on Nov. 4 at Ford Field for Motor City MACtion.
GOING LIVE ON YEAR 135
The 2026 season marks the 135th varsity campaign for Eastern Michigan and its 51st as a member of the Mid-American Conference. EMU, then known as Michigan State Normal School, played its first game, Oct. 21, 1891, and has played at least two games every calendar year since then except for 1944 (World War II).
THE YPSI 500
Eastern enters the season with an all-time record of 499-638-47, leaving the Eagles one win away from becoming the 111th NCAA Division I program to reach 500 all-time victories. Eastern is one of two teams that could reach the 500-win mark this season with Houston needing 14 as the Cougars take the field in 2026 with a record of 486-405-15. Fellow MAC foe Ball State is next on the list with a record of 483-473-32.
LIFTING LIDS • SEASON OPENERS
Eastern sports an all-time record of 64-62-8 in its first game of the season and is looking to bounce back from a 52-27 loss at Texas State (Aug. 30, 2025) in its most recent opening game. The Eagles are opening their season at home for the first time since a 33-23 victory over Howard (Sept. 1, 2023) and will look to build upon a 9-3 record in season-opening games under Chris Creighton.
AUGUST STARTS
The game with Sacramento State will mark the 14th time in program history Eastern has played a game in the month of August with the Eagles holding a 7-6-0 record in those contests following their 52-27 loss at Texas State (Aug. 30) last year, a loss that snapped a five-game winning streak in the eighth month of the year. The Eagles, who won a then-non-conference game at UMass (Aug. 31, 2024), 28-14, to open the 2024 season, stand 5-1-0 all-time at home in August with five consecutive wins, including the most recent came, a 51-17 defeat of Monmouth (Aug. 31, 2018).
EARLY EAGLE GETS THE WIN
The Aug. 29 start date for the Eagles marks the third-earliest season-opener in program history, surpassed by a pair of games played on Aug. 28. The first came in 2003 with Eastern taking a 28-21 home victory over visiting East Tennessee State while the most recent came in 2008 with the Eagles downing visiting Indiana State, 52-0.
LIFTING LIDS • HOME OPENERS
Eastern holds an all-time record of 81-47-5 in its first home game of the season and will look to bounce back from a 28-23 loss to Long Island (Sept. 6, 2025) in last year's opener after having won the previous three. Under Chris Creighton, the Eagles are 8-3-0 in the first game of the gray turf of The Factory.
LIFTING LIDS • MAC OPENERS
The Eagles are 14-36-0 in their first MAC game of the season after falling in a 24-13 road game at Central Michigan (Sept. 27) last year. Eastern is 6-16-0 when its first MAC game of the year is played at home with the last instance coming in a 50-31 loss to Buffalo, Sept. 24, 2022. When playing its first home MAC contest, Eastern is 17-33-0 following its 16-10 win over NIU, Oct. 11, 2025.
RARE AIR • SEASON + CONFERENCE OPENER
The game with Sacramento State will mark the 17th time Eastern has opened its season playing a conference game with the last coming in the COVID season of 2020 in a 27-23 loss at Kent State (Nov. 4). Prior to that, the last time the Eagles opened a campaign with a MAC game in a full season was Aug. 30, 2012, in a 37-26 loss at Ball State. The contest with the Hornets will mark the ninth time Eastern has opened its season with a home conference game and sports a 6-2-0 record that includes a 37-34 win over Buffalo, Sept. 2, 2004. The first time Eastern opened its season with a conference foe came in the '96 season... 1896: an 18-0 win over visiting Hillsdale in MIAA play.
PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
Eastern was voted to finish seventh in the 2026 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll after the Eagles received 76 points in the voting among the league's 13 head coaches. Western Michigan earned the top spot as the defending champions earned 138 points with nine first-place votes while Miami was just behind in second with 134 points and four first-place votes. According to the poll, the Eagles will play home games against No. 3 Toledo (Oct. 17), No. 5 Central Michigan (Nov. 4), No. 8 Kent State (Nov. 24), and No. 12 Sacramento State (Aug. 29) with road games at No. 1 WMU (Nov. 17), No. 4 Ohio (Oct. 24), No. 10 Akron (Oct. 10), and No. 13 UMass (Oct. 3). The Broncos also were voted as the predicted winner of the MAC Championship game in Detroit after receiving nine votes while the RedHawks earned four votes to win.
WELCOME, TIMES TWO
Eastern is not only welcoming Sacramento State to the MAC this week, but also serving as the Hornets' first opponent in their FBS era. The Eagles are no strangers to playing a new FBS team in its first season as Eastern has done so four times previously, holding a 1-3 record. The last instance came in 2023 in a 21-0 road loss at Jacksonville State (Sept. 23) in the Gamecocks' first season. The game with Sacramento State will also mark the second time EMU has been a new FBS team's first opponent after scoring a 32-25 win at home over UConn, Sept. 2, 2000. Additionally, the game marks the second time EMU will face a MAC team in its first FBS season after dropping a 48-25 decision at Marshall, Oct. 25, 1997.
PLAYING FIRST
The game with the Hornets will mark the 16th game Eastern has played its first game against an opponent in a MAC contest with the Eagles holding a 5-10-0 record in the previous 15, including a 4-2-0 record when hosting the game. The Eagles lost their last two such games, including a 36-14 setback at UMass (Oct. 18, 2014), and a 55-52 shootout at Temple (Nov. 22, 2008). The last time EMU played the first MAC game at home came in a 19-13 win over UCF (Nov. 8, 2003).
IT'S A GOLD RUSH
In 134 seasons, Eastern has played 1,183 games. In that time, only four have come against teams from California, including road losses at Fresno State and San Diego State and two bowl wins over San Jose State, with none being played in Ypsilanti. The game with Sacramento State is not only the first time a California school has played in Ypsilanti, but it will also mark the start of back-to-back weeks against Golden State foes inside The Factory with San Jose State coming to town Friday, Sept. 4.
• W, 30-27, vs. San Jose State (California Bowl)(12/10/87)
• L, 41-10, at Fresno State (9/1/90)
• L, 23-20 (OT), at San Diego State (9/22/18)
• W, 41-27, vs. San Jose State (Potato Bowl)(12/20/22)
KNOW THE FOE: SACRAMENTO STATE
The newest member of the MAC and the FBS, the Hornets are coming off a 2025 season in which they finished 7-5 overall and 5-3 in the Big Sky Conference. Sacramento State, which has won seven conference titles, including three consecutive Big Sky championships from 2019-22, was just one of just 12 FCS programs to win at least seven games in five of the last six seasons. During that time, the Hornets made four NCAA FCS Playoff appearances and held a top-25 ranking for 50 weeks. Sacramento State averaged 33.8 points and 425.6 yards of total offense per game in 2025 and will need to replace much of its production in 2026. Defensively, the Hornets limited opponents to 26.3 points and 366.9 yards per game.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE HORNETS
EMU and Sacramento State are meeting for the first time.
NEW TO THE LIST
Since the start of the 2014 season, Eastern has played an opponent for the first time in program history 22 times, holding an 11-11 record, with at least one newcomer each season under Chris Creighton with the exception of the 2020 COVID season which featured only MAC games. The games with Sacramento State and Lindenwood (Sept. 26) will mark the 23rd and 24th times, respectively, to that list. The Eagles are 11-9 in regular season games, including road wins at Illinois (2019) and Arizona State (2022), and 6-1 at home with the lone loss coming last year to Long Island (Sept. 6), 38-23.
TIES BETWEEN EMU AND SAC STATE
• Sacramento State defensive lineman Malik Tullis is in his second season with the Hornets after playing two years at Eastern Michigan (2023 and 2024). He played 17 total games for the Eagles before transferring.
• Warren-Stevens Tayou and Dionte Thornton (Sac State) were teammates at Lawndale High School in Inglewood, Calif., while Chad Troxler and Grand Meadors (Sac State) were teammates at Liberty High School in Bakersfield, Calif.
• Elijah Payne (OL) played at Delaware State last year while Brandon Blackmon, Sacramento State's safeties coach, was the defensive coordinator at DSU.
• Donnell Kirkwood Jr. and Nick Alaimalo (Sac State) coached at Washington State last year with Kirkwood working with the running backs and Alaimalo coaching the wide receivers.
• Zac Sias (defensive tackles) and Angus McClure (Sac State associate head coach and offensive line coach) were on the Kansas staff together in 2024 and 2025 with Sias coaching linebackers and McClure serving as an offensive analyst.
QUICK LOOK BACK • 2025 SEASON
EMU produced strong numbers across the roster in 2025. The Eagles led the MAC in fourth-down offense at 61.1 percent and ranked first in the league in sacks allowed at 0.92 per game and tackles for loss allowed at 3.75 per game. The red zone offense reached 94.6 percent, ranking second in the nation and first in the MAC. The offense averaged 234.8 passing yards per game, second in the MAC, while total offense reached 377.3 yards per game, third in the MAC. Defensively, EMU held opponents to 184.2 passing yards per game, which ranked 24th nationally, and special teams placed among the MAC leaders with a 40.0-yard net punting average.
Noah Kim led the MAC in passing yards and completions with 2,817 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 250.3 yards of total offense per game. Running back Dontae McMillan rushed for 1,014 yards and averaged 5.73 yards per carry, which ranked second in the conference. Nick Devereaux added 510 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, while return specialist Jayvin Norman totaled 432 return yards. Punter Mitchell Tomasek ranked second in the MAC with a 46.2-yard average, and kicker Rudy Kessinger finished among the conference leaders in field goals. EMU earned multiple All-MAC honors, led by Second Team selections Joshua Long, McMillan, and Bryce Llewellyn. Devereaux, Mickey Rewolinski, and Tomasek earned Third Team recognition.
AYE, AYE CAPTAINS!
EMU will be led by five captains in the 2026. Following a vote of the current roster, the players selected included Nicholas Gallegos (OL), Makhi Gilbert (DL), Noah Kim (QB), Bryce Llewellyn (DB), and Zach Mowchan (LB).
DONNING THE DEUCE
In an Aug. 20 team meeting, Chris Creighton announced Nick Devereaux would wear 'The Deuce' for the 2026 season, an honor reserved for the team's top senior pass catcher. While players often request a certain number to wear, 'The Deuce' must be earned in remembrance of wide receiver Demarius Reed, who passed away on Oct. 18, 2013. 'The Deuce was put back into circulation in 2017 with the blessing of Reed's family and former teammates and has been worn by Sergio Bailey II (2017), Blake Banham (2018), Mathew Sexton (2019), Thomas Odukoya (2020), Bryson Cannon (2021), Hassan Beydoun (2022), Tanner Knue (2023), Oran Singleton (2024), and Terry Lockett Jr. (2025).
ZEROING IN
Another number that cannot be requested by an Eastern player is The Zero. Most weeks, the defensive coaching staff will select an individual player that stood out in the previous week's game and the following week of practice and will announce the wearer at a team meeting on the eve of the game. Six players return this season that have previously worn The Zero, including two-time honorees Carter Evans and Barry Manning, along with Quincy Byas, Caleb Dobbs, Makhi Gilbert, and Bryce Llewellyn.
WELCOME TO YPSILANTI
The 2026 roster features 54 newcomers to the program, including 30 first-year players and 24 transfers. The first-year players hail from nine states and two countries with players representing Florida (8), Georgia (3), Illinois, Indiana (4), Kentucky, Michigan (6), New Jersey (2), Ohio (3), and Pennsylvania with one player from Canada. Additionally, the five of the 24 transfers came to Ypsilanti from 'Power 4' programs, including Illinois, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech with other NCAA Division I programs including Akron, Delaware State, Drake, Lamar, St. Francis (Pa.), and Yale.
MAKE'EM SAY 'UNC'LE
When looking at the newcomers, 11 of the 30 first-year players were born in 2008, nearly six years after eight the team's 'elder' statesmen, including Ronn Hardin, who was born in November of 2001. Comparatively, the youngest player on the roster is Horace Glenn III, who was born in October of 2008, Hardin the 'unc' of the team by over 2,500 days (nearly six years and 11 months).
ADDED TO THE STAFF
Changes to the coaching roster also took place since the end of the 2025 season with five new assistant coaches in place for 2026. Joining the staff this year are Antreal Allen (cornerbacks), who coached cornerbacks at West Georgia in 2025; Erik Campbell (wide receivers), who worked with the wide receivers at Michigan in 2025; Donnell Kirkwood Jr. (running backs), who coached running backs at Washington State in 2025; Zac Sias (defensive tackles), who worked with the linebackers at Kansas the past two years; and Grant Kurzner (special teams coordinator), who worked with Michigan's special teams the past two years.
NEW CALLERS
Along with the new additions to the staff, new roles were also assigned as both Tate Omil and Kasey Teegardin were named co-defensive coordinators for 2026. Omli, who also works with the safeties, is in his fourth season with the Eagles while Teegardin, who is entering his third season in Ypsilanti, will work with the defensive ends. Offensively, Mike Piatkowski returns as the offensive coordinator for the Eagles.
HAIL TO THE CHIEF!
The football player and staff roster was not the only change this offseason as Dr. Brendan Kelly was selected to lead Eastern Michigan as the 24th president of the University. Kelly, who began his tenure in Ypsilanti on April 1, 2026, earned both his bachelor's degree in public relations and master's degree in communication from EMU before completing his Ph.D. in political communication and rhetoric at Wayne State University. Early in his career, he served at EMU as Assistant Director of Forensics and a Lecturer in Communication and Theatre Arts, making today's return a meaningful homecoming for both him and his wife, Dr. Tressa Kelly, also a two‑time EMU alumna and longtime educator.
ON THE LIST
Eastern had 16 players named to preseason All-MAC teams by Athlon Sports and/or Phil Steele with eight Eagles earning a selection to both lists. The Eagles appearing on both ledgers included Nick Devereaux (1st team Athlon/1st team Steele), Carter Evans (1st/1st), Nicholas Gallegos (1st/2nd), Bryce Llewellyn (1st/1st), Joshua Long (1st/1st), Rudy Kessinger (2nd/2nd), Noah Kim (3rd/3rd), and Jason Marshall (4th/4th). Additionally, Athlon Sports recognized Barry Manning (2nd), Joshua Anderson (3rd), Bradyon Bennett (3rd), Jefferson Adam (4th), Caleb Coley (4th), and Harold Mack Jr. (4th) while Phil Steele selected Makhi Gilbert (3rd) and Juan Salas Jr. (4th) to their lists.
WATCHING OUT
Seven Eastern players were named to preseason watch lists for various national honors ahead of the start of the season. The list included Bryce Llewellyn for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player), Dennis Strey Jr. for the All-State AFCA Good Works Team and the Allstate Wuerfful Trophy (community service), Nick Devereaux for the East-West Shrine Bowl (all-star game), Joshua Long for the John Mackey Trophy (tight end), Nicholas Gallegos for the Rimington Trophy (center), and Braydon Bennett for the Doak Walker (running back).
REPEAT STARTER?
Since Chris Creighton arrived in 2014, Eastern has started nine different quarterbacks in season openers. Projected as the starter in 2026, Noah Kim would become the first quarterback since Preston Hutchinson in 2020 and 2021 to open consecutive seasons as QB1 and only the third to do so under Creighton with Reginald Bell becoming the first in 2014 and 2015. His return gives EMU something it has seldom enjoyed recently: an experienced quarterback entering Year 2 in the same offense.
Game 1 Starting Quarterbacks Under Creighton
2026 - Noah Kim ~ projected
2025 - Noah Kim
2024 - Cole Snyder
2023 - Austin Smith
2022 - Taylor Powell
2021 - Preston Hutchinson
2020 - Preston Hutchinson
2019 - Mike Glass
2018 - Tyler Wiegers
2017 - Brogan Roback
2016 - Todd Porter
2015 - Reginald Bell
2014 - Reginald Bell
PROVEN PRODUCTION + ELITE EFFICIENCY
Noah Kim returns after leading the Mid-American Conference with 2,817 passing yards and 234.8 passing yards per game in 2025. He completed 61.4 percent of his passes, threw 18 touchdowns, and finished with a 129.6 passer efficiency rating. His 247 completions tied for fourth in EMU single-season history while his 2,817 passing yards ranked sixth. Kim also became only the sixth Eagle to account for more than 3,000 total yards in a season with 3,003.
NOTING THE 2026 SCHEDULE
• Eastern will play host to San Jose State (Sept. 4), marking the third meeting between the two sides and the first not in a bowl game (1987 California Bowl and 2022 Potato Bowl), both won by EMU. The game also will mark the first non-conference home game against a team from California in EMU's history and back-to-back weeks at home against a California school (Sacramento State in Week 0) after not having hosted a team from the Golden State in its previous 1,183 games played.
• The Eagles will play Big Ten foes in back-to-back weeks with road games at Michigan State (Sept. 12) and Wisconsin (Sept. 19). It will mark the 13th time Eastern has played two 'power conference' teams in the same season. Additionally, it will mark the eighth time playing two Big Ten teams in the same season, the fifth time playing Big Ten teams in back-to-back weeks, and the fifth time playing Big Ten teams in back-to-back road tilts.
• Eastern will play host to Toledo, Oct. 17, for the 98th Homecoming Game. The game is slated for a 3:30 p.m. kick on ESPN+ and will cap a week filled with festivities around campus.
On Wednesday, Nov. 4, midweek MACtion will become Motor City MACtion as the Eagles will play host to rival Central Michigan at Ford Field in Detroit. Tickets are on sale now through both teams' ticket offices and the Ford Field Ticket Office.
• The battle for the Michigan MAC will be decided following back-to-back rivalry games as the Eagles will host Central Michigan (Nov. 4) before traveling to play at Western Michigan (Nov. 17) with the Chippewas and Broncos meeting Oct. 17. The games will mark the 13th time since 1912 EMU will play the duo in back-to-back games, the 11th time it will play CMU first and WMU second, and the seventh time the back-to-back games will feature the Eagles playing host to the Chippewas before playing away to the Broncos.
ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS
Chris Creighton reached a significant milestone with his victory at Ball State, Nov. 15, becoming the 38th FBS head coach on record to earn 200 career wins. His career mark now stands at 200-128 across 29 seasons at Wabash, Ottawa, Drake, and Eastern Michigan, supported by a .609 winning percentage. The achievement places him among the active leaders in major college football, joining K.C. Keeler, Kirk Ferentz, and Willie Fritz. He also becomes the first coach to reach 200 career wins while serving at a MAC institution, adding his name to a select group of MAC-linked coaches who have hit the milestone, including Brian Kelly (Central Michigan), Nick Saban (Toledo), Woody Hayes (Miami), and Don Nehlen (Bowling Green).
CREIGHTON IN THE MAC
Chris Creighton has tallied 61 wins during his tenure with Eastern Michigan, with 36 of those victories coming in MAC games. Heading into the 2026 season, his 61 wins with the Eagles ranks 13th in MAC history while his league win total is tied for 19th on the list.
Overall Coaching Wins in MAC History
1. Frank Solich (Ohio/2005-20) • 115
2. Herb Deromedi (Central Michigan/1978-93) • 110
3. Bill Hess (Ohio/1958-77) • 108
4. Jason Candle (Toledo/2015-25) • 81
5. Bob Pruett (Marshall/1997-04) • 79
6. Doyt Perry (Bowling Green/1955-64) • 77
7. Gary Pinkel (Toledo/1991-00) • 73
8. Chuck Martin (Miami/2014-pres) • 72
9. Trevor J. Rees (Kent State/1951-63) • 66
10. Bill Mallory (MU/1969-73, NIU/1980-83) • 64
11. Al Molde (Western Michigan/1987-96) • 62
11. Joe Novak (NIU/1997-07) • 62
13. Chris Creighton (EMU/2014-pres) • 61
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern Michigan is back in action Friday, Sept. 4, as the Eagles will play host to the Spartans of San Jose State University in a 6:30 p.m. contest inside The Factory on Crosby Field at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti. The 'Friday Night Lights' game will be aired live on ESPN+ along with the radio call from Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app.
HOLD ON TO YOUR RED POP
EMU made a habit of keeping fans on edge in 2025, playing in six one-possession or overtime games, tied for fourth-most in the nation. Only Arizona State, Iowa State and San Jose State had more, with seven. Tight finishes are nothing new for the Eagles. Since 2016, Eastern has competed in 63 single-score regular-season games, the second-most in the country behind Northern Illinois with 65. The Eagles are 31-32 in those contests, showing a consistent knack for drama and resilience in crunch time.
ALL YOU NEED IS ONE
Eastern is 22-27 all-time in one-point contests. Of those 49 games, five have come against WMU (3-2) which ranks as the second-most behind only the six played against Central Michigan (2-4). The last time the Eagles and Broncos played to a one-point score was Nov. 16, 2021, with the Eagles pulling out a 22-21 home victory.
SUCCESS IN THE RED ZONE
Eastern Michigan finished 2025 among the nation's most efficient red-zone offenses, scoring on 35 of 37 trips inside the 20-yard line. The Eagles converted 94.6 percent of their opportunities, ranking third nationally and first in the MAC. EMU entered the season finale against Western Michigan having scored on all 34 previous red-zone trips. The Eagles went 3-of-5 against the Broncos after fumbling twice, bringing the season total to 35-of-37. The Eagles recorded 14 red-zone rushing touchdowns, 10 passing touchdowns and 11 field goals. EMU's 94.6 percent rate ranked behind only Oklahoma and Hawai'i nationally and ahead of Memphis, South Florida, UCLA and Washington. The mark also adds to EMU's history of red-zone efficiency. The Eagles went a perfect 100 percent in the red zone in 2020, one of only two FBS teams since 2008 to achieve the feat.
GOING STREAKING
Eastern Michigan has had a 100-yard performer in each of its last seven games, with Dontae McMillan extending the streak in the season finale against Western Michigan. McMillan rushed for 111 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries while adding 126 receiving yards and a touchdown on four catches.
The streak began with McMillan rushing for 117 yards at Buffalo (Oct. 4), followed by 104 yards against Northern Illinois (Oct. 11). Harold Mack Jr. and Nick Devereaux then recorded the first 100-yard games of their careers, with Mack totaling 179 receiving yards at Miami (Oct. 18) and Devereaux adding 121 receiving yards against Ohio (Oct. 25). McMillan continued the run with exactly 100 rushing yards against Bowling Green (Nov. 8), followed by Jamarien Wheeler's 131 receiving yards and one touchdown on six catches at Ball State (Nov. 15).
The seven-game streak is tied for the second-longest single-season run in program history, matching the 1971 and 2004 teams. Only the 2003 squad, with eight consecutive games, has posted a longer streak. The current run also stands as the longest under Chris Creighton, surpassing four-game streaks posted in 2016, 2019 and 2021.
CENTURY PRODUCTION AGAINST THE MAC
Eastern has tallied 246 of the program's 377 100-yard games against the current members of the MAC, which equates to 65.3 percent of all such instances. The 131 receiving yards from Jamarien Wheeler marked the 36th time the Eagles have had a 100-yard player against Ball State, the most of any school the Eagles have played. The Eagles have posted 29 games against Western Michigan, which ranks third-most in program history, with Dontae McMillan tallying the most recent instance with 111 rushing yards and 126 receiving yards in Ypsilanti last year (Nov. 25, 2025).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Noah Kim distributed the ball across a deep, versatile receiving corps in 2025, completing 247 passes to 15 players and preventing defenses from keying on a single target. Joshua Long (37) and Nick Devereaux (34) lead the team in receptions, but significant contributions came from Harold Mack Jr., Terry Lockett Jr., Dontae McMillan, and Jamarien Wheeler, particularly in first-down and chain-moving situations. Devereaux generated 21 first downs and seven touchdowns, including 14 receptions on third-down plays producing nine first downs and two scores, while Long added 18 first downs and three touchdowns, Mack and McMillan contributed 13 and 12 first downs, respectively.
DEVEREAUX DEVELOPING
Entering the 2025 season, Nick Devereaux had recorded one reception for seven yards in his FBS career with the Eagles with the lone grab coming in the season finale at Western Michigan in 2024. Fast forward to 2026 and Devereaux has had the ultimate Dev-elopment as he led the team with 510 yards and seven scores while ranking second in receptions with 34. In fact, his seven scoring grabs lead the team with Noah Kim's six rushing scores second-best. Overall, Devereaux tallied 42 points for the Eagles with only kicker Rudy Kessinger ahead of him with 79 points last year.
HISTORIC DEBUT FOR MACK
Wide receiver Harold Mack Jr. entered the Miami game (Oct. 25) without a single career reception but ended the day 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, at the time, stood as the highest by any FBS freshman wide receiver this season as it surpassed Michigan's Andrew Marsh (136 yards vs. USC). Since then, two rookies have overtaken Mack Jr. for the nationally lead amongst freshman with both games taking place last week as Marcel Williams had 206 yards for Akron against rival Kent State while Andrew Marsh posted 189 yards for Michigan at Northwestern.
DUAL THREAT THROUGH THE AIR
EMU featured a rare two-receiver performance at Miami (Oct. 25) 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 / Nick Devereaux
Nov. 11, 2011 vs. Buffalo • Demarius Reed / Garrett Hoskins
Oct. 13, 2007 at Ohio • Jacory Stone / Tyler Jones
Nov. 8, 1997 at NIU • Brandon Campbell / Ta-if Kumasi
Oct. 21, 1995 at Ball State • Ryan Wheatley / Steve Clay
~ Each receiver listed caught two touchdowns in the game
STABILITY UNDER CENTER
Noah Kim became just the sixth EMU QB to start every contest dating back to 2004. Kim, who had 12 in 2025, joins Cole Snyder (2024), Preston Hutchinson (2020), Brogan Roback (2017), Alex Gillett (2010-11), and Matt Bohnet (2004) as the other EMU signal callers to do so. Kim tallied 3,026 total yards (passing + rushing) becoming the sixth different EMU player to record 3,000 total yards in a single season.
SLINGING IT
Noah Kim tallied 18 passing touchdowns in 2025, which was tied for fourth in the MAC and continues more than double his career total of 13 (nine at Michigan State (2022-23) and four with Coastal Carolina). Kim finished last year tied for seventh on the program's single-season ledger with Brogan Roback holding the next two positions on the list with 19 in 2017 and 18 in 2016.
KIM JOINS ELITE PASSING COMPANY
Noah Kim threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns against Miami (Oct. 18), 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.
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)
ONE IF BY LAND...
While Noah Kim has shown off his arm strength, he also featured his legs. 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 has added rushing touchdowns in the games with Ohio (Oct. 25) and Ball State (Nov. 15) to bring his season total to six, which leads the team in rushing scores and ties for the team's overall lead with Nick Devereaux' six receiving touchdowns scored.
EFFICIENCY UNDER PRESSURE
While Noah Kim's raw totals (2,817 yards, 18 TDs, 61.4% completion) lead the MAC, his statistical profile reveals a more complex picture of quarterback efficiency. EMU's protection unit ranked seventh nationally in sacks allowed (0.92 per game) and eighth in tackles for loss allowed (3.75 per game), giving Kim one of the cleanest pockets in the FBS. His situational passing on third downs (completing 66% in third-down conversion scenarios) has driven EMU's ability to extend drives, making him a model of low-risk, high-efficiency quarterback play within a balanced offensive system.
HELPING HOGS
EMU's offensive line shaped the program's profile in 2025. The group ranked first in the MAC and seventh nationally in sacks allowed at 0.92 per game, which reflected steady protection for the quarterback. The line also finished second in the MAC and eighth nationally in tackles for loss allowed at 3.75 per game, placing the unit among the most effective in the country at limiting negative plays. The discipline extends to penalties: EMU averaged 5.67 penalties per game and 48.83 penalty yards, ranking 50th and 48th nationally, respectively.
UPPER HALF
Since 2016, Eastern has posted 58 wins, which ranks as the sixth-most victories of any team in the MAC.
80 • Toledo
78 • Ohio
70 • Western Michigan
67 • Miami
60 • Buffalo
58 • Eastern Michigan
56 • Northern Illinois
55 • Central Michigan
44 • Ball State
40 • Bowling Green
35 • Kent State
32 • Akron
18 • UMass
* updated through 2025
SINGLE SCORES
Since the start of the 2016 season, Eastern is second nationally with 63 one-score games played, sitting behind Northern Illinois (66).
1. Northern Illinois - 66 (31-35)
2. Eastern Michigan - 63 (31-32)
t-3. Iowa State - 62 (28-34)
t-3. Texas - 62 (29-33)
5. Nebraska - 60 (19-41)
6. Kansas State - 58 (27-31)
7. North Carolina - 56 (23-33)
t-8. California - 54 (23-31)
t-8. Iowa - 54 (28-26)
t-8. Oklahoma State - 54 (31-23)
t-8. TCU - 54 (28-26)
t-8. Tulsa - 54 (24-30)
BOWL APPEARANCES
Since 2016, 11-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.
8 • Ohio, Toledo
7 • Miami
6 • Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan
5 • Buffalo, 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 12 seasons (2014-25), 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.
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.
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.
DRIVEN
Eastern Michigan's offense delivered one of the most efficient performances in program history at Buffalo, Oct. 4, 2025. The Eagles marched the field for touchdown drives of 99, 96, and 94 yards, each starting inside their own 10-yard line. It marked the first time in the modern statistical era (since 2000) that EMU recorded three 90-plus-yard touchdown drives in a single game. The 99-yard drive matched the longest in school history, equaling one at Akron in 2024. The 17-play, 94-yard drive was the longest in plays by any EMU team since 2021 and ranks among only 10 17+-play scoring drives since 2001.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS UNDER CREIGHTON
Since the start of the 1976 season, Eastern Michigan has won 56 games in non-conference play with 44.6percent of those victories (25 wins) coming in the past 12 seasons under Chris Creighton, an average of two non-conference wins per season. In that same span, 14 of those wins have come on the road with a Creighton-led squad capturing nine wins (64.3 percent), including wins at Big Ten opponents Rutgers (16-13, Sept. 9, 2017), Purdue (20-19, Sept. 8, 2018), and Illinois (34-31, Sept. 14, 2019), while adding a 30-21 win at Arizona State (Sept. 17, 2022), a then-member of the Pac-12 (currently Big 12).
NONE FOR ME, THANK YOU
For just the second time since 1995, Eastern Michigan did not commit a penalty in a game as the Eagles posted a clean sheet against LIU, Sept. 6. The only other occurrence in the modern statistical era came against Army, Sept. 4, 2010. All told, it marked just the 29th time in the last 20 seasons that a Mid-American Conference team was not flagged for a penalty.
MAC Games with 0 Penalties Committed Since 1995
5 - Central Michigan, Kent State
4 - Ball State, Northern Illinois
3 - Ohio
2 - Akron, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan
1 - Miami, Western Michigan
GRIDIRON GRADUATES
The 2026 roster features 16 players that have earned their undergraduate degrees, including 11 that have graduated from Eastern Michigan and five from other NCAA Division I institutions. The list of EMU graduates includes Jefferson Adam, Kadin Bailey, Nick Devereaux, Carter Evans, Nicholas Gallegos, Noah Kim, Bryce Llewellyn, Zach Mowchan, Dennis Strey, Warren-Stevens Tayou, and Davion Williams, with Braydon Bennett, Caleb Coley, Nathan Henry, Brogan McCaughey, and Tyler McMillan having earned their degrees before joining EMU.
IMPACTS TO THE MAXX
In April 2025, Maxx Crosby continued his impact on the Eastern program as he was named EMU Football Assistant General Manager as well as Special Assistant to the Athletic Director on fundraising, alumni relations, and student-athlete support. As an assistant GM, Crosby will assist with evaluating high school and transfer portal prospects and help manage the team's NIL/revenue share budget. He also spearheaded the Maxx Match in May 2025, in which he matched the $100,000 in donations the department received that month.
"There is no place more important to my personal and athletic development than Eastern Michigan University," Crosby said. "It truly is an honor for me to not only be named the Assistant GM of the EMU program, but together, with my wife Rachel, make another donation aimed at creating opportunities for other athletes to be impacted by the EMU program, community, students, and alumni."
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CHRIS CREIGHTON?
In his head coaching career, Chris Creighton has racked up the frequent flier miles, coaching games in seven different countries. Creighton added the Bahamas to that list in 2016 when he led the Eagles to the Bahamas Bowl after it already consisted of the United States, Sweden, Austria, Panama, Tanzania, and Germany.
CREIGHTON CLIMBING
Head Coach Chris Creighton is in his 13th year at the helm of the Eastern program and has accumulated 61 wins with the Eagles, the second-most in program history behind the 114 secured under Elton J. Rynearson, for whom the Eagles' home venue is named, sported 197 career wins. The third-longest tenured coach in program history behind Rynearson (26 years) and Fred Trosko (13) and one of just four men to lead the program for 10+ seasons, Creighton currently ranks fourth among active FBS coaches in career victories, trailing only K.C. Keeler at Sam Houston (276), Kirk Ferentz at Iowa (222), and Willie Fritz at Houston (219).
FLYING THE FLAG
When a MAC team defeats a member of a "Power Four" conference, they celebrate by hoisting a black flag with the MAC logo placed above crossbones, something the Eagles have done four times since 2017 with victories over Rutgers, Purdue, Illinois, and Arizona State. Dating back to the start of the 2006 season, at least one member of the MAC has flown the flag with the conference accumulating 48 wins in that stretch of 19 consecutive seasons, including 32 against the Big Ten. All told, the MAC has posted wins against foes from the Big Ten (32), SEC (2), Big 12 (6), the former Pac-12 (2), the ACC (4), and one over Notre Dame. Overall, in the Eagles' four wins tie for the sixth-highest total in the MAC with Ball State and Western Michigan while Northern Illinois leads the way with nine, both Bowling Green and Central Michigan have six, and Ohio and Toledo have five. In 2025, the streak continued as Ohio handed visiting West Virginia (Big 12) a 17-10 decision in Athens, Sept. 6.
THANK YOU
EMU Athletics honored former EMU Regents Phil Incarnati and Mike Morris by naming two facilities after them in ceremonies held Sept. 14, 2024, as part of the game with Jacksonville State. The Student-Athlete Performance Center was renamed after Incarnati, recognizing his $4 million contribution to the Championship Building Plan. Incarnati, an EMU alumnus and former football player, served on the Board of Regents for 18 years, including a decade as Chair. He is currently the President and CEO of McLaren Health Care.
Mike Morris and his wife, Linda, had their names emblazoned on the Rynearson Stadium Press Box, following their donations to the Athletic Department. Morris, a two-time EMU graduate and former CEO of American Electric Power, also served two terms on the Board of Regents.
EMU Athletics achieved a record-breaking fundraising year in fiscal 2024, raising over $14.5 million, surpassing the previous record of $9.8 million set in 2020. These funds were directed towards the Eastern Athletic Fund, sport-specific initiatives, capital projects, and legacy giving, all of which support over 500 student-athletes. This achievement reflects a growing trend in successful fundraising efforts for EMU Athletics.
NEED TO KNOW: EMU TRADITIONS
Head Coach Chris Creighton has established a plethora of traditions at EMU since his tenure began prior to the start of the 2014 season:
THE WALL
Symbolizing the desire to "break through," even before the game begins, Eastern Michigan's signature entrance features the breaking of, and running through a cinder block wall, featuring "The Factory," written across.
THE HAMMERS
Used the break down "The Wall," three players each week are selected to use a sledgehammer to help lead EMU out of the tunnel. The hammers are given each week to the player on offense, defense, and special teams that recorded the hardest, legal hit in the week prior.
THE FACTORY
Paying homage to the hard-working, industrial history of Southeast Michigan, EMU has dubbed Rynearson Stadium as "The Factory," since 2014. Features in the stadium include diamond plated signage, accents, text featuring the words "Champions Built Here," and more.
THE WRENCH
One of the symbols of the program, EMU's eye-catching 51-pound pipe wrench can be seen on the shoulders on a player at all times during EMU's games - never touching the ground. The wrench symbolizes three distinct pillars that are emphasized within the program: 1) The blue-collar nature of EMU and the Southeast Michigan community, 2) The ability to "close the gap," between where you are, and where you want to be - symbolized by the ability to open and close the vices of the wrench, 3) The conscious choice to embrace, and even choose, adversity. Those who tackle adversity head on are better for it. The wrench symbolizes the embrace of adversity.
In addition to its presence on the sideline, the wrench is also front and center when the team enters the field for the final time before kickoff. Each week, the team selects someone who has overcome significant adversity of their own, to carry the wrench and lead the team onto the field. From cancer survivors, to those who lost a loved one, the wrench has been carried by players, family members, and community members of all sorts since 2014.
GRAY TURF
EMU is one of just three FBS teams to play on a non-green surface. Boise State (blue), and Coastal Carolina (teal) are the other two teams. EMU's gray field turf was installed after Creighton led his team through an offseason, 6 a.m. workout in nearly six inches of snow outdoors. There, he uttered that his new-look Eagles would "play anyone, anytime, anywhere - even on a parking lot covered in broken glass." Thus, the new turf was installed to represent a parking lot and the team's commitment to that statement.
THE EAGLE
EMU's pregame festivities feature a cross-field flight by a bald eagle during the playing of the national anthem. Eastern Michigan is the only school in the country that features a flight from an American Bald Eagle.
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