Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU and CMU to Bring MACtion to the Motor City
9/15/2026 2:00:00 PM | Football
Football game and battle for the fans to play out at Ford Field Nov. 4
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DETROIT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Mid-American Conference's longest-running rivalry will bring its battle for the fans to the Motor City this fall. The game will be the 104th match-up between the Central Michigan University Chippewas and the Eastern Michigan University Eagles — a rivalry that dates back to 1902.
Called "Motor City MACtion," the game scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, will bring the teams to compete on Ford Field in Detroit. It's not just a battle for the on-field win and bragging rights; it's truly a battle for the fans.
In addition to the on-field football match-up and MACtion trophy, the universities will step up the rivalry with a new competition to measure fan fervor. Fans can help their team win by engaging with special content on social media, attending the game, donating tickets and food to Detroit-area nonprofit organizations, and wearing their team colors and cheering in the stands.
"This will be a great on-field competition, but we're also competing off the field this year, and our fans have an important role to play," said EMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee. "Eastern Michigan fans have always brought tremendous passion and pride to this rivalry, and this gives them another opportunity to represent EMU. With nearly 100,000 Eastern Michigan alumni living across metro Detroit, we have an incredible Eastern community in our backyard, and we're counting on them to show their pride. Whether you're engaging with our social media, bringing friends and family to Ford Field, donating tickets or food, or filling out the stands, every contribution matters. We want to see EMU fans come together, show Central Michigan what Eastern Michigan pride looks like, and help us bring the Fan Trophy home to Ypsilanti."
"CMU and EMU have thousands of passionate fans nationwide, and we're thrilled to give our fans a platform to showcase their school pride in Detroit through this competition," said Amy Folan, CMU's Zyzelewski Family vice president and athletics director. "I have said many times we have the best fans in the MAC, and this gives them the opportunity to show that in a variety of ways. The winner of the battle of the fans will earn their institution a slightly larger percentage of revenue from ticket sales and, of course, bragging rights for the year, but will also be leaving a positive impact in both university communities from Mount Pleasant to Detroit and beyond."
Beginning in October, CMU President Neil MacKinnon and EMU President Brendan Kelly will invite fans to show their support for their favorite team by liking, sharing and commenting on the team's social media channels.
Fans will also be able to show their support by purchasing tickets to attend the game, or by purchasing and donating tickets to be distributed to Detroit-area youth, first responders, and nonprofit organizations.
Points will also be awarded for the school that donates the most food through the Mid-American Conference's annual Canned Food Drive. Collection bins will be placed across the Central Michigan (Mount Pleasant and Detroit locations) and Eastern Michigan campuses for donations. Later in the fall, chefs from each university will go toe-to-toe in a MACtion cook-off, with the winning dishes scoring points for their university.
And finally, on game day, fans can score points for their team by wearing team colors and cheering loudly and proudly during the game.
The game will be the teams' 104th meeting, and their second rivalry game at Detroit's Ford Field – the teams' last match-up at the venue was in 2004.
"CMU has over 240,000 living alumni and the biggest concentration of fans live throughout Southeast Michigan, and we're excited to have this chance to directly engage in our largest market and play at Ford Field," Folan said. "We're grateful to our partners at Eastern Michigan, the Mid-American Conference, to Ford Field and to the Detroit Lions for making this game possible."
Alumni and fans nationwide will be able to tune in to the national broadcast to cheer on their teams. The Motor City MACtion game will be televised live on ESPN2, ESPNU, or CBS Sports Network. The TV designation will be announced 12 days prior to the game.
"This is great for our fans, and it's an incredible opportunity for our student-athletes to experience playing in a NFL stadium," Wetherbee said. "Ford Field gives our football program the opportunity to compete in one of Detroit's premier sports venues. We're proud to bring this rivalry to Detroit and give our entire Eastern Michigan community the opportunity to come together, support our student-athletes and represent EMU on a major stage."
The Wednesday, Nov. 4, game will be EMU's "home" game against CMU in 2026; CMU will then host EMU for its "home" game at Ford Field in 2027. Both universities hope to keep the Ford Field location for their match-ups in the future.
DETROIT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Mid-American Conference's longest-running rivalry will bring its battle for the fans to the Motor City this fall. The game will be the 104th match-up between the Central Michigan University Chippewas and the Eastern Michigan University Eagles — a rivalry that dates back to 1902.
Called "Motor City MACtion," the game scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, will bring the teams to compete on Ford Field in Detroit. It's not just a battle for the on-field win and bragging rights; it's truly a battle for the fans.
In addition to the on-field football match-up and MACtion trophy, the universities will step up the rivalry with a new competition to measure fan fervor. Fans can help their team win by engaging with special content on social media, attending the game, donating tickets and food to Detroit-area nonprofit organizations, and wearing their team colors and cheering in the stands.
"This will be a great on-field competition, but we're also competing off the field this year, and our fans have an important role to play," said EMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee. "Eastern Michigan fans have always brought tremendous passion and pride to this rivalry, and this gives them another opportunity to represent EMU. With nearly 100,000 Eastern Michigan alumni living across metro Detroit, we have an incredible Eastern community in our backyard, and we're counting on them to show their pride. Whether you're engaging with our social media, bringing friends and family to Ford Field, donating tickets or food, or filling out the stands, every contribution matters. We want to see EMU fans come together, show Central Michigan what Eastern Michigan pride looks like, and help us bring the Fan Trophy home to Ypsilanti."
"CMU and EMU have thousands of passionate fans nationwide, and we're thrilled to give our fans a platform to showcase their school pride in Detroit through this competition," said Amy Folan, CMU's Zyzelewski Family vice president and athletics director. "I have said many times we have the best fans in the MAC, and this gives them the opportunity to show that in a variety of ways. The winner of the battle of the fans will earn their institution a slightly larger percentage of revenue from ticket sales and, of course, bragging rights for the year, but will also be leaving a positive impact in both university communities from Mount Pleasant to Detroit and beyond."
Beginning in October, CMU President Neil MacKinnon and EMU President Brendan Kelly will invite fans to show their support for their favorite team by liking, sharing and commenting on the team's social media channels.
Fans will also be able to show their support by purchasing tickets to attend the game, or by purchasing and donating tickets to be distributed to Detroit-area youth, first responders, and nonprofit organizations.
Points will also be awarded for the school that donates the most food through the Mid-American Conference's annual Canned Food Drive. Collection bins will be placed across the Central Michigan (Mount Pleasant and Detroit locations) and Eastern Michigan campuses for donations. Later in the fall, chefs from each university will go toe-to-toe in a MACtion cook-off, with the winning dishes scoring points for their university.
And finally, on game day, fans can score points for their team by wearing team colors and cheering loudly and proudly during the game.
The game will be the teams' 104th meeting, and their second rivalry game at Detroit's Ford Field – the teams' last match-up at the venue was in 2004.
"CMU has over 240,000 living alumni and the biggest concentration of fans live throughout Southeast Michigan, and we're excited to have this chance to directly engage in our largest market and play at Ford Field," Folan said. "We're grateful to our partners at Eastern Michigan, the Mid-American Conference, to Ford Field and to the Detroit Lions for making this game possible."
Alumni and fans nationwide will be able to tune in to the national broadcast to cheer on their teams. The Motor City MACtion game will be televised live on ESPN2, ESPNU, or CBS Sports Network. The TV designation will be announced 12 days prior to the game.
"This is great for our fans, and it's an incredible opportunity for our student-athletes to experience playing in a NFL stadium," Wetherbee said. "Ford Field gives our football program the opportunity to compete in one of Detroit's premier sports venues. We're proud to bring this rivalry to Detroit and give our entire Eastern Michigan community the opportunity to come together, support our student-athletes and represent EMU on a major stage."
The Wednesday, Nov. 4, game will be EMU's "home" game against CMU in 2026; CMU will then host EMU for its "home" game at Ford Field in 2027. Both universities hope to keep the Ford Field location for their match-ups in the future.
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