Eastern Michigan vs. Central Michigan Football Live: Kickoff Time, TV Channel, Stream & Betting Odds for Saturday’s MAC Rivalry

A century-old Michigan MAC rivalry renews Saturday when the Eastern Michigan Eagles travel north to face the Central Michigan Chippewas at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant. Kickoff for the “Battle for the Michigan MAC Trophy” is set for 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 27, and the clash will stream live on ESPN+. Why the Eastern Michigan vs Central Michigan game matters • Conference opener stakes: Both programs begin Mid-American Conference play looking for an early leg up in the tight West Division race. Central Michigan (2-2) rides the momentum of back-to-back non-league wins, while Eastern Michigan (1-3) seeks a reset after a rugged September slate. • Historic bragging rights: Saturday marks the 103rd meeting in a series that dates to 1902, the longest-running rivalry between any two MAC schools. CMU leads 64-32-6 and owns a 38-11-2 advantage in Mount Pleasant. • Trophy on the line: The winner keeps the Michigan MAC Trophy, a three-way prize contested annually among CMU, EMU and Western Michigan. Key storylines to watch 1. Quarterback duel: Chippewas sophomore Jace Bauer has completed 63 % of his throws with six total touchdowns since seizing the starting job in Week 2. Eastern counters with senior Austin Smith, whose dual-threat ability produced 1,900 total yards last year but has been bottled up early in 2025. Whichever signal-caller avoids turnovers should dictate tempo. 2. Battle in the trenches: CMU’s offensive line, anchored by preseason All-MAC tackle Luke Goedeke, gives up just 1.2 sacks per game. They’ll face an EMU front that ranks second in the league with 11 sacks, led by edge rusher Mikah Coleman. 3. Special-teams X-factor: Eastern Michigan kicker Jesús Gómez drilled a 55-yard game-winner at UMass in Week 1, while Central’s game-breaking return man Marion Lukes already houses a 97-yard kickoff this season. How to watch Eastern Michigan vs Central Michigan • TV/stream: ESPN+ subscription required. • Radio: WEMU 89.1 FM (EMU call) and WCFX 95.3 FM (CMU call). • Live stats: CMUChippewas.com game tracker. Betting line and prediction Oddsmakers installed Central Michigan as a 6.5-point home favorite with an over/under of 52.5 as of Thursday afternoon. The Chippewas’ balanced offense and home-field edge make them the pick, but expect a one-possession game given rivalry volatility. Fast facts to boost your game-day IQ • Eastern’s last win in Mount Pleasant came in 2021, a 26-23 thriller decided by a late blocked field goal. • The Eagles nickname Rynearson Stadium “The Factory,” so EMU fans dub the road trip to CMU “Shipping Out the Goods.” • The Chippewas average 182 rushing yards per game, third in the MAC, fueled by sophomore back Myles Bailey’s 5.9 yards per carry. Bottom line Eastern Michigan vs Central Michigan consistently delivers drama, and Saturday should be no different. With conference positioning, a trophy, and statewide bragging rights at stake, expect Kelly/Shorts Stadium to be packed and loud. Whichever team controls the line of scrimmage and capitalizes on special-teams swings will likely walk away 1-0 in MAC play—and one step closer to Detroit in December.