Mitten Masterkey: Week 5
It's a light slate this weekend, but one game is massive for in-state bragging rights and getting closer to hoisting a unique trophy.
It’s a light weekend in the Mitten, with two games, albeit one with massive rivalry implications.
This weekend is the first of three matchups that will help decide the Michigan MAC Trophy in 2025, one of two three-way rivalry trophies in college football. It starts with Central Michigan hosting Eastern Michigan this Saturday.
Mitten Football will be at…
Kelly/Shorts Stadium for the Central Michigan-Eastern Michigan game. In-state rivalry supercedes all! (As do bye weeks.)
The schedule and TV assignments
Both games are Saturday this week
- 1:00 p.m. — Central Michigan vs. Eastern Michigan, ESPN+ streaming
- 6:30 p.m. — Western Michigan vs. Rhode Island, ESPN+ streaming
And for the uninitiated, this master schedule absolutely rocks (just be aware times are central).
Pregame, halftime reading from Mitten Football, others
Not a ton to speak of this week, with the byes but here’s some linkage, nonetheless.
- Broc Lowry named Western Michigan’s starting quarterback (Mitten Football, Sept. 22)
- 'FIDO' philosophy helps Michigan's Dominic Zvada put his best foot forward (Detroit News, Sept. 24)
- First game of 2025 Michigan MAC Trophy series pits new-look CMU against established EMU program (Mitten Football, Sept. 24)
- How Raheem Anderson stayed ready and how it paid off as he’s become WMU’s starting center (Mitten Football, Sept. 25)
Picks and preview
Check them out here with longer previews, but for a brief version (scores not included):
- Central Michigan over Eastern Michigan
- Western Michigan over Rhode Island
A freshman to watch: John Peters, Western Michigan CB
Peters has been on the field in all four games to start the season for the Broncos and had his best game of his young career against Toledo, finishing with a pass breakup and his first career interception, one of two the Western Michigan defense came up with on the day.
Peters is likely to keep it up on the outside for Western Michigan, and with every rep the true freshman should keep getting better as a corner for the Broncos. The future is bright for Peters in Kalamazoo.
A unit to watch: Central Michigan’s passing offense
The Chippewas aerial attack opened up for the first time all season in a blowout win over Wagner. Head coach Matt Drinkall came away impressed with how quarterback Joe Labas played, and remarked that his favorite aspect about it was it felt like a performance that would translate against better competition.
And while the Eastern Michigan defense has struggled to date this season, it’s certainly a distinct step up in talent and depth from Wagner, and provides the next test for Labas and the Central Michigan passing game to keep this level. Drinkall also heaped some praise on offensive coordinator Jim Chapin for how he called the game.
A fun prediction: A WMU receiver catches a touchdown
The Broncos have scored five touchdowns this season: Four Broc Lowry rushing scores and one pass from him to running back Jalen Buckley.
On Saturday, the receivers (or tight end Blake Bosma) will finally find the end zone for the Broncos. Tailique Williams is the obvious candidate, but freshman Aveion Chenault is coming on, and transfer Baylin Brooks has been productive when targeted. Whoever it is, the Broncos finally connect on a passing touchdown to a non-running back.
