Saturday marks the fifth time that we’ll match up against Central Michigan University, and while the stat sheet won’t show it, there’s more weight behind this one than any of the previous four. Rivalries don’t always form from geographic proximity or long-standing traditions; sometimes, they’re born out of repetition and intensity. And in our case, that repetition has brewed a subtle but undeniable edge whenever these two teams share the field. No, we haven’t played them every year. No, there’s no official rivalry trophy being hoisted postgame. But when the ball is kicked off and the whistles start, it’s impossible not to feel the heat rising a little higher. Something always seems to be on the line.
For those of us who’ve been through this matchup before, we know exactly what to expect—and what not to. Central Michigan’s identity has remained stubbornly consistent: tough, gritty, physical football. They won’t dazzle you with flashy plays or trickery, but they’ll grind you down, take what’s given, and make you pay for every mistake. And they’re coached that way, molded into a group that relishes the kind of game where every yard has to be earned and nothing comes easy. Playing CMU means bruises, both physical and mental. You walk off the field knowing you’ve been in a battle.
Our previous meetings have all had that same tone—closely contested, filled with emotional swings, and usually coming down to a handful of possessions. Each one has left a mark. It’s those kinds of games that you remember, not because of any one play or moment, but because of how much effort it took just to stay standing at the final whistle. And that’s what makes this fifth meeting feel like it carries more gravity than ever before. There’s unfinished business on both sides. Four games in, both programs have traded moments, victories, and heartbreaks. But the fifth feels like a separator, a chance to tilt the balance, even if no one outside these locker rooms is keeping score the way we are.
For us, this isn’t just about getting another win in the column. It’s about establishing a presence. It’s about showing who we are when tested by a team that refuses to give an inch. CMU forces you to be disciplined. They’ll expose lazy reads, punish over-pursuit, and capitalize on blown assignments. You don’t beat Central Michigan with talent alone. You beat them by being sound. By executing the fundamentals. By refusing to flinch. And if there’s anything we’ve tried to shape this team into, it’s one that doesn’t flinch.
What makes this year even more compelling is how much we’ve grown since the last meeting. The roster’s evolved. The leadership has stepped up. The film room has been fuller. The mistakes have become teaching points, and the wins—however ugly or beautiful—have served as validation. We’re not the same group that lined up against them last time. That matters. Because when you face a team that knows you well, who’s seen your tendencies and tried to exploit them, evolution becomes your greatest weapon. The goal isn’t just to be better than them—it’s to be better than we were.
And yet, we know they’ve been doing the same. This isn’t a one-sided preparation. CMU will come in prepared, confident, and looking to put a stamp on this series just as much as we are. They’ll remember the last four games just like we do. They’ll remember what worked and what didn’t. That mutual memory is what makes the matchup more layered than your average Saturday kickoff. When you’ve seen a team enough times, the game becomes more mental. You start playing chess instead of checkers. You recognize formations and personnel packages. You know who their go-to guys are on third down. You know how their quarterback reacts under pressure. And they know all those things about you, too.
So preparation this week isn’t just about reps on the field. It’s about film study. About getting into the heads of their coordinators. About anticipating their adjustments before they make them. It’s about asking yourself the hard questions: Do you really know your assignment? Can you recognize that look from last year’s game and react faster this time? Because one hesitation, one missed read, could be the difference between a win and another film session full of regrets.
There’s also a sense of pride involved. You don’t go into the fifth game of a series like this without feeling the weight of history, even if it’s a short one. The players talk about it. The coaches don’t have to say much—everyone knows what’s at stake. And for the guys who were there in the early meetings, who’ve experienced the emotional highs and lows against CMU, this week carries a little more meaning. It’s a chance to close a chapter with a sense of control. It’s a chance to say, “This is who we are now.”
Of course, there’s no guarantee how it’ll go. That’s the beautiful chaos of football. You can plan all you want, rep every scenario, preach discipline and composure, and then the game starts and chaos walks onto the field with you. The key is how you respond to it. When CMU inevitably makes a big play or swings momentum their way, how do we respond? Do we get tight? Or do we dig deeper? Games like this are decided not by the first quarter but by what you do when things aren’t going your way. That’s what we’re preparing for. That’s the true test.
There’s also an emotional side to all of this that can’t be ignored. Any time you’ve gone to battle against the same opponent multiple times, it starts to feel personal. You start remembering not just the plays but the faces. You remember who tackled you the hardest, who talked the most, who got up slow. And in those memories, a kind of respect forms. You may not like them, but you respect them. Because you know what it took for both sides to get through those games. And that respect fuels the fire. It makes you want to beat them even more. Because you know how much they want it, too.
That emotional energy has to be channeled, though. It can’t be reckless. The team that lets the game get too personal usually makes the first mistake. You can play angry, but you can’t play dumb. You can be aggressive, but you can’t be careless. That line is thin, and staying on the right side of it is the mark of a mature team. That’s what we’re aiming to be this week—a team that plays with emotion but not out of emotion.
When we run out of the tunnel Saturday, it won’t just be for another game. It’ll be for every snap that’s come before against this opponent. For every time we’ve stood across from them and thought, “This time, it’s ours.” For every player who’s suited up in those previous four meetings and left everything on the field. For every coach who’s drawn up the game plan and stayed up late watching hours of tape. For the fans who’ve circled this game on the calendar since the schedule dropped. For everyone who understands that the fifth time isn’t just another chance—it’s the chance.
By the time the final whistle blows, one team will walk off feeling like they took a step forward. The other will be forced to regroup and reflect. Our goal is simple: leave no doubt. Execute cleanly. Hit hard. Communicate clearly. Stay together. And finish. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned through the last four meetings, it’s that these games are decided in the margins. It’s not about one heroic moment. It’s about a hundred little ones, stacked together with intention and belief.
We’ve put in the work. We’ve reviewed the tape. We’ve repped the drills. And we’ve grown—not just as players, but as a team. Saturday is about putting all of that on display. Not just to get revenge or to settle a score, but to prove something to ourselves. That we’re ready for the next chapter. That we can respond to a familiar challenge with a renewed identity. That we’re not just participating in this matchup anymore—we’re defining it.
The fifth time is never just the fifth time. It’s a culmination. It’s a statement. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much further we intend to go. And when that ball is snapped, everything else fades. It won’t matter who won the first, second, third, or fourth. It’ll be about who wants this one more. And we already know the answer to that.
