American college football season
The 2018 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season . They were led by fourth-year head coach John Bonamego and played their home games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference . They finished the season 1–11, 0–8 in MAC play to finish in last place in the West Division.
On November 23, following a loss to Toledo, head coach John Bonamego was fired.[ 1] He finished at Central Michigan with a four-year record of 22–29. On December 2, the school hired Michigan wide receivers coach Jim McElwain , who previously served as head coach at Colorado State and Florida .[ 2]
Listed in the order that they were released
The MAC released their preseason media poll on July 24, 2018, with the Chippewas predicted to finish in fifth place in the West Division.[ 4]
West Division
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Northern Illinois
133 (15)
2
Toledo
125 (7)
3
Western Michigan
87 (1)
4
Eastern Michigan
67
5
Central Michigan
58 (1)
6
Ball State
34
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 1 3:30 p.m. at Kentucky * ESPNU L 20–3549,138
September 8 3:00 p.m. Kansas * ESPN+ L 7–3118,127
September 15 3:30 p.m. at Northern Illinois ESPN+ L 16–2412,354
September 22 3:00 p.m. No. 13 (FCS) Maine * Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI ESPN+ W 17–516,474
September 29 12:00 p.m. at No. 21 Michigan State * FS1 L 20–3173,752
October 6 12:00 p.m. Buffalo Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI CBSSN L 24–3414,044
October 13 3:00 p.m. Ball State Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI ESPN3 L 23–2410,255
October 20 3:30 p.m. Western Michigan ESPN+ L 10–3510,097
October 27 12:00 p.m. at Akron ESPN3 L 10–1717,582
November 3 12:00 p.m. at Eastern Michigan ESPN3 L 7–1713,468
November 10 3:00 p.m. Bowling Green Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI ESPN+ L 13–248,041
12:00 p.m. at Toledo ESPN3 L 13–5115,521
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
[ 5]
1
2
3
4
Total
Chippewas
3
17
0
0
20
Wildcats
7
14
7
7
35
1
2
3
4
Total
Jayhawks
0
7
14
10
31
Chippewas
0
0
7
0
7
At Northern Illinois [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Chippewas
0
3
7
6
16
Huskies
0
14
7
3
24
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 13 (FCS) Black Bears
0
0
3
2
5
Chippewas
0
10
0
7
17
1
2
3
4
Total
Chippewas
3
0
0
17
20
No. 21 Spartans
0
17
14
0
31
1
2
3
4
Total
Bulls
7
10
7
10
34
Chippewas
3
0
14
7
24
1
2
3
4
Total
Cardinals
0
7
0
17
24
Chippewas
3
17
0
3
23
1
2
3
4
Total
Broncos
7
14
0
14
35
Chippewas
0
0
10
0
10
1
2
3
4
Total
Chippewas
0
0
10
0
10
Zips
7
10
0
0
17
At Eastern Michigan [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Chippewas
0
7
0
0
7
Eagles
7
0
0
10
17
1
2
3
4
Total
Falcons
0
0
17
7
24
Chippewas
7
6
0
0
13
1
2
3
4
Total
Chippewas
0
0
0
13
13
Rockets
14
10
13
14
51
Players drafted into the NFL [ edit ]
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold