Miami Hurricanes 2026 Football Preview: Central Michigan Chippewas

After a tough test against Wake Forest, the Hurricanes return home to face the Central Michigan Chippewas in a buy game that could be a tune-up for the rest of the season.

The Chippewas had a solid season in 2025, going 7-6 overall with three of those losses coming to Power 4 teams. While they struggled to find the end zone against their P4 opponents, they have some promising players returning, including quarterback Angel Flores, who is expected to take a bigger role this season.

Central Michigan also returns a host of linemen, including three from the portal, and will look to solidify their offense with the help of these new additions. On the other side of the ball, the Chips will rely heavily on their transfers and JUCO players, which could lead to some shootouts as the season progresses.

Miami, on the other hand, should be too talented to lose this game, even if they sleepwalk their way into it. With a date with Clemson looming after this matchup, the Hurricanes will likely look to get out to an early lead and coast to a comfortable win.

Key takeaways: Miami should dominate this game, but be prepared for the Chippewas to make a statement with their offense. The biggest question for Central Michigan is whether their defense can do enough to win games this season.

Game details:

Date: September 26

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

TV: The CW

Location: Hard Rock Stadium

Series History: Miami leads 1-0

Last Meeting: 2019

Information about Central Michigan:

Coach: Matt Drinkall

Offensive Coordinator: Jim Chapin

Defensive Coordinator: Sean Cronin

2025 Record: 7-6

2025 Rankings: 105th Total Offense, 55th Total Defense

Players to Watch: Angel Flores, QB, Sr

Top Newcomer: Hunter Zirkle, DE, Cumberlands (NAIA)

Biggest Question: Can the defense do just enough to win games?