BREAKING: The Northwestern Wildcats have just secured a commanding 34-7 victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field on December 29, 2023. Quarterback Preston Stone threw three touchdown passes as Northwestern capitalized on four turnovers to extend their bowl game winning streak to six.
The Wildcats (7-6) showcased a dominant performance, maintaining their perfect postseason record since a loss to Pittsburgh in the 2015 Outback Bowl. Central Michigan, also at 7-6, remains winless in bowl games against Big Ten teams, having lost all three encounters at Ford Field.
Early in the game, Central Michigan had a chance to score but faltered when kicker Cade Graham missed a 43-yard field goal attempt after Northwestern was stopped on a crucial 4th-and-1. The game remained scoreless until midway through the second quarter when Braden Turner intercepted a pass from Chippewa quarterback Angel Flores and set up a 23-yard touchdown pass from Stone to Griffin Wilde, giving Northwestern a 7-0 lead.
In a disastrous turn for Central Michigan, the Chippewas fumbled on their next possession, allowing Northwestern to score again as Caleb Komolafe rushed for a 2-yard touchdown. Just minutes later, Stone connected with Lawson Albright for another touchdown, marking Northwestern’s third score in a mere 3:02.
The second half saw more chaos for Central Michigan as Flores fumbled again, leading to a 47-yard fumble return touchdown by Turner. With the score at 27-0 after a missed extra point, Stone added another touchdown pass to Wilde, pushing the lead to 34-0.
Central Michigan finally got on the board with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Joe Labas to Brock Townsend with just over six minutes left in the game, but it was too little, too late.
The Chippewas suffered through a nightmarish sequence, turning the ball over four times—including three fumbles and an interception—over just 12 plays between the second and third quarters. It was a stark contrast to Northwestern’s effective scoring, which averaged just 17.5 yards per drive, thanks in large part to Central Michigan’s mistakes.
Looking ahead, Central Michigan’s head coach Matt Drinkell faces the challenge of building a more effective offense, having ranked 93rd in scoring and 107th in offensive yards this season. Meanwhile, Northwestern will need to scout for new playmakers in the transfer portal to sustain their momentum moving forward.
As fans celebrate Northwestern’s impressive win, this game highlights the ongoing struggle for Central Michigan against higher-tier competition. The Wildcats, with their eyes set on future success, have proven they can capitalize on opportunities when they matter most.
Stay tuned for further updates as both teams regroup and prepare for the upcoming season.
