CMU football tabbed to finish fourth in MAC West

The pre-season prognostications have begun.
Last Thursday the Central Michigan University football team was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference West Division at MAC Media Day from the Fox Theatre in Detroit.
The Chippewas went 4-8 overall in 2022 and were 3-5 in conference play.
Toledo is the early-season favorite to win the MAC West Division as it tallied 11 first-place votes and 66 points total. Eastern Michigan was tabbed to finish second with one first-place vote and 55 points. Northern Illinois was tabbed to finish third with 38 points while the Chippewas were fourth with 37 points.
Ohio is the favorite to win the MAC East Division as it garnered nine first-place votes and 63 points.
The Chippewas enter the 2023 slate with nine returning starters on defense.
Offensively, the Chippewas return only a handful of players headed by quarterbacks Jase Bauer and Bert Emanuel Jr.
Head coach Jim McElwain is entering his fifth year at the helm and has had plenty of success over the years as he’s led the Chippewas to two MAC West Division crowns and two bowl games. McElwain has compiled an overall record of 24-21 at CMU and a conference marker of 18-12.
The Chippewas open play on Sept. 1 at Michigan State.
2023 MAC Preseason Football Poll (First-place votes in parenthesis)
MAC West Division
Toledo (11) 66 points
EMU (1) 55
NIU 38
CMU 37
Ball State 27
WMU 23
MAC East Division
Ohio (9) 63 points
Miami (2) 52
Buffalo (1) 51
Bowling Green 35
Akron 26
Kent State 19
CMU Football Schedule
Sept. 1 – at Michigan State, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 – NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 – at Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 – at South Alabama, TBA
Sept. 30 – EASTERN MICHIGAN, TBA
Oct. 7 – at Buffalo, TBA
Oct. 14 – AKRON, 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 – at Ball State, TBA
Nov. 7 – at Western Michigan, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 15 – at Ohio, 7 p.m.
Nov. 24 – TOLEDO, noon
(HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS)