Central Michigan Football

Lew Nichols III rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown, leading Central Michigan to a 24-21 win over Washington State in the 2021 Sun Bowl.

The Chippewas raced out to a 21-0 first-half lead before holding on for the program's first bowl win since 2012. 

Daniel Richardson added 208 passing yards and a touchdown against an interception.

Central Michigan and Washington State came together for the Sun Bowl after both of their original bowl opponents pulled out of games with COVID-19 issues. Central Michigan was originally supposed to play Boise State in the Arizona Bowl, and Miami was Washington State's original Sun Bowl opponent.

Down by three touchdowns at halftime, Washington State battled back and had a chance to take a lead late in the fourth quarter but fell short. Victor Gabalis led the way with 180 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Notable Stats

Washington State

QB Victor Gabalis: 12-of-23 passing, 180 yards, 2 touchdowns
RB Nakia Watson: 17 carries, 62 yards
WR Lincoln Victor: 5 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD

Central Michigan

QB Daniel Richardson: 17-of-33 passing, 208 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
RB Lew Nichols III: 29 carries, 137 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 receptions, 38 yards
WR JaCorey Sullivan: 7 receptions, 83 yards 

Lew Nichols III Gives Central Michigan Hope Moving Forward

Jim McElwain is still program-building at Central Michigan, but he appears to have a star at running back. Nichols closed the regular season with eight straight 100-yard rushing performances and will almost certainly close 2021 as the nation's leading rusher.

The Chippewas will also bring back Richardson (another freshman), along with sophomore tight end Joel Wilson and junior wideout Kalil Pimpleton.

Central Michigan has not won a conference championship since 2009, when it did so under Butch Jones, but there is enough offensive firepower here to give McElwain's team a chance to be preseason favorites heading into 2022.

Jake Dickert Looks to Mold Program in His Image

The 2021 season was embroiled in controversy for Washington State after coach Nick Rolovich was fired for not undergoing state-mandated COVID-19 vaccination. Rolovich's departure paved the way for Dickert, who was named the Cougars' permanent coach after a win over in-state rival Washington.

Dickert was the defensive coordinator under Rolovich, so some of the staff will remain, but four assistants were also sent packing over their refusal to undergo vaccination. The 38-year-old coach will be tasked with building a staff for the first time.

Washington State went 3-3 in games coached by Dickert, including a 3-1 mark in the Pac-12. 

The Cougars were 7-6 overall, their first season above .500 since 2018, and only their fifth in the last decade. 

It didn't take Washington State long to find a new opponent for the Sun Bowl on Friday.

After Miami withdrew from the game on Sunday because of COVID-19 issues within its program, the Cougars announced Monday that they would face Central Michigan. The Chippewas were set to take on Boise State in the Arizona Bowl, but the Broncos withdrew earlier on Monday also because of COVID-19.

"We are grateful for the diligent work of the Sun Bowl Association, the Pac-12 Conference, the Mid-American Conference and Central Michigan University to ensure the 2021 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl will be played," Washington State athletic director Pat Chun said in a statement.

The Cougars went 7-5 this season and won three of their last four games. In its last two wins of the year, Washington State scored 40 or more points and had a scoring differential of plus-26.5.

Central Michigan has a record of 8-4 and ended the regular season on a four-game win streak. The Chippewas won six of their last seven games and scored at least 30 points in each of their last five contests.

The Sun Bowl isn't the only bowl game to be modified due to a team dealing with COVID-19 issues. Rutgers replaced Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl against Wake Forest after the Aggies were forced to withdraw.

The Arizona Bowl is now the fourth bowl game to get canceled this season. Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated noted that a financial agreement was likely reached to release the Chippewas from the game and allow them to play against the Cougars. The Hawai'i Bowl, Military Bowl and Fenway Bowl also were all canceled.     

Central Michigan quarterback John Keller has been released from the hospital nearly one month after he was shot in the chest during a gathering at an off-campus apartment complex in the early-morning hours of Saturday, April 24.

John's father, Ray Keller, confirmed the news on Twitter:

Keller was in the intensive care unit following the shooting, and he was also on a ventilator for seven days, per ESPN's Tom VanHaaren.

Ray Keller spoke with VanHaaren Friday and relayed that he was driving his son home, where he would continue his recovery.

Detroit native Kenneth Thomas has been arrested and arraigned in connection with shooting Keller, as well as 23-year-old CMU senior Tyler Bunting, per Terry Camp of Flint, Michigan's ABC affiliate. The shooting occurred at the Deerfield Village Apartments in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Thomas pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $1 million bond. He is facing 10 charges, including two for assault with intent to murder.

Christian Booher of Central Michigan Life provided details, citing an Isabella County Sheriff's Office press release:

Thomas is believed to have been at the party for a short time before a fight broke out. During the fight, Thomas went to his vehicle, retrieved a gun and fired upon returning to the party.

According to the press release, Thomas and several others had come to Mount Pleasant April 23 to socialize at local establishments. After the establishments closed, Thomas and others heard about the gathering at Deerfield. 

The press release states that Thomas and his accomplices have no connection to Central Michigan University or the Mount Pleasant area.

Keller was airlifted to Hurley Medical Center, per Booher. 

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help for his medical expenses, and an excerpt written by fundraiser organizer Lauren Rhodes says Keller was a hero that night:

For those of you who do not know, the individual who shot John on April 24th, was taken into custody yesterday. When the assailant showed up at Deerfield Village Apartments early Saturday morning, John took heroic actions to prevent him from entering into the building to shoot other individuals. John is a hero and he deserves our support and prayers.

Keller, a 6'1", 203-pound quarterback out of Canton, Ohio, walked on at the University of Cincinnati in 2018. He left the Bearcats for Pearl River Community College in 2019 before going to Central Michigan in 2020. Keller did not play last season because of NCAA transfer requirements.

Central Michigan quarterback John Keller is in serious condition after a shooting at an off-campus party Saturday night, per Chris Low of ESPN. 

CMU President Bob Davies confirmed the news Sunday that two individuals were shot and both were students. The other student is currently in stable condition.

"Local law enforcement, led by the Isabella County Sherriff, continues to investigate the incident and is searching for the suspect or suspects involved," Davies said.

According to the Central Michigan student newspaper (via Low), a fight broke out at a party, and someone retrieved a weapon from their vehicle before returning and firing at the individuals.   

Keller was initially a unranked recruit out of Canton, Ohio, before signing with Cincinnati in the 2018 class. He transferred to JUCO program Pearl River after one year before returning to the Division I level with a transfer to Central Michigan in January 2020.

He sat out last season due to the NCAA transfer rules. 

Former Central Michigan star Titus Davis died Wednesday at the age of 27. 

The Detroit News' Tony Paul reported Davis had been diagnosed with renal medullary carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer, in July. The Wheaton, Illinois, native was the brother of Tennessee Titans wide receiver Corey Davis.

For two years, they were on opposing sides in college as Corey played for Western Michigan. They split their head-to-head meetings in 2013 and 2014.

Titus was a first-team All-MAC wideout as a junior and senior. He left the Chippewas as one of their greatest pass-catchers ever. He's fourth in school history in receptions (204) and first in both receiving yards (3,700) and touchdown receptions (37).

Davis' former Central Michigan teammates Miami Dolphins safety Kavon Frazier and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush mourned him:

Davis was involved in perhaps the most memorable play in program history when he found the end zone on the Chippewas' Hail Mary at the end of the 2014 Bahamas Bowl:

Davis went undrafted in 2015 and signed with the San Diego Chargers. He also enjoyed spells with the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears.

BR Video

The Central Michigan Chippewas pulled off an improbable 30-27 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in even less likely fashion.

Needing a miracle during the final seconds, quarterback Cooper Rush heaved a Hail Mary downfield to Jesse Kroll, who caught the pass short of the end zone.

In a desperation move, he shoveled the ball to Corey Willis, who delivered the amazing touchdown as time expired.

It's only Week 2, but good luck to anyone trying to top that for 2016's Play of the Year.

It's hard to top the excitement of a team making its first ever bowl trip in school history. Then again, when the opposing team is playing roughly 158 miles from campus and in the same state, some of that hype is understandably taken away.

Still, in a game that may be overlooked by causal college football fans, the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl has all the ingredients necessary to be a very entertaining contest.

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers of the Sun Belt Conference will take on the Central Michigan Chippewas of the Mid-American Conference at Ford Field in Detroit.

The Hilltoppers, who will be led by interim coach Lance Guidry after head man Willie Taggart bolted for South Florida, will be making their first ever bowl appearance after finishing the regular season 7-5. The team could not be happier considering they ended the 2011 regular season with the same record, but were not selected to play in a bowl game.

For the Chippewas, the Little Caesars Bowl marks a return to the Motor City, where the team played its postseason game in both 2007 and 2008. Central Michigan finished the 2012 regular season at 6-6, and a bowl berth very well may have saved third-year coach Dan Enos’ job.

A record seven MAC schools accepted bowl bids this season, with Central Michigan being the only .500 squad of the bunch. In addition, none of the Chippewas' six wins came against bowl-eligible teams, and its defense allowed more than 27 points nine times this season.

However, the team did show signs of improvement late in the season, winning its final three games to become bowl eligible. It is rarely pretty with the Chippewas, but the team manages to find a way to stay in ballgames thanks to running back Zurlon Tipton and quarterback Ryan Radcliff.

Tipton, the team’s leading rusher and most dangerous playmaker, is largely responsible for Central Michigan being in this game.

The junior has rushed for over 100 yards the past six games, and will be a key part of the Chippewas offensive attack in Detroit. Western Kentucky boasts the Sun Belt’s second best rush defense, though, so it could be tough sledding for Tipton.

Then there is Radcliff, the senior signal-caller and heart of the team. He doesn't always put up eye-popping numbers, but Radcliff is a fierce competitor and managed to throw for over 2900 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2012. 

Since taking over for Central Michigan great Dan LeFevour, Radcliffe has suffered through two losing seasons before finally getting a chance to shine on the big stage.

Winning won’t be easy for the Chippewas, though. The team comes into this game as clear underdogs.

Western Kentucky didn’t start the season strong, but made a statement during the second half of the year. The Hilltoppers won seven of their final eight games, and made it known they go just about anywhere to play in the postseason.

The Hilltoppers feature an extremely talented player on offense in running back Antonio Andrews, the nation’s leader in all-purpose yards. In fact, Andrews is just 297 yards away from breaking Barry Sanders’ NCAA record for all-purpose yards and has a great chance to do that against a Central Michigan defense that allows nearly 200 yards per game on the ground alone.

Put simply, the Chippewas will need to find an answer for Andrews.

While Andrews should be fun to watch, Western Kentucky’s defense may wind up making the most difference. Before Taggart departed, he made it his mission to improve upon a defense that ranked 118th in the nation in yards allowed.

Needless to say, he achieved his goal. The Hilltoppers ranked first or second in the Sun Belt in every major defensive category this season.

If Western Kentucky can limit Tipton’s touches and force Radcliff into making a few bad decisions, it will put a lot of pressure on the suspect Central Michigan defense to stop one of the most versatile players in the country.

While this is a tall task, it is far from impossible. All one needs to do is look at the final score of this year’s Hawaii Bowl to see that bowl games ultimately come down to preparation.

Throw records and odds out the window. Both teams are excited to be playing in Detroit, and that should result in a very entertaining football game.

The college football bowl season is here and although this game will not get the same hype as the National Championship game, it is well worth the watch.

The bowl season started off with a bang, as the Gildan New Mexico Bowl between Nevada and Arizona went down to the wire. This game had the potential to be another great game on the early season bowl schedule. 

The latest college football odds have the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers listed as a 5.5 point favorite.

Western Kentucky will face off against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Ford Field in Detroit. These two teams may not be household names in college football but they do have their share of top talent.

The Chippewas feature superstar junior running back Zurlon Tipton who is a regular in the end zone. Tipton logged 19 touchdowns on the season while piling up 1,391 yards on the year. Tipton averages six yards per carry and is the main threat on offense for this team.

Senior Ryan Radcliff is under center for the Chippewas and his main target is wide receiver Titus Davis. Davis hauled in eight of Radcliff’s 20 touchdowns on the season. This offense is a good test for a Hilltoppers team looking to make a splash during the bowl season.

The Hilltoppers finished fifth in the Sun Belt Conference and will be playing in their first FBS bowl game. They may be new to the bowl game scene, but it would be a mistake to write off this team. They are a senior laden bunch with 19 players participating in their final game.

The Hilltoppers defeated a very gifted Arkansas State team and possess the best defense in the conference. That defense was best in the conference in yards allowed per game with 342.8. The leader of that defense is Quanterus Smith, a sack master who registered 12.5 on the season. The defense is impressive for Western Kentucky, but they also have a play maker on offense.

Multi-purpose back Antonio Andrews is the total package. Andrews posted 1,609 yards on the ground averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Andrews is the main focus on offense and is also a contributor on special teams. Andrews averages 248.1 all-purpose yards for the season and he will get the football early and often in this bowl game.

The Chippewas have been a disaster for football betting backers. The Chippewas are 1-6 against the spread (ATS) in their last seven non-conference games, 1-10 ATS against a team with a winning record and 8-20 ATS in their last 28 games on turf.

The Hilltoppers are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games following a win and 21-7 ATS in their last 28 games overall.

Defense wins ballgames and the senior led Hilltoppers will go all out to secure their first FBS bowl victory.

Little Caesars Bowl Predictions: Western Kentucky 27 Central Michigan 17

Football Picks: (Western Kentucky -5.5)

James Brown is a B/R featured columnist and can be followed on Twitter. Feel free to contact James at jtsneaks@gmail.com. He also is a contributor at Bookie Blitz, a sports picks website.