2018 Central Michigan Chippewas football team


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. 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.

Previous season

The Chippewas finished the 2017 season 8–5, 6–2 in MAC play to finish in a tie for second place in the West Division. They received an invitation to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where they lost to Wyoming.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
Wuerffel TrophyMitch StanitzekDLSR

Preseason media poll

The MAC released their preseason media poll on July 24, 2018, with the Chippewas predicted to finish in fifth place in the West Division.
West Division

Schedule

Game summaries

at Kentucky

Kansas

at Northern Illinois

Maine

at Michigan State

Buffalo

Ball State

Western Michigan

at Akron

at Eastern Michigan

Bowling Green

Toledo

Players drafted into the NFL

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
239Sean Murphy-BuntingCBTampa Bay Buccaneers
6195Xavier CrawfordCBHouston Texans