Overview
- Kickoff is Friday at 1 p.m. ET at Ford Field with national TV coverage on ESPN.
- Northwestern enters 6-6 and Central Michigan 7-5, with both teams stronger on defense than offense by national rankings.
- Central Michigan has used a two‑quarterback approach with passer Joey Labas and runner Angel Flores, whose availability has been a key pregame question with hope for a return.
- Northwestern left tackle Caleb Tiernan, a Detroit‑area All‑Big Ten selection, headlines the player storylines with a homecoming showcase.
- Sportsbooks list Northwestern around -10.5 with a total near 43.5, projection models tilt to the Wildcats and frequently lean Over, though several analysts see CMU value against the spread.