# 2021 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

The 2021 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Jim McElwain and played their home games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference.
The Chippewas completed their regular season with an 8–4 record and accepted a bid to the Arizona Bowl, where they were due to face the Boise State Broncos. On December 27, Barstool Sports (the title sponsor of the bowl) founder David Portnoy announced the withdrawal of the Broncos from the bowl due to COVID-19 issues within the program; organizers stated that they would attempt to secure a replacement team to face the Chippewas. Later in the day, the Arizona Bowl was canceled, and Central Michigan was named as a replacement team for the Sun Bowl to face the Washington State Cougars.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 4:00 p.m. | at Missouri* | Faurot FieldColumbia, MO | SECN | L 24–34 | 46,327 |
| September 11 | 3:00 p.m. | Robert Morris* | Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI | ESPN3 | W 45–0 | 16,128 |
| September 18 | 7:30 p.m. | at LSU* | Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, LA | SECN | L 21–49 | 92,547 |
| September 25 | 12:00 p.m. | FIU* | Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI | ESPN+ | W 31–27 | 18,382 |
| October 2 | 3:30 p.m. | at Miami (OH) | Yager StadiumOxford, OH | ESPN+ | L 17–28 | 15,065 |
| October 9 | 3:30 p.m. | at Ohio | Peden StadiumAthens, OH | ESPN+ | W 30–27 | 20,928 |
| October 16 | 3:30 p.m. | Toledo | Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI | CBSSN | W 26–23 $^{OT}$ | 20,112 |
| October 23 | 12:00 p.m. | Northern Illinois | Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI | ESPNU | L 38–39 | 15,232 |
| November 3 | 7:00 p.m. | at Western Michigan | Waldo StadiumKalamazoo, MI (rivalry | ESPNU | W 42–30 | 13,137 |
| November 10 | 8:00 p.m. | Kent State | Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI | ESPNU | W 54–30 | 9,213 |
| November 17 | 7:00 p.m. | at Ball State | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | ESPNU | W 37–17 | 5,602 |
| November 26 | 12:00 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI (rivalry | ESPNU | W 31–10 | 7,708 |
| December 31 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. Washington State | Sun Bowl StadiumEl Paso, TX (Sun Bowl) | CBS | W 24–21 | 34,540 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### At Missouri

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Central Michigan | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
| • Missouri | 7 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MIZ –14.0 | 59.0 |
| Statistics | Central Michigan | Missouri |
| First downs | 27 | 26 |
| Total yards | 475 | 468 |
| Rushing yards | 174 | 211 |
| Passing yards | 301 | 257 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 31:59 | 28:01 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Jacob Sirmon | 23/45, 295 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 19 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | JaCorey Sullivan | 8 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TDs |
| Missouri | Passing | Connor Bazelak | 21/32, 257 yards, 2 TDs |
| Missouri | Rushing | Tyler Badie | 25 carries, 203 yards, 1 TD |
| Missouri | Receiving | D'ionte Smith | 2 receptions, 69 yards |

### Robert Morris

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Robert Morris | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Central Michigan | 7 | 21 | 14 | 3 | 45 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CMU –37.0 | 53.5 |
| Statistics | Robert Morris | Central Michigan |
| First downs | 3 | 28 |
| Total yards | 109 | 515 |
| Rushing yards | 96 | 287 |
| Passing yards | 13 | 228 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 23:21 | 36:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Robert Morris | Passing | George Martin | 5/8, 13 yards |
| Robert Morris | Rushing | Jaylon Brown | 3 carries, 37 yards |
| Robert Morris | Receiving | Bryce Bevins | 1 reception, 12 yards |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Jacob Sirmon | 12/16, 110 yards, 3 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | De'Javion Stepney | 9 carries, 81 yards |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | Dallas Dixon | 5 receptions, 73 yards, 2 TDs |

### At LSU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Central Michigan | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| • LSU | 21 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 49 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LSU –19.5 | 60.5 |
| Statistics | Central Michigan | LSU |
| First downs | 17 | 23 |
| Total yards | 284 | 484 |
| Rushing yards | 56 | 84 |
| Passing yards | 228 | 400 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:02 | 26:58 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Jacob Sirmon | 17/24, 156 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Myles Bailey | 7 carries, 29 yards |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | JaCorey Sullivan | 5 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD |
| LSU | Passing | Max Johnson | 26/35, 372 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT |
| LSU | Rushing | Corey Kiner | 12 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD |
| LSU | Receiving | Deion Smith | 5 receptions, 135 yards, 2 TDs |

### FIU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| FIU | 0 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 27 |
| • Central Michigan | 0 | 10 | 0 | 21 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CMU –12.0 | 55.5 |
| Statistics | FIU | Central Michigan |
| First downs | 18 | 29 |
| Total yards | 437 | 599 |
| Rushing yards | 42 | 202 |
| Passing yards | 395 | 397 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 26:40 | 33:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| FIU | Passing | Max Bortenschlager | 20/38, 395 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| FIU | Rushing | D'Vonte Price | 17 carries, 50 yards, 1 TD |
| FIU | Receiving | Tyrese Chambers | 6 receptions, 175 yards, 1 TD |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 16/23, 276 yards, 3 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 25 carries, 152 yards |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | Dallas Dixon | 8 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TDs |

### At Miami (OH)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Central Michigan | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| • Miami (OH) | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CMU –2.0 | 56.0 |
| Statistics | Central Michigan | Miami |
| First downs | 25 | 26 |
| Total yards | 430 | 514 |
| Rushing yards | 52 | 164 |
| Passing yards | 378 | 350 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:45 | 33:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 22/41, 326 yards, 2 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Myles Bailey | 8 carries, 29 yards |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | Dallas Dixon | 7 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD |
| Miami | Passing | AJ Mayer | 13/18, 179 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Miami | Rushing | Keyon Mozee | 13 carries, 83 yards |
| Miami | Receiving | Mac Hippenhammer | 8 receptions, 170 yards |

### At Ohio

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Central Michigan | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 30 |
| Ohio | 3 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 27 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CMU –5.0 | 57.5 |
| Statistics | Central Michigan | Ohio |
| First downs | 23 | 22 |
| Total yards | 461 | 369 |
| Rushing yards | 204 | 179 |
| Passing yards | 257 | 190 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:33 | 33:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 16/30, 257 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 30 carries, 186 yards, 1 TD |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | Dallas Dixon | 4 receptions, 91 yards |
| Ohio | Passing | Armani Rogers | 13/18, 190 yards |
| Ohio | Rushing | De'Montre Tuggle | 19 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD |
| Ohio | Receiving | Cameron Odom | 4 receptions, 88 yards |

### Toledo

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Toledo | 0 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 23 |
| • Central Michigan | 7 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 26 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TOL –5.0 | 53.0 |
| Statistics | Toledo | Central Michigan |
| First downs | 20 | 13 |
| Total yards | 350 | 332 |
| Rushing yards | 142 | 128 |
| Passing yards | 208 | 204 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 31:33 | 28:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Toledo | Passing | Dequan Finn | 15/32, 208 yards |
| Toledo | Rushing | Bryant Koback | 15 carries, 87 yards |
| Toledo | Receiving | Isaiah Winstead | 4 receptions, 108 yards |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 21/35, 204 yards, 2 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 29 carries, 136 yards |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | Kalil Pimpleton | 6 receptions, 103 yards |

### Northern Illinois

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Northern Illinois | 7 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 39 |
| Central Michigan | 14 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 38 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CMU –6.0 | 56.0 |
| Statistics | Northern Illinois | Central Michigan |
| First downs | 25 | 25 |
| Total yards | 548 | 500 |
| Rushing yards | 197 | 189 |
| Passing yards | 351 | 311 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 36:09 | 23:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northern Illinois | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 17/27, 348 yards, 3 TDs |
| Northern Illinois | Rushing | Jay Ducker | 31 carries, 183 yards |
| Northern Illinois | Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 6 receptions, 160 yards, 2 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 23/36, 289 yards, 3 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 22 carries, 192 yards, 2 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | Kalil Pimpleton | 6 receptions, 130 yards, 1 TD |

### At Western Michigan (Michigan MAC Trophy)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Central Michigan | 0 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| Western Michigan | 7 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 30 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WMU –9.0 | 64.5 |
| Statistics | Central Michigan | Western Michigan |
| First downs | 17 | 25 |
| Total yards | 389 | 445 |
| Rushing yards | 148 | 169 |
| Passing yards | 241 | 276 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 25:14 | 34:46 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 10/18, 230 yards, 1 TD |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 26 carries, 163 yards, 2 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | Kalil Pimpleton | 5 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Michigan | Passing | Kaleb Eleby | 22/36, 276 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Western Michigan | Rushing | Sean Tyler | 15 carries, 59 yards, 2 TDs |
| Western Michigan | Receiving | Corey Crooms | 7 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD |

### Kent State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kent State | 14 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 30 |
| • Central Michigan | 0 | 26 | 14 | 14 | 54 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CMU –2.5 | 76.5 |
| Statistics | Kent State | Central Michigan |
| First downs | 23 | 33 |
| Total yards | 456 | 505 |
| Rushing yards | 134 | 221 |
| Passing yards | 322 | 284 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 23:03 | 36:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kent State | Passing | Dustin Crum | 28/38, 322, 2 TDs |
| Kent State | Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 21 carries, 83 yards, 2 TDs |
| Kent State | Receiving | Dante Cephas | 5 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 21/27, 268 yards, 4 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 43 carries, 215 yards, 4 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | JaCorey Sullivan | 5 receptions, 61 yards |

### At Ball State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Central Michigan | 7 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 37 |
| Ball State | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CMU –2.5 | 57.0 |
| Statistics | Central Michigan | Ball State |
| First downs | 26 | 18 |
| Total yards | 567 | 329 |
| Rushing yards | 285 | 159 |
| Passing yards | 282 | 170 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:47 | 27:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 20/25, 283 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 32 carries, 219 yards, 3 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | Kalil Pimpleton | 7 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 21/39, 170 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Ball State | Rushing | Carson Steele | 20 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD |
| Ball State | Receiving | Jayshon Jackson | 6 receptions, 61 yards |

### Eastern Michigan (Michigan MAC Trophy)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eastern Michigan | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| • Central Michigan | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CMU –8.5 | 63.5 |
| Statistics | Eastern Michigan | Central Michigan |
| First downs | 15 | 22 |
| Total yards | 226 | 366 |
| Rushing yards | 5 | 236 |
| Passing yards | 221 | 130 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:17 | 32:43 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Eastern Michigan | Passing | Ben Bryant | 24/35, 221 yards |
| Eastern Michigan | Rushing | Bryson Moss | 5 carries, 26 yards |
| Eastern Michigan | Receiving | Tanner Knue | 7 receptions, 70 yards |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 12/24, 130 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 44 carries, 194 yards, 1 TD |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | JaCorey Sullivan | 4 receptions, 46 yards, 2 TDs |

### Vs. Washington State (Sun Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Washington State | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
| • Central Michigan | 13 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WSU –5.5 | 56.0 |
| Statistics | Washington State | Central Michigan |
| First downs | 11 | 15 |
| Total yards | 243 | 338 |
| Rushing yards | 18 | 145 |
| Passing yards | 225 | 193 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 24:43 | 35:17 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Washington State | Passing | Victor Gabalis | 11/23, 180 yards, 2 TDs |
| Washington State | Rushing | Nakia Watson | 15 carries, 58 yards |
| Washington State | Receiving | Lincoln Victor | 4 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 16/29, 193 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 28 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | JaCorey Sullivan | 6 receptions, 73 yards |