The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Victory Cannon

Central Michigan32-28-1Western Michigan
Regional Program IV#111 of 138–Regional Program I#84 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →

Central Michigan leads the all-time series 32-28-1. They've met 61 times since 1962. Western Michigan once took 5 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Central Michigan
Transfer portal
-21
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -33
Western Michigan
Transfer portal
+0
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +4

Stature & the series, 1962–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeCentral MichiganWestern Michiganevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Central Michigan won, gray: Western Michigan won)198020002020

The identity war

Central Michigan has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Central Michigan led 14 and Western Michigan led 9.

more passmore runCentral MichiganWestern Michigan2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262017Central Michigan 16.5 ptsCentral Michigan won 35-282009Western Michigan 12.4 ptsCentral Michigan won 34-232004Western Michigan 8.7 ptsCentral Michigan won 24-21
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Western Michigan by 41 in 1970. The biggest crowd, 30,411, was in 2016.

The coaching duels

Herb Deromedi vs Al Molde5-2
Herb Deromedi vs Jack Harbaugh4-0-1
Herb Deromedi vs Elliot Uzelac4-0
Mike DeBord vs Gary Darnell1-3
Jim McElwain vs Tim Lester1-3
Roy Kramer vs Elliot Uzelac2-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
23-31
Western Michigan leads
1st-rounders
2-2
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Central MichiganWestern Michigan
1960s0-2
1970s2-1
1980s3-4
1990s1-4
2000s5-5
2010s8-9
2020s4-6

Best picks, either side

2013Eric Fisher Offensive Tackle · Kansas City ChiefsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2017Corey Davis Wide Receiver · Tennessee TitansRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
2004Jason Babin Linebacker · Houston TexansRd 1, pick 27#27 overall
2007Joe Staley Offensive Tackle · San Francisco 49ersRd 1, pick 28#28 overall
2009Louis Delmas Safety · Detroit LionsRd 2, pick 1#33 overall
2019Sean Bunting Cornerback · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 2, pick 7#39 overall
1967Bob Rowe Defensive Tackle · St. Louis CardinalsRd 2, pick 17#43 overall
1985Jim Bowman Defensive Back · New England PatriotsRd 2, pick 24#52 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Central Michigan1.07×its own average home crowd
Western Michigan1.07×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2026Western Michigan21-14
2025Western Michigan24-21
2024Central Michigan16-14
2023Western Michigan38-28
2022Western Michigan12-10Central Michigan — Central Michigan favored by 10.0
2021Central Michigan42-30Western Michigan — Western Michigan routed by 12
2020Western Michigan52-44
2019Western Michigan31-15
2018Western Michigan35-10
2017Central Michigan35-28
2016Western Michigan49-10
2015Western Michigan41-39Central Michigan — decided by 2
2014Western Michigan32-20
2013Central Michigan27-22

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Central Michigan’s chance to win through that meeting. Central Michigan is 2-2 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2024: roaring.

2026Western Michigan 21-14Central Michigan lost 14-21 vs Western Michigan. Chance to win started at 36%, low under 1%, high 47%.
2025Western Michigan 24-21Central Michigan lost 21-24 at Western Michigan. Chance to win started at 26%, low under 1%, high 71%.
2024Central Michigan 16-14Central Michigan won 16-14 vs Western Michigan. Chance to win started at 35%, low 14%, high 89%.Roaring
2023Western Michigan 38-28Central Michigan lost 28-38 at Western Michigan. Chance to win started at 46%, low 1%, high 91%.Busy
2021Central Michigan 42-30Central Michigan won 42-30 at Western Michigan. Chance to win started at 39%, low 5%, high 99%.
2020Western Michigan 52-44Central Michigan lost 44-52 vs Western Michigan. Chance to win started at 52%, low 1%, high 83%.
2019Western Michigan 31-15Central Michigan lost 15-31 at Western Michigan. Chance to win started at 17%, low under 1%, high 20%.
2018Western Michigan 35-10Central Michigan lost 10-35 vs Western Michigan. Chance to win started at 37%, low under 1%, high 41%.

Meetings with their own story page

10 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.