The Zeitgeist List · rivalries
Victory Cannon
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →Central Michigan leads the all-time series 32–27–1. They've met 60 times since 1962. Western Michigan once took 5 straight.
Stature & the series, 1962–2025
Both programs’ standing over time in their colors, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won.
all-time
32–27–1
Central Michigan leads
streak
1
Western Michigan in a row
longest run
5
Western Michigan
biggest win
41
Western Michigan, 1970
first met
1962
60 meetings
biggest crowd
30,411
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
1960s0–2
1970s2–1
1980s3–4
1990s1–4
2000s5–5
2010s8–9
2020s4–6
Best picks, either side
2013Eric Fisher Offensive TackleRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2004Jason Babin LinebackerRd 1, pick 27#27 overall
2007Joe Staley Offensive TackleRd 1, pick 28#28 overall
2009Louis Delmas SafetyRd 2, pick 1#33 overall
1967Bob Rowe Defensive TackleRd 2, pick 17#43 overall
1985Jim Bowman Defensive BackRd 2, pick 24#52 overall
Recent meetings
2025Western Michigan24–21
2024Central Michigan16–14
2023Western Michigan38–28
2022Western Michigan12–10
2021Central Michigan42–30
2020Western Michigan52–44
2019Western Michigan31–15
2018Western Michigan35–10
2017Central Michigan35–28
2016Western Michigan49–10
2015Western Michigan41–39
2014Western Michigan32–20
2013Central Michigan27–22
2012Western Michigan42–31