The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Michigan MAC Trophy (WMU-EMU)

Western Michigan33-17-1Eastern Michigan
Regional Program I#84 of 138–Regional Program V#126 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Tue Nov 17 · 7 pm ET, 13 days away.

Western Michigan leads the all-time series 33-17-1. They've met 51 times since 1974. Western Michigan has won the last 3.

Current season

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

Western Michigan
Transfer portal
+0
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +4
Eastern Michigan
Transfer portal
-15
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -38

Stature & the series, 1974–2025

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 timeWestern MichiganEastern Michiganevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Western Michigan won, gray: Eastern Michigan won)198020002020

The identity war

Western Michigan was the more pass-heavy program — then Eastern Michigan took it over.

Western Michigan threw it more in 9 of 11 seasons, 2004–2014. Since 2015, Eastern Michigan has led 12 of 12. Real exceptions: 2005, 2006.

more passmore runWestern MichiganEastern Michigan2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262015Eastern Michigan 5.8 ptsWestern Michigan won 58-282005Eastern Michigan 6.6 ptsWestern Michigan won 44-36
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Western Michigan once won 7 in a row. The biggest win was Western Michigan by 44 in 2014. The biggest crowd, 24,282, was in 2018.

The coaching duels

Tim Lester vs Chris Creighton2-4
Al Molde vs Jim Harkema1-4
Elliot Uzelac vs Mike Stock4-0
Jack Harbaugh vs Jim Harkema2-2
Gary Darnell vs Jeff Woodruff4-0
Bill Cubit vs Jeff Genyk3-1

The draft ledger

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

Draft picks
31-19
Western Michigan leads
1st-rounders
2-2
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Western MichiganEastern Michigan
1960s2-0
1970s1-7
1980s4-1
1990s4-2
2000s5-4
2010s9-3
2020s6-2

Best picks, either side

2017Corey Davis Wide Receiver · Tennessee TitansRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
1999L.J. Shelton Offensive Tackle · Arizona CardinalsRd 1, pick 21#21 overall
1978Ron Johnson Defensive Back · Pittsburgh SteelersRd 1, pick 22#22 overall
2004Jason Babin Linebacker · Houston TexansRd 1, pick 27#27 overall
2009Louis Delmas Safety · Detroit LionsRd 2, pick 1#33 overall
1967Bob Rowe Defensive Tackle · St. Louis CardinalsRd 2, pick 17#43 overall
1986John Offerdahl Linebacker · Miami DolphinsRd 2, pick 25#52 overall
2006Greg Jennings Wide Receiver · Green Bay PackersRd 2, pick 20#52 overall

Recent meetings

2025Western Michigan31-21
2024Western Michigan26-18
2023Western Michigan45-21
2022Eastern Michigan45-23Western Michigan — Western Michigan routed by 22
2021Eastern Michigan22-21Western Michigan — decided by 1
2020Eastern Michigan53-42Western Michigan — Western Michigan favored by 13.5
2019Eastern Michigan34-27
2018Western Michigan27-24
2017Western Michigan20-17
2016Western Michigan45-31
2015Western Michigan58-28
2014Western Michigan51-7
2013Eastern Michigan35-32
2012Eastern Michigan29-23

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Western Michigan’s chance to win through that meeting. Western Michigan is 0-2 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025Western Michigan 31-21Western Michigan won 31-21 at Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 69%, low 35%, high better than 99%.Steady
2023Western Michigan 45-21Western Michigan won 45-21 at Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 59%, low 53%, high better than 99%.
2022Eastern Michigan 45-23Western Michigan lost 23-45 vs Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 61%, low under 1%, high 61%.
2021Eastern Michigan 22-21Western Michigan lost 21-22 at Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 66%, low 10%, high 95%.
2020Eastern Michigan 53-42Western Michigan lost 42-53 vs Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 75%, low 2%, high 92%.
2019Eastern Michigan 34-27Western Michigan lost 27-34 at Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 74%, low 5%, high 93%.
2018Western Michigan 27-24Western Michigan won 27-24 vs Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 61%, low 36%, high 97%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “Nah colored fields are awesome”
    A fan of another team