Northwestern Dominates Central Michigan 34-7 in GameAbove Sports Bowl

The Northwestern Wildcats delivered a commanding performance in the GameAbove Sports Bowl, defeating the Central Michigan Chippewas 34-7 at Ford Field on March 15, 2024. The victory marked Northwestern’s sixth consecutive bowl win, maintaining their unbeaten postseason record since a loss to Tennessee in the 2015 Outback Bowl.

Northwestern’s quarterback, Preston Stone, was a key contributor to the win, throwing three touchdown passes. The Wildcats capitalized on four turnovers by Central Michigan, converting each into touchdowns. Central Michigan’s struggles against Big Ten opponents continued, as they fell to 0-3 in bowl games against teams from the conference.

The Chippewas had an early opportunity to score after stopping Northwestern on a fourth-and-one play at the Wildcats’ 34-yard line. However, Cade Graham missed a 43-yard field goal attempt, leaving Central Michigan scoreless. The game remained tied until midway through the second quarter, when Braden Turner intercepted a pass from Central Michigan’s Angel Flores at the Chippewas’ 29-yard line. Stone connected with Griffin Wilde for a 23-yard touchdown pass, giving Northwestern a 7-0 lead.

The Wildcats extended their advantage shortly thereafter when Central Michigan’s Joe Labas fumbled on the first play after the kickoff. Northwestern recovered at the Chippewas’ 18-yard line, leading to a two-yard rushing touchdown by Caleb Komolafe. Following another turnover, Stone threw a touchdown pass to Lawson Albright, bringing the score to 21-0 in just over three minutes.

Central Michigan’s woes continued into the second half, as Flores fumbled again on the first drive. Turner returned this fumble 47 yards for a touchdown, increasing Northwestern’s lead to 27-0. Stone added another touchdown pass to Wilde in the third quarter, pushing the score to 34-0.

Central Michigan managed to avoid a shutout when Labas connected with Brock Townsend for a three-yard touchdown pass with 6:11 remaining in the game. Despite this late score, the Chippewas’ performance highlighted their ongoing challenges, as they turned the ball over four times—three fumbles and an interception—within a span of just 12 plays.

Northwestern’s offense, while efficient in capitalizing on turnovers, faced difficulties in generating sustained drives. Their longest drives in the first half, spanning 48 and 44 yards, ended in punts, indicating room for improvement moving forward.

As Central Michigan’s head coach Matt Drinkell looks to build a more effective offense, the Chippewas’ defensive capabilities remain strong. Despite a solid defensive showing in this game, Central Michigan finished 93rd in scoring offense and 107th in offensive yards per game this season. Northwestern, on the other hand, may need to explore the transfer portal for playmakers to enhance their offensive production.

The GameAbove Sports Bowl served as a significant moment for Northwestern, reinforcing their status as a formidable postseason competitor while highlighting the challenges ahead for Central Michigan.