Long after the final whistle echoed through Ford Field, Central Michigan football players could be seen giving autographs, while others took their final moments as a Chippewa. Despite the 34-7 loss to Northwestern, CMU football wasn’t stuck in disappointment — it was focused on reflection. ⁠ ⁠ With players hitting the portal or declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, how does the CMU football team move forward under the guidance of head coach Matt Drinkall?⁠ ⁠ “There’ll be all new kinds of challenges when you win seven games and go to a bowl,” Drinkall said. "Our kids are awesome. I love our players. They play their absolute tails off, and I think one of the things that makes our team so unique and so fun to be around is we talk all the time about being willing to do things that others are unwilling to do."⁠ ⁠ ✍️Sydney Neal 📸Trevor Sparks⁠ ⁠ To read the full story, click on the link in our bio.⁠ ⁠ #lifeatcentral #cmufootball #MACfootball⁠ ⁠