Central Michigan–Western Michigan football rivalry

Central Michigan–Western Michigan football rivalry
	Central Michigan Chippewas Western Michigan Broncos
Sport	Football
First meeting	October 19, 1907; Western State, 29–0
Latest meeting	October 17, 2026; Western Michigan, 21–14
Next meeting	2027
Trophy	Victory Cannon
Statistics
Total meetings	97
All-time series	WMU leads 55–40–2
Trophy series	WMU leads 12–7
Largest victory	WMU, 54–0 (1930)
Longest win streak	WMU, 13 (1928–1944)
Current win streak	WMU, 2 (2025–present)

50km
31miles

Western Michigan

Central Michigan

Locations of Central Michigan and Western Michigan

The Central Michigan–Western Michigan football rivalry is an annual college football game between Central Michigan University (CMU) and Western Michigan University (WMU). The winner receives the Victory Cannon. In its first appearance, it was awarded to CMU after the October 18, 2008, game.

History

The teams first played each other in 1907, and Western held the title until 1910. They did not meet again for another 15 years until 1925, when they met in Kalamazoo, and the game ended in a tie.

Central picked up its first win in 1927, but Western dominated the rivalry from 1928 to 1952, taking victory in 20 of 21 games.

Starting in 1975, Central Michigan held a 27–16–1 edge against Western. Central Michigan kept its winning record until 1994, losing only twice to the Broncos, in 1988 and 1992.

Western Michigan earned back a series of consecutive wins from 2001 to 2003.

Victory Cannon

A cannon, which represents the cannons fired at both CMU's Kelly/Shorts Stadium and WMU's Waldo Stadium, sits atop the trophy, and each of the schools' wins are noted on both sides. The trophy was first awarded in 2008.

Western Michigan ended the Chippewas five year winning streak with a 30-point win in 2011, and backed it up with a win in 2012, the Broncos' first win in Mount Pleasant since 2002. Although the Broncos lead the all-time series 55–40–2, since both teams began competing together in the NCAA Division I in 1975, Central Michigan leads the series 29–22–1. However, since the adoption of the Victory Cannon trophy, Western Michigan leads the series 12–7.

Game results

Central Michigan victories	Western Michigan victories	Tie games

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	October 19, 1907	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western State	29–0
2	November 21, 1908	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western State	11–5
3	November 19, 1909	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western State	11–0
4	November 4, 1910	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western State	16–6
5	November 6, 1925	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Tie	0–0
6	October 22, 1927	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	18–12
7	November 24, 1928	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western State	19–0
8	November 9, 1929	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western State	25–6
9	October 10, 1930	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western State	54–0
10	November 21, 1931	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western State	7–6
11	November 5, 1932	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western State	7–0
12	November 4, 1933	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western State	19–0
13	November 3, 1934	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western State	13–0
14	November 9, 1935	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western State	13–0
15	November 7, 1936	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western State	33–0
16	November 6, 1937	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western State	7–0
17	November 12, 1938	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western State	35–0
18	September 18, 1943	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	19–0
19	October 7, 1944	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	35–14
20	September 29, 1945	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	6–0
21	November 2, 1946	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	27–21
22	October 11, 1947	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	20–12
23	October 9, 1948	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	7–0
24	October 22, 1949	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	35–8
25	September 30, 1950	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	21–13
26	November 17, 1951	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	46–25
27	October 4, 1952	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	18–0
28	September 26, 1953	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	21–0
29	September 25, 1954	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	25–19
30	September 24, 1955	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	27–12
31	September 22, 1956	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	14–7
32	September 21, 1957	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	33–0
33	September 20, 1958	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	33–32
34	September 19, 1959	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	21–15
35	September 17, 1960	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	31–0
36	September 16, 1961	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	27–21
37	September 15, 1962	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	28–0
38	September 28, 1963	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	30–14
39	September 26, 1964	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	18–6
40	September 25, 1965	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	21–13
41	September 24, 1966	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	31–14
42	September 13, 1969	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	24–0
43	September 12, 1970	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	41–0
44	September 8, 1973	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	18–13
45	November 9, 1974	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	42–6
46	September 6, 1975	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	34–0
47	November 20, 1976	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	42–14
48	November 19, 1977	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	28–23
49	November 18, 1978	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	35–14

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
50	September 8, 1979	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	10–0
51	November 15, 1980	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	22–10
52	October 10, 1981	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	15–13
53	October 9, 1982	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Tie	18–18
54	September 24, 1983	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	32–14
55	September 22, 1984	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	38–19
56	October 12, 1985	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	24–17
57	October 11, 1986	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	18–10
58	October 31, 1987	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	30–27
59	October 29, 1988	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	42–24
60	October 14, 1989	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	34–6
61	October 13, 1990	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	20–13
62	November 16, 1991	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	27–17
63	November 14, 1992	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	19–14
64	October 9, 1993	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	23–18
65	October 8, 1994	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	35–28
66	November 18, 1995	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	48–31
67	September 21, 1996	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	38–28
68	November 8, 1997	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	38–24
69	October 24, 1998	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	26–24
70	October 2, 1999	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	38–16
71	November 11, 2000	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	21–17
72	November 17, 2001	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	20–17
73	November 23, 2002	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	35–10
74	November 15, 2003	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	44–21
75	October 30, 2004	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	24–21
76	November 12, 2005	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	31–24
77	November 10, 2006	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	31–7
78	November 6, 2007	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	34–31
79	October 18, 2008	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	38–28
80	October 17, 2009	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	34–23
81	November 5, 2010	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	26–22
82	September 17, 2011	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	44–14
83	November 3, 2012	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	42–31
84	November 16, 2013	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	27–22
85	November 22, 2014	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	32–20
86	October 10, 2015	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	41–39
87	October 1, 2016	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	49–10
88	November 1, 2017	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	35–28
89	October 20, 2018	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	35–10
90	September 28, 2019	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	31–15
91	November 18, 2020	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	52–44
92	November 3, 2021	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Central Michigan	42–30
93	November 16, 2022	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	12–10
94	November 7, 2023	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	38–28
95	November 19, 2024	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Central Michigan	16–14
96	November 1, 2025	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Western Michigan	24–21
97	October 17, 2026	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Western Michigan	21–14
Series: Western Michigan leads 55–40–2

References

1 2 3 4 Seth Berry (September 26, 2019). "Football Beat: WMU vs CMU: A look inside the history of the rivalry". Western Herald. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
↑ Seth Berry (September 26, 2019). "Football Beat: WMU vs CMU: A look inside the history of the rivalry". Western Herald. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
↑ "CMU–WMU Rivalry Trophy to Debut Saturday". Central Michigan University Athletics. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
↑ "Broncos Host Chippewas for The Battle For The Cannon on Tuesday". Western Michigan University Athletics. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
↑ John A. Lacko (September 17, 2011). "Western Michigan kicks rivalry blues, pounds Central Michigan, 44-14". Kalamazoo Gazette. MLive.com. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
↑ "Western Michigan football defeats Central Michigan 42-31 to snap 10-year skid in Mt. Pleasant". November 4, 2012.

[:0-1] 1 2 3 4 Seth Berry (September 26, 2019). "Football Beat: WMU vs CMU: A look inside the history of the rivalry". Western Herald. Retrieved November 20, 2024.

[2] Seth Berry (September 26, 2019). "Football Beat: WMU vs CMU: A look inside the history of the rivalry". Western Herald. Retrieved November 21, 2024.

[3] "CMU–WMU Rivalry Trophy to Debut Saturday". Central Michigan University Athletics. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2011.

[4] "Broncos Host Chippewas for The Battle For The Cannon on Tuesday". Western Michigan University Athletics. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2024.

[5] John A. Lacko (September 17, 2011). "Western Michigan kicks rivalry blues, pounds Central Michigan, 44-14". Kalamazoo Gazette. MLive.com. Retrieved November 24, 2011.

[6] "Western Michigan football defeats Central Michigan 42-31 to snap 10-year skid in Mt. Pleasant". November 4, 2012.

v t e Central Michigan Chippewas football
Venues	Kelly/Shorts Stadium (1972–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Eastern Michigan Western Michigan Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan: Michigan MAC Trophy
Culture & lore	Chippewa Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913–1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Western Michigan Broncos football
Venues	Waldo Stadium (1939–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Central Michigan Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan: Michigan MAC Trophy
Culture & lore	Buster Bronco Bronco Marching Band 2026 Michigan game
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

v t e Mid-American Conference football rivalries
Conference	Wagon Wheel (Akron–Kent State) Anniversary Award (Bowling Green–Kent State) Bowling Green–Toledo Central Michigan–Eastern Michigan Central Michigan–Western Michigan Michigan MAC Trophy (Central Michigan–Eastern Michigan–Western Michigan) Battle of the Bricks (Miami (OH)–Ohio)
Non-conference	Steel Tire (Akron–Youngstown State) Blue Key Victory Bell (Ball State–Indiana State) Bronze Stalk Trophy (Ball State–Northern Illinois) Boston College–UMass Victory Bell (Cincinnati–Miami (OH)) Battle for the Bell (Marshall–Ohio) Colonial Clash (New Hampshire–UMass) Causeway Classic (Sacramento State–UC Davis) UConn–UMass

Central Michigan–Western Michigan football rivalry

History

Victory Cannon

Game results

See also

References