Northwestern Dominates Central Michigan in GameAbove Sports Bowl Victory

The Northwestern Wildcats delivered a commanding performance to conclude their 2025 season, defeating the Central Michigan Chippewas 34-7 in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit. The victory was fueled by a potent offensive display from quarterback Preston Stone and a relentless defensive effort that ruthlessly capitalized on opponent mistakes, turning four Central Michigan turnovers directly into touchdowns.

A Defensive Masterclass and Offensive Efficiency

While the final score shows offensive production, the game's narrative was written by Northwestern's defense and special teams. The first half was a defensive stalemate until a critical interception by Braden Turner shifted the momentum entirely. Turner picked off a pass from Central Michigan quarterback Angel Flores, setting up the Wildcats at the Chippewas' 29-yard line. Just three plays later, Preston Stone connected with Griffin Wilde for a 23-yard touchdown, breaking the scoreless tie.

The floodgates opened immediately after. On the ensuing kickoff, Central Michigan's other quarterback, Joe Labas, fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. Northwestern recovered on the 18-yard line, and Caleb Komolafe punched in a 2-yard run to extend the lead to 14-0. In a stunning sequence of errors, Flores fumbled on the very next first-down play, giving the Wildcats the ball back once more. Stone needed only one play to find Lawson Albright for another 23-yard touchdown pass. In a span of just 3 minutes and 2 seconds, Northwestern had turned a 0-0 game into a 21-0 lead, a deficit from which Central Michigan could not recover.

Sealing the Victory and Historical Context

Northwestern left no doubt after halftime. On Central Michigan's first drive of the third quarter, Angel Flores fumbled for a second time. This time, Braden Turner scooped up the loose ball and returned it 47 yards for a defensive touchdown. Although the extra point was missed, the score ballooned to 27-0. Preston Stone later added his third touchdown pass of the game, again finding Griffin Wilde, to push the lead to 34-0. Central Michigan avoided a shutout late in the fourth quarter when Joe Labas hit Brock Townsend for a 3-yard touchdown pass.

This victory carries significant historical weight for both programs. For Northwestern, it extends their impressive bowl game winning streak to six consecutive victories. They have not lost a postseason contest since the 2015 Outback Bowl. Conversely, the loss extends a frustrating trend for Central Michigan in bowl games against Big Ten opponents. All three of their bowl matchups against the Big Ten have resulted in losses, and all three have occurred at Ford Field, including this game and previous defeats to Purdue (2007) and Minnesota (2015).

Key Takeaways from the GameAbove Sports Bowl

The final statistics tell a clear story of dominance dictated by turnovers. Central Michigan's four giveaways—three fumbles and one interception—occurred in a devastating span of just 12 plays across the second and third quarters. During that collapse, the Chippewas managed only a single first down. Northwestern's offense operated with remarkable efficiency thanks to the short fields provided by their defense. The Wildcats' four touchdown drives averaged only 17.5 yards, highlighted by Turner's fumble return score that required no offensive snaps at all.

For Northwestern, the bowl victory caps a 7-6 season on a high note, showcasing a team that excels at seizing opportunities. For Central Michigan, also finishing 7-6, the game serves as a stark lesson in the cost of turnovers at the highest level of competition. The GameAbove Sports Bowl result reinforces the Wildcats' reputation as a disciplined, opportunistic program in the postseason, while the Chippewas will look to end their Ford Field bowl hex in future seasons.