2019 Central Michigan Chippewas football team
The 2019 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Michigan University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Jim McElwain and played their home games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference.
Offseason
Coaching changes
The 2018 team finished the season going 1–11, the worst season in program history; head coach John Bonamego was fired on November 23 following the team's regular season finale. On December 2, the university announced that Michigan wide receivers coach Jim McElwain had been hired as the program's 29th head coach. Prior to his time at Michigan, McElwain also served as the head coach for Colorado State and Florida.
Preseason
MAC media poll
The MAC released their preseason media poll on July 23, 2019, with the Chippewas predicted to finish in sixth place in the West Division.
Game summaries
Albany
| Statistics | ALB | CMU |
| First downs | 13 | 31 |
| Total yards | 244 | 529 |
| Rushing yards | 45 | 244 |
| Passing yards | 199 | 285 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 23:22 | 36:38 |
At No. 17 Wisconsin
| Statistics | CMU | WIS |
| First downs | 3 | 37 |
| Total yards | 58 | 599 |
| Rushing yards | 15 | 199 |
| Passing yards | 43 | 400 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 20:33 | 39:27 |
Akron
| Statistics | AKR | CMU |
| First downs | 16 | 21 |
| Total yards | 326 | 533 |
| Rushing yards | 42 | 189 |
| Passing yards | 284 | 344 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:10 | 28:50 |
At Miami (FL)
| Statistics | CMU | MIA |
| First downs | 21 | 16 |
| Total yards | 248 | 301 |
| Rushing yards | 31 | 51 |
| Passing yards | 217 | 250 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:46 | 27:14 |
| Statistics | CMU | WMU |
| First downs | 31 | 22 |
| Total yards | 437 | 432 |
| Rushing yards | 107 | 188 |
| Passing yards | 330 | 244 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:30 | 31:30 |
Eastern Michigan
| Statistics | EMU | CMU |
| First downs | 22 | 24 |
| Total yards | 285 | 587 |
| Rushing yards | 63 | 308 |
| Passing yards | 222 | 279 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:48 | 32:12 |
| Statistics | NMSU | CMU |
| First downs | 18 | 22 |
| Total yards | 384 | 486 |
| Rushing yards | 121 | 352 |
| Passing yards | 263 | 134 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:59 | 35:01 |
| Statistics | CMU | BGSU |
| First downs | 26 | 19 |
| Total yards | 553 | 344 |
| Rushing yards | 254 | 178 |
| Passing yards | 299 | 166 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 35:25 | 24:35 |
At Buffalo
| Statistics | CMU | BUFF |
| First downs | | |
| Total yards | | |
| Rushing yards | | |
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| Turnovers | | |
| Time of possession | | |
Northern Illinois
| Statistics | NIU | CMU |
| First downs | | |
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| Turnovers | | |
| Time of possession | | |
| Statistics | CMU | BALL |
| First downs | | |
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Toledo
| Statistics | TOL | CMU |
| First downs | | |
| Total yards | | |
| Rushing yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Turnovers | | |
| Time of possession | | |
| Statistics | MOH | CMU |
| First downs | 15 | 20 |
| Total yards | 272 | 355 |
| Rushing yards | 76 | 99 |
| Passing yards | 196 | 256 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:05 | 29:55 |
| Statistics | CMU | SDSU |
| First downs | 7 | 24 |
| Total yards | 277 | 510 |
| Rushing yards | 112 | 223 |
| Passing yards | 165 | 287 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 21:41 | 38:19 |