{"id":449193,"date":"2026-08-31T20:50:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T20:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/449193\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T20:50:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T20:50:09","slug":"football-hosts-san-jose-state-friday-night-in-ypsi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/449193\/","title":{"rendered":"Football Hosts San Jose State Friday Night in Ypsi"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nYPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The ‘Friday Night Lights’ will shine bright over ‘The Factory’ at Rynearson Stadium this week as the Eastern Michigan University football team will play host to the Spartans of San Jose State University Friday, Sept. 4, in Ypsilanti. The Eagles (1-0, 1-0 MAC) and Spartans (0-1) are set to meet in the regular season for the first time in the series after Eastern won the previous two meetings with both coming in bowl games (1987 California and 2022 Potato).
\n\u00a0
\nTUNE IN
\nThe match-up between Eastern Michigan and San Jose State will be aired live on ESPN+ with Evan Stockton (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst) on the call. The Voice of the Eagles, Tom Helmer, is back on the air with play-by-play calls on WEMU (89.1 FM) with Rob Rubick joining him in the booth to break down all the action that can be heard live on WEMU.org, The Varsity Network app, and SiriusXM.
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\nAND THE AWARD GOES TO…
\nThe MAC announced its weekly awards, Aug. 31, with Eastern Michigan sweeping the three honors<\/a> as Noah Kim<\/a> was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week, Zach Mowchan<\/a> was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week, and Nick Devereaux<\/a> was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Week as all three were instrumental in the season and conference-opening victory. Kim was 27-of-38 passing for 279 yards and two touchdowns while adding one more on the ground while Mowchan posted 14 tackles (seven solo) and 1.5 TFLs to guide a defense the held the Hornets to just 34 yards in the first half and 271 total yards in the game. Devereaux collected 81 yards on three kick returns, including a 40-yard run, while adding 73 yards receiving with one touchdown to finish with 154 all-purpose yards, the highest total of his career (121 vs. Ohio, Oct. 25, 2025).
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\nTHE YPSI 500
\nEastern Michigan secured its 500th all-time victory with its 28-17 win over visiting Sacramento State, Aug. 29, inside Rynearson Stadium for both team’s season and Mid-American Conference opener. With the win, the Eagles improved to 500-637-47 all-time and became the 111th different FBS program to reach the 500-win milestone. The next two teams on the list chasing 500 include Houston (486) and fellow MAC member Ball State (483).
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\nGOING LIVE ON YEAR 135
\nThe 2026 season marks the 135th varsity campaign for Eastern Michigan and its 51st as a member of the Mid-American Conference. EMU, then known as Michigan State Normal School, played its first game, Oct. 21, 1891, and has played at least two games every calendar year since then with the exception of 1944 (World War II).
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\nNON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS UNDER CREIGHTON
\nSince the start of the 1976 season, Eastern Michigan has won 56 games in non-conference play with 44.6percent of those victories (25 wins) coming in the past 12 seasons under Chris Creighton<\/a>, an average of two non-conference wins per season. In that same span, 14 of those wins have come on the road with a Creighton-led squad capturing nine wins (64.3 percent), including wins at Big Ten opponents Rutgers (16-13, Sept. 9, 2017), Purdue (20-19, Sept. 8, 2018), and Illinois (34-31, Sept. 14, 2019), while adding a 30-21 win at Arizona State (Sept. 17, 2022), a then-member of the Pac-12 (currently Big 12).
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\nIN THE REAR VIEW \u2022 SEASON OPENING NUMBERS
\nWith its 28-17 victory against Sacramento State (Aug. 29), Eastern Michigan improved to:
\n\u2022 65-62-8 in its first game of the year and 10-3 under Chris Creighton<\/a>.
\n\u2022 82-47-5 in its first home game of the year and 9-3-0 under Chris Creighton<\/a>.
\n\u2022 15-36-0 in its first MAC game of the year, 7-16-0 when that game is played at home, and 18-33-0 in its first home MAC game of the season.
\n\u2022 7-2-0 when its first game of the season is a home conference game.
\n\u2022 8-6-0 in the month of August and winners in 6-of-the-last-7 such contests.
\n\u2022 12-11-0 when playing a team for the first time and 7-1-0 when playing that team at home.
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\nMAKING DEBUTS
\nA total of 23 players saw their first action for EMU in the season-opening win over Sacramento State (Aug. 29) with the list including six players in their first collegiate season, 15 transfers, and two players that had been on the Eastern Michigan roster in previous seasons without competing in a game. The list of newcomers to the field included Rayquan Adkins<\/a>, Samuel Adjin<\/a>, RJ Alphonse<\/a>, Braydon Bennett<\/a>, Tyler Brumfield<\/a>, Peyton Christian<\/a>, Marty Collins<\/a>, Mark Debiak<\/a>, Cole Dellinger<\/a>, Jonah Flowers<\/a>, Horace Glenn III<\/a>, Nathan Henry<\/a>, Daniel Hull<\/a>, Kozy Isaac<\/a>, Jack Kautz<\/a>, Guzzy Kayed<\/a>, Aaron Kearse<\/a>, Alijah Lacey<\/a>, Tyler McMillan<\/a>, Joseph Aluwayemi, Cole Powell<\/a>, Armaad Sharp<\/a>, and Dalin Wilkins<\/a>.
\n\u00a0
\nFIRST TIMERS
\nEleven Eagles not only saw their first game action, but also made their collegiate debuts, including six first-year players (freshmen). The rookies that saw action included Samuel Adjin<\/a>, RJ Alphonse<\/a>, Marty Collins<\/a>, Horace Glenn III<\/a>, Aaron Kearse<\/a>, and Armaad Sharp<\/a> with the remaining first-time collegians included Daniel Hull<\/a>, Isaac Kozy, Jack Kautz<\/a>, Cole Powell<\/a>, and Dalin Wilkins<\/a>.
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\nLET’S GET IT STARTED
\nThe season opener saw seven players earn their first starts for the program with five coming on the offensive side of the ball and two on defense. Offensively, running back Amareon Blue<\/a> and transfers Tyler Brumfield<\/a> and Cole Dellinger<\/a> all earned their first collegiate starts while Guzzy Kayed<\/a> (10th) and Tyler McMillan<\/a> (16th) earned their first with Eastern after transferring into the program. Defensively, transfers Rayquan Adkins<\/a> and Peyton Christian<\/a> each earned a starting spot with Adkins making his second career start and Christian making his 16th.
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\nIT’S A GOLD RUSH
\nEntering its 135th varsity season, Eastern had played 1,183 games. In that time, only four had come against teams from California, including road losses at Fresno State and San Diego State and two bowl wins over San Jose State, with none being played in Ypsilanti. The 28-17 win over Sacramento State marked the first win over a California school in Ypsilanti and started a stretch of back-to-back games hosting a team from the Golden State with San Jose State visiting this week.
\n\u00a0
\n\u2022 W, 30-27, vs. San Jose State (California Bowl)(12\/10\/87)
\n\u2022 L, 41-10, at Fresno State (9\/1\/90)
\n\u2022 L, 23-20 (OT), at San Diego State (9\/22\/18)
\n\u2022 W, 41-27, vs. San Jose State (Potato Bowl)(12\/20\/22)
\n\u2022 W, 28-17, vs. Sacramento State * (8\/29\/26)
\n\u00a0
\nNEW TO THE LIST
\nSince the start of the 2014 season and including its 28-17 win over Sacramento State (Aug. 29), Eastern has played an opponent for the first time in program history 23 times, holding a 12-11 record, with at least one newcomer each season under Chris Creighton<\/a> with the exception of the 2020 COVID season which featured only MAC games. The game with Lindenwood (Sept. 26) will mark the 24th team added to that list. The Eagles are 12-9 in regular season games, including road wins at Illinois (2019) and Arizona State (2022), and 7-1 at home with the lone loss coming last year to Long Island (Sept. 6), 38-23.
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\nKNOW THE FOE: SAN JOSE STATE
\nThe Spartans come to Ypsilanti with a record of 0-1 following their 42-26 loss at No. 14 USC (Aug. 29) as the host Trojans jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and carried a 35-3 advantage into the final quarter. Quarterback Luke Weaver led the offense through the air and on the ground as he finished with 234 yards on 21-of-32 passing with two touchdowns while adding a team-high 42 yards on eight carries with one score. Carson Clark (74 yards) and Jerry McClure (68 yards and one touchdown) each pulled in six catches to pace the receiving corps. Defensively, Naseri Danielson posted a team-leading 10 tackles, including seven solo stops, and one interception as the Spartans recorded three TFLs and two sacks in the game.
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\nALL-TIME VERSUS THE SPARTANS
\nEMU and San Jose State are meeting for the third time in the history of the series with the Eagles holding a 2-0 advantage after capturing a pair of bowl victories over the Spartans. Set to meet for the first time in a regular season contest, the two sides last met at the 2022 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Dec. 20, 2022) in Boise, Idaho, with the Eagles scoring a 41-27 decision. The teams first met Dec. 10, 1987, at the California Bowl in Fresno with Eastern claiming a 30-27 win in its first bowl game in program history.
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\nTIES BETWEEN EMU AND SJSU
\nSJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo faced EMU twice as Navy’s offensive line coach under Paul Johnson. Navy won 39-7 in Annapolis in 2003 and 49-21 at Ford Field in Detroit in 2006. Additionally, SJSU Director of Athletics Jeff Konya served as Oakland University’s AD from 2014-18. Senior Deputy AD for External Operations Scott MacDonald spent more than a decade in Michigan with the Golden Grizzlies and the United Shore Professional Baseball League. Associate AD for Communications and Broadcasting Sky Kerstein also spent four years at Detroit’s WJBK-TV, Fox 2, from 2015-19.
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\nSTARTER REPEATED
\nWith Noah Kim<\/a> earning the starting nod against Sacramento State (Aug. 29), the Eagles had the same starting quarterback in back-to-back season-opening games for the first time under Chris Creighton<\/a> since Preston Hutchinson in 2020 and 2021. Kim also became just the third player to open consecutive seasons as QB1 under Creighton with Reginald Bell becoming the first in 2014 and 2015.
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\nGame 1 Starting Quarterbacks Under Creighton
\n2026 – Noah Kim<\/a>
\n2025 – Noah Kim<\/a>
\n2024 – Cole Snyder
\n2023 – Austin Smith
\n2022 – Taylor Powell
\n2021 – Preston Hutchinson
\n2020 – Preston Hutchinson
\n2019 – Mike Glass
\n2018 – Tyler Wiegers
\n2017 – Brogan Roback
\n2016 – Todd Porter
\n2015 – Reginald Bell
\n2014 – Reginald Bell
\n\u00a0
\nONE BY LAND AND TWO BY AIR
\nIn the opener with Sacramento State (Aug. 29), Noah Kim<\/a> finished the game with two passing touchdowns and added one more on the ground to mark the third time he has accomplished the feat in his career with all three coming with the Eagles in MAC games. Overall, his three such games are tied for the fourth-most among EMU quarterbacks since the start of the 1995 season with Mike Glass III (2018-19) leading the way with five and both Alex Gillett (2010-12) and Preston Hutchinson (2019-20) tied for second with four. When counting only MAC games, Kim’s three games are tied for second with Andy Schmitt (2007-08), Gillett, and Brogan Roback (2015-17) while Hutchinson leads with four.
\n\u00a0
\n2+ pass\/1+ rush TD (since 1995) \u2013 All Games
\n\u2022 Mike Glass III (2018-19) \u2013 5 games
\n\u2022 Alex Gillett (2010-12) \u2013 4 games
\n\u2022 Preston Hutchinson (2019-20) \u2013 4 games
\n\u2022 Noah Kim<\/a> (2025-present) \u2013 3 games
\n\u2022 Andy Schmitt (2007-08) \u2013 3 games
\n\u2022 Brogan Roback (2015-17) \u2013 3 games
\n\u00a0
\n2+ pass\/1+ rush TD (since 1995) \u2013 MAC Games ONLY
\n\u2022 Preston Hutchinson (2019-20) \u2013 4 games
\n\u2022 Noah Kim<\/a> (2025-present) \u2013 3 games
\n\u2022 Andy Schmitt (2007-08) \u2013 3 games
\n\u2022 Alex Gillett (2010-12) – 3 games
\n\u2022 Brogan Roback (2015-17) – 3 games
\n\u00a0
\nONE AND ONE
\nAlong with his propensity to score on the ground and added multiple passing touchdowns, Noah Kim<\/a> also ranks highly (since 1995) among EMU quarterbacks with at least one passing and one rushing touchdown in the same game as he recorded his sixth with two passing and one running score against Sacramento State (Aug. 29). His six career games with EMU are tied for the third-highest with Mike Glass III leading the way with 10.
\n\u00a0
\n1+ pass\/1+ rush TD (since 1995) \u2013 All Games
\n\u2022 Mike Glass III (2018-19) \u2013 10 games
\n\u2022 Alex Gillett (2010-12) \u2013 8 games
\n\u2022 Noah Kim<\/a> (2025-present) \u2013 6 games
\n\u2022 Andy Schmitt (2007-08) \u2013 6 games
\n\u00a0
\nGETTING KOZY IN THE END ZONE
\nIsaac Kozy made the most of his debut as the second-year wide receiver pulled in one catch for 40 yards and a touchdown against Sacramento State (Aug. 29). After not seeing action in 2025, Kozy lined up against the Hornets and found his way to pay dirt to become the 19th different Eastern player (since 1995) to score a receiving touchdown in his first game with team. His scoring grab marked the third consecutive season a newcomer has hauled in a touchdown reception after Joshua Long<\/a> scored in the opener at Texas State (Aug. 30) last year and Oran Singleton came up with one score at UMass (Aug. 31) in 2024.
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\nTHE B’S HAVE IT
\nEastern saw two newcomers in the backfield record more than 63 percent of the carries against Sacramento State as Amareon Blue<\/a> carried the ball 12 times for 55 yards while Braydon Bennett<\/a> toted the rock seven times for 27 yards and one score. Blue, who appeared on special teams in two games in his rookie season of 2025, posted his first career statistics and earned his first collegiate start as well. Bennett, a 2,000-yard back that transferred in from Virginia Tech, found the end zone for the team’s second running score of the game.
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\nBENNETT CLOSING IN ON 2K
\nAhead of the season, Braydon Bennett<\/a> appeared in 48 games over five seasons with Coastal Carolina (2020-25) before playing four last year with Virginia Tech. With his 27 yards on seven carries against Sacramento State (Aug. 29), he drew closer to hitting the 2,000-yard milestone for his career as he currently has 1,989 yards to his credit. Bennett secured 1,954 yards during his time with the Chanticleers before running for eight yards on four carries last year with the Hokies.
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\nBIG MAN RECEPTION
\nEarly in the third quarter against Sacramento State (Aug. 29), Noah Kim<\/a> saw a pass attempt bounce off the hands of a receiver before ricocheting off the hands of a defender and bouncing back toward the offensive backfield. Offensive lineman Cole Powell<\/a> tracked the ball in the air and made the reception and tried to get outside but was tackled for a loss of four yards. Since the start of the 1995 season, Powell is the only EMU lineman to be credited with a reception. Brian Dooley, who had a standout career on the offensive line from 2019-23, pulled in a 20-yard pass in the 20-19 upset win at Purdue (Sept. 8, 2018) when the then-rookie was a tight end.
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\nEARLY SCORING
\nOffensively, Eastern scored 21 points in the first half of play, marking the most it had tallied in the opening two quarters since scoring 21 against Louisiana last year in a 34-31 home win. It also marked the first time the Eagles scored at least 21 points in the first half against a MAC foe since also scoring 21 points at Kent State, Sept. 28, 2024, in a 52-33 win. The last time EMU scored at least 21 points before halftime of a home MAC contest came Sept. 24, 2022, when it tallied 24 against Buffalo.
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\nMOW(CHAN) DOWN OPPONENTS
\nZach Mowchan<\/a> paced the EMU defense with 14 tackles, including a team-high seven solo stops, while recording 1.5 TFLs as well. Mowchan was one off his career high total for tackles after he recorded 15 against Jacksonville State (Sept. 14, 2024).
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\nRETURN OF THE MAC(COON)
\nThe MACcoon Takeaway Chain is BACK! Given to the player that secures a takeaway, the Eagles handed out the prized in-game honor twice against Sacramento State with one fumble recovery and one pick. The chain first came out when Quincy Byas<\/a> and Marvell Eggleston<\/a> combined for their first career takeaways as Byas stripped the ball loose on a sack of the quarterback before Eggleston scooped up the loose ball for his first career recovery. Later in the game, Jason Marshall<\/a> recorded the team’s second takeaway of the year after he intercepted a Sacramento State pass late in the game. Marshall pulled down the pick with just under four minutes to play to help the Eagles close out the win.
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\nLOW PRODUCTION
\nThe Eastern defense, under co-coordinators Tate Omli<\/a> and Kasey Teegardin<\/a>, got off to a strong start in 2026 as the defense forced two takeaways while allowing just 10 points on one field goal (40 yards) and one touchdown (10 plays, 75 yards, 5:08). As a unit, the defense stood tall as it limited the Hornets to 270 total yards in the game after allowing an average of 416.2 yards per contest one year ago. The defense, who held Sacramento State to 34 total yards in the first half, including -21 yards rushing, didn’t allow the Hornets to break the 100-yard barrier until 3:14 remained in the third quarter.
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\nONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS
\nChris Creighton<\/a> reached a significant milestone with his victory at Ball State, Nov. 15, becoming the 38th FBS head coach on record to earn 200 career wins. His career mark now stands at 201-128 across 30 seasons at Wabash, Ottawa, Drake, and Eastern Michigan, supported by a .609 winning percentage. The achievement places him among the active leaders in major college football, joining K.C. Keeler, Kirk Ferentz, and Willie Fritz. He also becomes the first coach to reach 200 career wins while serving at a MAC institution, adding his name to a select group of MAC-linked coaches who have hit the milestone, including Brian Kelly (Central Michigan), Nick Saban (Toledo), Woody Hayes (Miami), and Don Nehlen (Bowling Green).
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\nCREIGHTON IN THE MAC
\nChris Creighton<\/a> has tallied 62 wins during his tenure with Eastern Michigan following the 28-17 defeat of Sacramento State (Aug. 29), with 37 of those victories coming in MAC games. With his most recent win, his 62 wins with the Eagles ranks tied for 11th in MAC history while his league win total is tied for 19th on the list.
\n\u00a0
\nOverall Coaching Wins in MAC History
\n1. Frank Solich (Ohio\/2005-20) \u2022 115
\n2. Herb Deromedi (Central Michigan\/1978-93) \u2022 110
\n3. Bill Hess (Ohio\/1958-77) \u2022 108
\n4. Jason Candle (Toledo\/2015-25) \u2022 81
\n5. Bob Pruett (Marshall\/1997-04) \u2022 79
\n6. Doyt Perry (Bowling Green\/1955-64) \u2022 77
\n7. Gary Pinkel (Toledo\/1991-00) \u2022 73
\n8. Chuck Martin (Miami\/2014-pres) \u2022 72
\n9. Trevor J. Rees (Kent State\/1951-63) \u2022 66
\n10. Bill Mallory (MU\/1969-73, NIU\/1980-83) \u2022 64
\n11. Chris Creighton<\/a> (EMU\/2014-pres) \u2022 62
\n11. Al Molde (Western Michigan\/1987-96) \u2022 62
\n11. Joe Novak (NIU\/1997-07) \u2022 62
\n\u00a0
\nAYE, AYE CAPTAINS!
\nEMU will be led by five captains in the 2026. Following a vote of the current roster, the players selected included Nicholas Gallegos<\/a> (OL), Makhi Gilbert<\/a> (DL), Noah Kim<\/a> (QB), Bryce Llewellyn<\/a> (DB), and Zach Mowchan<\/a> (LB).
\n\u00a0
\nDONNING THE DEUCE
\nIn an Aug. 20 team meeting, Chris Creighton<\/a> announced Nick Devereaux<\/a> would wear ‘The Deuce’ for the 2026 season, an honor reserved for the team’s top senior pass catcher. While players often request a certain number to wear, ‘The Deuce’ must be earned in remembrance of wide receiver Demarius Reed, who passed away on Oct. 18, 2013. ‘The Deuce was put back into circulation in 2017 with the blessing of Reed’s family and former teammates and has been worn by Sergio Bailey II (2017), Blake Banham (2018), Mathew Sexton (2019), Thomas Odukoya (2020), Bryson Cannon (2021), Hassan Beydoun (2022), Tanner Knue (2023), Oran Singleton (2024), and Terry Lockett Jr.<\/a> (2025).
\n\u00a0
\nZEROING IN
\nAnother number that cannot be requested by an Eastern player is The Zero. Most weeks, the defensive coaching staff will select an individual player that stood out in the previous week’s game and the following week of practice and will announce the wearer at a team meeting on the eve of the game with Donmiel Rogers<\/a> earning the honor for the Week 0 game against Sacramento State. Six players return this season that have previously worn The Zero, including two-time honorees Carter Evans<\/a> and Barry Manning<\/a>, along with Quincy Byas<\/a>, Caleb Dobbs<\/a>, Makhi Gilbert<\/a>, and Bryce Llewellyn<\/a>.
\n\u00a0
\nWELCOME TO YPSILANTI
\nThe 2026 roster features 54 newcomers to the program, including 30 first-year players and 24 transfers. The first-year players hail from nine states and two countries with players representing Florida (8), Georgia (3), Illinois, Indiana (4), Kentucky, Michigan (6), New Jersey (2), Ohio (3), and Pennsylvania with one player from Canada. Additionally, the five of the 24 transfers came to Ypsilanti from ‘Power 4’ programs, including Illinois, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech with other NCAA Division I programs including Akron, Delaware State, Drake, Lamar, St. Francis (Pa.), and Yale.
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\nMAKE’EM SAY ‘UNC’LE
\nWhen looking at the newcomers, 11 of the 30 first-year players were born in 2008, nearly six years after eight the team’s ‘elder’ statesmen, including Ronn Hardin<\/a>, who was born in November of 2001. Comparatively, the youngest player on the roster is Horace Glenn III<\/a>, who was born in October of 2008, Hardin the ‘unc’ of the team by over 2,500 days (nearly six years and 11 months).
\n\u00a0
\nADDED TO THE STAFF
\nChanges to the coaching roster also took place since the end of the 2025 season with five new assistant coaches in place for 2026. Joining the staff this year are Antreal Allen<\/a> (cornerbacks), who coached cornerbacks at West Georgia in 2025; Erik Campbell<\/a> (wide receivers), who worked with the wide receivers at Michigan in 2025; Donnell Kirkwood Jr<\/a>. (running backs), who coached running backs at Washington State in 2025; Zac Sias<\/a> (defensive tackles), who worked with the linebackers at Kansas the past two years; and Grant Kurzner<\/a> (special teams coordinator), who worked with Michigan’s special teams the past two years.
\n\u00a0
\nNEW CALLERS
\nAlong with the new additions to the staff, new roles were also assigned as both Tate Omli<\/a> and Kasey Teegardin<\/a> were named co-defensive coordinators for 2026. Omli, who also works with the safeties, is in his fourth season with the Eagles while Teegardin, who is entering his third season in Ypsilanti, will work with the defensive ends. Offensively, Mike Piatkowski<\/a> returns as the offensive coordinator for the Eagles.
\n\u00a0
\nHAIL TO THE CHIEF!
\nThe football player and staff roster was not the only change this offseason as Dr. Brendan Kelly was selected to lead Eastern Michigan as the 24th president of the University. Kelly, who began his tenure in Ypsilanti on April 1, 2026, earned both his bachelor’s degree in public relations and master’s degree in communication from EMU before completing his Ph.D. in political communication and rhetoric at Wayne State University. Early in his career, he served at EMU as Assistant Director of Forensics and a Lecturer in Communication and Theatre Arts, making today’s return a meaningful homecoming for both him and his wife, Dr. Tressa Kelly, also a two\u2011time EMU alumna and longtime educator.
\n\u00a0
\nON THE LIST
\nEastern had 16 players named preseason All-MAC teams by Athlon Sports and\/or Phil Steele with eight Eagles earning a selection to both lists. The Eagles appearing on both ledgers included Nick Devereaux<\/a> (1st team Athlon\/1st team Steele), Carter Evans<\/a> (1st\/1st), Nicholas Gallegos<\/a> (1st\/2nd), Bryce Llewellyn<\/a> (1st\/1st), Joshua Long<\/a> (1st\/1st), Rudy Kessinger<\/a> (2nd\/2nd), Noah Kim<\/a> (3rd\/3rd), and Jason Marshall<\/a> (4th\/4th). Additionally, Athlon Sports recognized Barry Manning<\/a> (2nd), Joshua Anderson<\/a> (3rd), Braydon Bennett<\/a> (3rd), Jefferson Adam<\/a> (4th), Caleb Coley<\/a> (4th), and Harold Mack<\/a> Jr. (4th) while Phil Steele selected Makhi Gilbert<\/a> (3rd) and Juan Salas<\/a> Jr. (4th) to their lists.
\n\u00a0
\nWATCHING OUT
\nSeven Eastern players were named to preseason watch lists for various national honors ahead of the start of the season. The list included Bryce Llewellyn<\/a> for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player), Dennis Strey Jr.<\/a> for the All-State AFCA Good Works Team and the Allstate Wuerfful Trophy (community service), Nick Devereaux<\/a> for the East-West Shrine Bowl (all-star game), Joshua Long<\/a> for the John Mackey Trophy (tight end), Nicholas Gallegos<\/a> for the Rimington Trophy (center), and Braydon Bennett<\/a> for the Doak Walker (running back).
\n\u00a0
\nBACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK-TO…
\nThe early portion of the 2026 Eastern Michigan schedule features several back-to-backs of various interest.
\n\u2022 \u00a0Week 0-1: After having never hosted a team from California, EMU’s first two games of the year come at home against Sacramento State and San Jose State.
\n\u2022 Week 1-2: The Eagles will play back-to-back games against Spartans as the welcome San Jose State (Sept. 4) before traveling to place Michigan State (Sept. 12).
\n\u2022 Week 2-3: Eastern will play its first two road games in back-to-back weekends with both games coming against Big Ten foes, including MSU and Wisconsin.
\n\u2022 Week 10-11: Eastern will play both Michigan MAC schools in back-to-back weeks as the Eagles play host to Central Michigan, Nov. 4, in Motor City MACtion in Detroit before traveling to face Western Michigan, Nov. 17, in Kalamazoo.
\n\u00a0
\nON THE HORIZON
\nWith its run of back-to-back games against California schools behind it, Eastern Michigan will turn its attention to consecutive road games against Big Ten opponents when it travels north to East Lansing, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 12, for a 3:30 p.m. contest against the Spartans of Michigan State University. The Big Ten Network will air the game live on television while Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick will have the call on WEMU (89.1 FM), the Varsity Network app, and SiriusXM radio.
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