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Updated at 1:06 p.m. to reflect additional reporting regarding Alabama date change.
Central Michigan University athletics announced the addition of a new football opponent in their future schedules on Wednesday morning, and it’s a familiar one: the Michigan State Spartans.
The games are currently scheduled to take place on Sept. 2, 2023, Sept. 11, 2027 and Aug, 31, 2030. All three games are to be played at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan, about an hour-and-a-half from Mt. Pleasant.
The 2023 tilt replaces a previously scheduled game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, which was set to be the program’s first meeting with the SEC stalwart.
The renewal of the regional rivalry series with Michigan State will be the first meeting between both teams since 2018, when MSU overcame early struggles and stifled a late Chippewa rally to put away CMU by a final score of 31-20.
The 2023 game will be the 12th meeting all-time between the two Mid-Michigan teams, with 10 of the last 11 games in East Lansing. MSU leads the series 8-3 in 11 meetings.
“There is such a great tradition between Central Michigan and Michigan State, and we are excited to build on that with this three-game series,” Central Michigan athletic director Michael Alford said via press release. “I appreciate the staff at Michigan State working with us to put together a series that I know our fans and alumni really look forward to and is another great opportunity to play an in-state opponent.”
It is unknown at this time how much CMU will be guaranteed in terms of a payout as of publication.
Per Central Michigan Life’s Evan Petzold on Twitter, Michigan State offered CMU the three-game series with local travel costs, prompting CMU to ask the University of Alabama for a release on their previously signed agreement back in 2018.
The game with Alabama will not be rescheduled.
CMU will have two more holes to fill in the 2023 future schedule, with currently scheduled games against MSU and South Alabama. CMU currently has a road trip to Wyoming in 2027 and a road trip to San Diego State in 2030, as well.