Northwestern takes aim at CMU in GameAbove Sports Bowl

Northwestern coach David Braun said watching Central Michigan is like gazing into a mirror, and the numbers back that up.

The Wildcats rank top-35 in FBS in scoring defense at 20.9 points allowed per game; the Chippewas are close behind at 22.7. They're almost identical in rushing offense -- 169.5 yards per game for Central Michigan, 167.1 for Northwestern. And both sides feature a fifth-year quarterback who would like to go out with a win.

Those similarities and more should make for an intriguing matchup in the GameAbove Sports Bowl on Friday afternoon in Detroit.

The Wildcats (6-6) were picked second-to-last in the Big Ten preseason media poll, only to start the season 5-2 and ultimately earn their second bowl trip in three years under Braun.

After four seasons at SMU, Preston Stone took a graduate transfer to Evanston and passed for 2,174 yards and 14 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. The Wildcats' multi-pronged ground attack was led by Caleb Komolafe (886 yards, 10 TDs).

But Northwestern has shone brightest on defense, with a 22-21 win over Penn State, a shutout of Purdue and a close 24-22 loss to Michigan on its ledger. Standouts included Aidan Hubbard (4.5 sacks) and Mac Uihlein (second-leading tackler with 92, team-high four interceptions).

In a joint press conference following the bowl announcement, Braun explained why Central Michigan reminded him of his own team.

"A team that plays really hard, is committed to running the football, plays great defense," he said. "You can tell that this group is well-coached, plays the game the right way. They play for one another, with great fundamentals and great technique, with a great deal of physicality."

First-year Central Michigan coach Matt Drinkall returned the compliment.

"You knew exactly when you drew them in the bowl game, you're like, ‘Oh man, I already know what this film is going to look like before I turn it on.' Then you turn it on and it reaffirms everything," Drinkall said. "All the things that a disciplined, really good football team does show up."

The Chippewas (7-5) won four of their last six games to lock in an above-.500 record. And they are shouldering one of the most intriguing quarterback situations of the bowl season.

Central Michigan spent most of the season using a two-quarterback system, with redshirt senior Joe Labas doing the throwing and Angel Flores guiding the run game. Flores was hurt Oct. 25 and it's been all Labas since, but Drinkall revealed last week that Flores would be able to play in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.

"We're figuring out in the process of bowl prep what and how much he's going to be able to do," Drinkall said. "But he's been pretty much cleared and doing everything just fine."

Labas threw for 1,676 yards and 12 TDs with six interceptions. Flores had 519 rushing yards and a team-high eight touchdowns over eight games.

The game formerly known as the Quick Lane Bowl saw some history made last year. Toledo beat Pitt 48-46 in six overtimes, breaking the record set two days earlier at the Hawaii Bowl for the most overtime periods in an FBS bowl.