CFB Bowl Preview 2025: GameAbove Sports Bowl
By Rory Daniels
Bowl season is in full swing, and we will be previewing every bowl game this year. This year’s GameAbove Sports Bowl will be contested between Central Michigan Chippewas and Northwestern Wildcats. Let’s take a look at the key matchups.
Where and When
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Date: Friday December 26
Time: 1pm ET / 6PM GMT
Story So Far...
Central Michigan enjoyed their first winning season since 2021 under the guidance of new Head Coach Matt Drinkall. The 7-5 record, 5-3 in the MAC, was quite the achievement for Drinkall, a rookie coach who had previously been an assistant at Army West Point. While the Chippewas struggled against big hitters like Michigan and Pitt, they were strong against their own conference opponents. Drinkall will look to repeat Central Michigan’s 2021 Sun Bowl success here.
Northwestern’s Head Coach David Braun is the first Wildcats coach to go to two bowl games in his first three seasons in charge. The team struggled against top competition in Pat Fitzgerald’s last couple of seasons, but Braun has made them competitive. The Wildcats were strong on defense but at times anaemic on offense, only registering three against Tulane and under 20 on another five occasions. The 22-21 win over Penn State was the highlight, but a win in this one would eclipse that.
The Quarterbacks
Iowa transfer Joe Labas left the Hawkeyes to get more action as a thrower, but it has been his game management skills and leadership that have proven key to Central Michigan’s success. He’s had to come out of the game at times to allow more mobile QBs to impose the run-first identity of the offense, but never grumbled and moved the unit efficiently with his arm. Labas has already been the MVP in the 2022 Music City Bowl; he’d love to repeat that.
Northwestern would have hoped for a bit more from Preston Stone, the SMU transfer. He lost his job to the more dynamic Kevin Jennings for the Mustangs and endured a patchy season for the Wildcats. Four interceptions on debut was a less-than-ideal way to start, but he had bright spots against Louisiana Monroe and Minnesota. He ended the year with a three-pick game against Illinois, so it will be interesting to see which version of Stone arrives at the bowl game.
Who to Watch
Central Michigan
Jordan Kwiatkowski, Linebacker
Kwiatkowski was the lone MAC linebacker to make it onto the Butkus Award nominations. He led the Chippewas in tackles, with 109 tackles, 12.5 of which were for a loss. He also added three sacks and three interceptions. One of which he returned to the house in their 38-19 loss to Buffalo. Northwestern’s success tends to depend on its run game, and Kwiatkowski will hope to stifle that.
Northwestern
Caleb Komolafe, Running Back
Komolafe had to take the reins as the lead back for the Wildcats after Cam Porter suffered an injury and did a good job. He ran for 886 yards and ten touchdowns at over 5 yards per carry. He missed the final game of the regular season, but Northwestern hope to have him back for the bowl tilt to take some pressure off Stone at QB.
Prediction
As a Big 10 power, Northwestern is a clear favourite in this one, 10.5-point ones to be exact. They should have too much talent for the Chippewas, but it hinges on Stone’s ability to pull out a good final showing and avoid turnovers.
Central Michigan 16-29 Northwestern
Rory-Joe Daniels
COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.