Matt Drinkall kept Angel Flores at quarterback for the entire second half against Colgate after using three quarterbacks under the pregame plan. After Flores lost a fumble on the first possession after halftime, Central Michigan put together touchdown drives of 87 and 65 yards, finishing them with runs by Flores and Vaughn Blue. CMU won 13-10. Drinkall’s decision gave the offense continuity; now he has to decide how much of that approach to carry into Wyoming.
The Cowboys visit Saturday, September 19, at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Fan Watch gives CMU a 54% chance to win in a near-even matchup. Other games offer little help to CMU this week. The interactive guide has the matchup probabilities, with the model explained in the methodology.
Flores supplied 122 of CMU’s 200 rushing yards against Colgate, including 100 after halftime. That production makes a strong case for giving him room to keep working. But Drinkall and Flores described a faster, more varied offense with a more open passing game entering this season. CMU has passed for 30 yards against New Mexico and 76 against Colgate. The running recovery gives Drinkall something to preserve; the passing expansion still needs to show up across possessions.
There is one specific play to build on. On fourth-and-nine during the go-ahead drive, Flores found Justin Ruffin Jr. for 18 yards. Flores said CMU anticipated Colgate’s pressure and Ruffin recognized the vacated middle, according to CMU’s game recap. That is the passing football to root for Saturday, with a quarterback and receiver recognizing pressure together and finding the available space, preferably before fourth down makes the possession an emergency.
Wyoming brings a reason to care about those decisions. Jones Thomas intercepted two Northern Colorado passes last week, and the Cowboys recorded three sacks. Whoever Drinkall uses needs to get the ball out without turning an attempt to expand the offense into extra possessions for Wyoming.
CMU’s rebuilt defense held Colgate to 219 yards and no second-half points after allowing 364 yards, including 205 rushing, at New Mexico. Cornerback and captain Jaion Jackson returned after sitting out the first half at Drinkall’s discretion following his New Mexico ejection; Drinkall credited his second-half presence with a major impact. Against Wyoming, that unit needs to show it can repeat the improvement against an FBS opponent.
Safety Justin Taylor adds a personal stake against Wyoming. He transferred from the Cowboys after playing all 12 games for them in 2025. Against Colgate, he started and contributed six tackles and a pass breakup. Another active afternoon from Taylor would give CMU fans something more useful than a reunion storyline, help keeping his former team out of the end zone.
And when CMU gets within ordinary kicking range, watch the whole operation. Caden VanHuis missed a 29-yard field goal against Colgate and had an extra point blocked. Those were two separate chances to put points on the board in a three-point win. Against Wyoming, a short field goal or an extra point should be a chance to bank the offense’s work without needing another fourth-down rescue.