The Central Michigan Chippewas (4-8 in 2022) and the Michigan State Spartans (5-7 in 2022) meet each other on Friday night in the midst of respective rebuild seasons coming off campaigns which were meant to be full of promise.
This opening week contest will be nationally televised, which presents an opportunity for both programs to make a statement about the direction they’re heading for the 2023 season— and by extension, their near futures.
Both Jim McElwain and Mel Tucker are in pivotal positions in their current builds, and it’s to be determined if they’re going in the right direction after disappointing ventures in the last campaign.