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94 ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 24, ISSUE 6 f er for a shot at its first divisional and conference championship since 2009. "There is more depth and talent than ever before on the roster while all the top teams in the MAC West are going to be dealing with breaking in new quarterbacks," said Nate Schnei- der, who covers Central Michigan for the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun. "If CMU is going to make that jump and compete for the MAC title, Cooper Rush will have to take that next step in his progression and show exactly why he was a highly touted prospect after setting records at Lansing Cath- olic Central High School." Rush moved into the starting role as a redshirt freshman only after se- nior Cody Kater broke his collarbone in the season opener against Mich- igan. But Rush played well enough last year (2,349 yards, 15 TDs, 15 INTs) to likely keep the job. Though he struggled with reads at times, he showed enough potential to deserve the spot for 2014, Schneider said. At least he'll have help. The offensive line, which averag- es 304 pounds, has a second-team All-MAC senior at left guard who has started 30 consecutive games, an equally experienced center and three other second-year starters. And there appears to be some weapons, too. After a first-team All-MAC season with 1,109 yards and eight touch- downs, receiver Titus Davis opted to return for his final season and gives Rush a big target. As the top back, Saylor Savalli had 807 yards rushing for a team that fin- ished 6-6, missing a bowl game for only the third time in the last eight seasons. To compete for a title, the defense must continue to improve. It'll be in its third season using a base nickel defense, and it's moved up from 11th in the league in total defense in 2011 to seventh in 2012 to fourth last sea- son. But it still needs to slow the con- ference's best offensive teams: The Chippewas still allowed 28.7 points per game, ninth in the league, and allowed 38 points to Northern Illinois and Toledo and 44 to Ball State. "The upper-echelon MAC teams mostly had their way," Schneider said. "It wasn't always a strong unit to watch. But look for more consis- tency this season, and nine starters back shouldn't hurt at all as there is some definite talent there." Perhaps the standout is senior linebacker Justin Cherocci, the MAC's leading tackler the last two seasons (253). The third-year start- er and All-MAC pick will need to be effective at a new position, moving to strongside linebacker in 2014. — Stacy Clardie Where's The D? (6-6 overall, 5-3 MAC, 4th West) Date Opponent . . . . . . . . . Results 8/31 at Michigan . . . . . . . . . L, 9-59 9/7 NEW HAMPSHIRE . . . W, 24-21 9/14 at UNLV . . . . . . . . . . . L, 21-31 9/21 TOLEDO . . . . . . . . . . . L, 17-38 9/28 at N.C. State . . . . . . . . L, 14-48 10/5 at Miami (OH) . . . . . . . W, 21-9 10/12 at Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . W, 26-23 10/19 NORTHERN ILLINOIS. L, 17-38 11/6 at Ball State . . . . . . . . L, 24-44 11/16 at Western Michigan . W. 27-22 11/23 UMASS. . . . . . . . . . . . . W, 37-0 11/29 EASTERN MICHIGAN W, 42-10 Who's in Charge? COACH DAN ENOS Record at Central Michigan: 19-30 (four seasons) Record vs. Purdue: 0-0 Date Opponent 8/28 CHATTANOOGA 9/6 at Purdue 9/13 SYRACUSE 9/20 at Kansas 9/27 at Toledo 10/4 OHIO 10/11 at Northern Illinois 10/18 BALL STATE 10/25 at Buffalo 11/1 at Eastern Michigan 11/15 MIAMI (OH) 11/22 WESTERN MICHIGAN 2013 RESULTS 2014 SCHEDULE EARLY LINE: PURDUE -1 Purdue is undefeated and has averaged 46.8 points per game in its five previous meetings with the the Chippewas. 1999: 58 -16 2000: 48 -0 2007: 45 -22 2007: 51 -48 2008: 32 -25 OF NOTE: Central Michigan's .606 all- time winning percentage ranks 23rd among all FBS schools and third among non-power conference schools behind Boise State and Miami (Ohio).