It’s the most wonderful time of the year for college football junkies: bowl season. Here, bragging rights are on the line and matchups get spicy.

This year, the GameAbove Sports Bowl puts the Northwestern Wildcats toe-to-toe with the Central Michigan Chippewas, continuing the bowl’s tradition of pitting a Big Ten bruiser against a MAC grinder. Different leagues, different styles. But same postseason stakes.

For Northwestern, there’s a little extra history baked in. The last time the Wildcats played a bowl game on Michigan turf was in 2003, a gut-punch 28–24 loss to Bowling Green in the Motor City Bowl (the old-school version of the Quick Lane Bowl). Fast forward 22 years, and the ’Cats are back, looking to flip the script and even the score.

Will Northwestern break the drought, or will CMU play spoiler on its home-field-adjacent turf? That’s why they play the game.

Before kickoff, let’s pop the hood and break down the top three matchups that could decide the GameAbove Sports Bowl.

This one starts in the trenches. Northwestern’s O-line — anchored by All-Big Ten mauler Caleb Tiernan- has its hands full with rusher Michael Heldman, who’s been living in opposing backfields all season. Heldman ranks eighth nationally with 10.5 sacks, and if he’s allowed to tee off, things could get uncomfortable fast.

If the Wildcats can keep the pocket clean and win on first down, they’ll be dictating terms. Control the line of scrimmage, and Northwestern looks built to haul hardware back to Evanston.

If Northwestern wants to punch its ticket to bowl glory, the defense has to set the tone early.

With Robert Fitzgerald (conference-best 68 solo tackles) flying downhill and Mac Uihlein patrolling the second level, the Wildcats have the personnel to clamp down and force mistakes. This unit thrives when it’s attacking, not reacting.

Caleb Komolafe also jump-started the Wildcats' late-season push with nearly 900 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. If the Chippewas can protect the football, they can shorten the game and keep Northwestern uncomfortable.

Both teams limped into bowl season after closing losses on Nov. 29. Central Michigan dropped a 21–3 decision to Toledo, while Northwestern fell, 20–13, at Illinois.

CMU (7–5, 5–3 MAC) has won two of its last three, while Northwestern (6–6, 4–5 Big Ten) has dropped four of five. Add in portal exits, including CMU DL Kade Kostus, and depth just became a storyline worth tracking.

The last time the Wildcats played a bowl game in Michigan was in 2003, a heartbreaking 28–24 loss to Bowling Green in the Motor City Bowl. Twenty-two years later, they’re back at Ford Field, looking to even the ledger.

Meanwhile, Central Michigan is playing close to home — literally. The Chippewas haven't left the Midwest since Week 2, went 4–1 at home, and are riding the high of their first winning season since 2021. This one means more when it’s in your backyard.

Northwestern leads the all-time series 1–0, winning the only previous matchup 30–25 in 2010. The Wildcats enter as 10.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 43.5. They are even opening as heavy favorites ahead of the showdown.

More importantly? Northwestern is chasing its sixth straight bowl win, a streak dating back to 2016 that is currently tied for the third-longest active run in the country. Under David Braun, this program knows how to close when the lights are on.

The biggest test for the Wildcats is still on offense. After what fans saw against Illinois, there’s a real question about how much this unit has evolved over 12 games.

If the protection holds and the defense creates chaos, Northwestern should be in control. If not, CMU has enough grit to make this uncomfortable.

Buckle up! Bowl season doesn’t ask for permission.