The 2023 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Eagles were led by tenth-year head coach Chris Creighton and played their home games at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan. They competed as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They finished the regular season 6–6 and 4–4 in conference play. They would end the season losing 10–59 to South Alabama in the 68 Ventures Bowl.
The Eastern Michigan Eagles football team drew an average home attendance of 16,882 in 2023.
Preseason Preseason awards Samson Evans: Maxwell Award preseason watchlist
Preseason coaches poll On July 20, the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Eastern Michigan was picked to finish second in the West Division.
Schedule
Game summaries at Buffalo
South Alabama (68 Ventures Bowl)
Following the game, an altercation took place on-field between the teams prior to the trophy presentation, initiated by an Eastern Michigan player sucker punching a South Alabama player while the South Alabama marching band and team were singing the school's alma mater. Eastern Michigan's athletic director apologized the next day, stating (in part) "We strongly condemn the actions of some of the student-athletes".
Statistics USAEMU First downs 29 10 Total yards 627 150 Rushing yards 320 77 Passing yards 307 73 Passing: comp–att–int 23–36–1 12–30–2 Time of possession 30:53 29:07 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Alabama Passing Gio Lopez 14/19, 192 yards, 3 TD Rushing Gio Lopez 7 carries, 88 yards, TD Receiving Jamaal Pritchett 8 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TDEastern Michigan Passing Cam'Ron McCoy 12/27, 73 yards, 2 INT Rushing Cam'Ron McCoy 13 carries, 73 yards, TD Receiving Terry Lockett Jr. 2 receptions, 29 yards
Post Season Awards Brian Dooley (Disney Spirit Award)
References