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2003 Central Michigan

3–⁠9 (1–⁠7 Mid-American Conference), coached by Mike DeBord.

Schedule and results

Central Michigan in 2003, game by game: lost at Michigan 7–45; won vs. New Hampshire 40–33; won vs. Eastern Kentucky 42–41; lost at Ball State 14–27; lost at Bowling Green 3–23; lost vs. No. 16 Northern Illinois 24–40; lost vs. Toledo 13–31; lost at UCF 13–31; won vs. Eastern Michigan 38–10; lost vs. Akron 28–40; lost at Western Michigan 21–44; lost at Navy 34–63+28−38Lost 7–45 at Michigan-38MichiganWon 40–33 vs. New Hampshire+7New HampshireWon 42–41 vs. Eastern Kentucky+1Eastern KentuckyLost 14–27 at Ball State-13Ball StateLost 3–23 at Bowling Green-20Bowling GreenLost 24–40 vs. No. 16 Northern Illinois-16No. 16 Northern Illino…Lost 13–31 vs. Toledo-18ToledoLost 13–31 at UCF-18UCFWon 38–10 vs. Eastern Michigan+28Eastern MichiganLost 28–40 vs. Akron-12AkronLost 21–44 at Western Michigan-23Western MichiganLost 34–63 at Navy-29Navy
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Aug 30atMichiganL 7–⁠4514%
Sep 6vsNew HampshireW 40–⁠3362%
Sep 13vsEastern KentuckyW 42–⁠4168%
Sep 20atBall StateL 14–⁠2737%
Oct 4atBowling GreenL 3–⁠2320%
Oct 11vs16Northern IllinoisL 24–⁠4024%
Oct 18vsToledoL 13–⁠3129%
Oct 25atUCFL 13–⁠3132%
Nov 1vsEastern MichiganW 38–⁠1070%
Nov 8vsAkronL 28–⁠4041%
Nov 15atWestern MichiganL 21–⁠4428%
Nov 22atNavyL 34–⁠6325%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Lost to Navy 63–⁠34; unranked in the final AP poll; tied for 12th in the Mid-American Conference.

In program history: The 53rd-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 68 on file).

Players on this team

Before 2004 our records hold honors and the draft; these are the players whose college years here, from their Wikipedia articles or their honors, include 2003.

Record
3–⁠9
Conference
1–⁠7 tied for 12th in Mid-American Conference
AP final
Unranked
Points
277–⁠428
Coach
Mike DeBord
Elo
1276 −99 this season
SP+ rating
-22.8 No. 112 of 117; offense No. 103, defense No. 107
SRS
−19.6 No. 112 of 117 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
No. 85
Defensive coordinator
Bob Bartolomeo
Most valuable player
James King

Drives and havoc

Points per trip inside the 40Average startHavoc
Offense0.0own 27— allowed
Defense0.0own 37— caused

A trip inside the 40 is a drive that reaches the opponent’s 40-yard line; points per trip is how many it scored on average (allowed, on defense). Average start is where drives began (the defense’s line is where its opponents started). Havoc is the share of plays ending in a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, an interception or a pass broken up. From CollegeFootballData.com.

Top recruits in the 2003 class

Thomas Keith ILB★★No. 1050
Leython Williams ILB★★No. 1050
Jemmy Jasmin CB★★No. 1050
Lonnel Bess S★★No. 1050
Curtis Cutts S★★No. 1050

247Sports composite rankings via CollegeFootballData.com; national rank in the class.

The 2003 class by position

SignedStarsRating
Quarterbacks12.00.767
Running backs22.00.767
Receivers22.00.767
Offensive line32.00.767
Defensive line32.00.767
Linebackers22.00.767
Defensive backs32.00.767
Whole class162.00.767

High-school signees by position group, with their average stars and 247Sports composite rating (out of 1), via CollegeFootballData.com. Athletes are signees with no set position.

2003 Mid-American Conference standings

Conference page
TeamConf.OverallAP final
Miami (OH)8–⁠013–⁠110
Bowling Green7–⁠111–⁠323
Northern Illinois6–⁠210–⁠2
Marshall6–⁠28–⁠4
Toledo6–⁠28–⁠4
Akron5–⁠37–⁠5
Western Michigan4–⁠45–⁠7
Kent State4–⁠45–⁠7
Ball State3–⁠54–⁠8
Eastern Michigan2–⁠63–⁠9
UCF2–⁠63–⁠9
Central Michigan1–⁠73–⁠9
Ohio1–⁠72–⁠10
Buffalo1–⁠71–⁠11

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.