Will Eastern Michigan football be a contender in the MAC in 2022?

Eastern Michigan football went to its fourth bowl game in eight seasons under head coach Chris Creighton. Can they contend for a conference title?

For those who don’t know, Eastern Michigan football used to be one of the worst football programs in the country. There was a time the program’s goal was to keep games within three touchdowns. Before Chris Creighton arrived in 2014, the Eagles had four winning seasons in the 30 years previous.

More recently, from 1996 until 2015, the Eagles won more than four games only once, when Ron English went 6-6 in 2011. It took the well-traveled Creighton two years, but he got them to a bowl game in his third season in Ypsilanti.

This season is Creighton’s ninth at Eastern Michigan, and the floor has been raised. The Eagles have six bowl appearances in school history; four have come during Creighton’s tenure. However, the Eagles have yet to win a bowl game under Creighton.

Eastern Michigan last won the MAC championship in 1987. They’ve not played for a MAC title since then either. The big question this season is, “Have the Eagles already hit their ceiling?” Can Eastern Michigan compete for a conference title, or is 7-6 their ceiling?

If you ask coach Creighton, he’d tell you their goal is to win a MAC championship. Can they?

Here is a look at their offense, defense, and schedule.