It’s been six weeks. Six weeks and the Eastern Michigan Eagles are still as mysterious as they were in week zero. From upsets to blowouts, the Eagles have had it all this season and no one is quite sure who they truly are except for the player and coaches in the locker room
The last three weeks have felt like a lifetime. Going from a 1-2 record to a 3-3 record the Eagles made it back to Ypsilanti in one piece just before getting back on the road for week seven of their season looking to create more history.
While the team owns an even record, sitting at 3-3 two of those wins are more important than any of the games that have been played. Both games came against Mid-American Conference opponents meaning that Eastern enters the third quarter of their season with a 2-0 conference record, the first time since 2005 that the team started conference play undefeated through two games.
Noah Kim and the Eastern Michigan offense averaged 342 yards and 26 points per game, during this three game slate. The Eagles defense gave up 329 yards and almost 24 points per game, a drastic improvement from Eastern’s first three games where they gave up almost 400 yards and 26 points per game. The defense had definitely been in question but as of now it appears that the two defensive Co-coordinators have created a tough veteran heavy defensive unit that is cohesive and plays together. The defense continues to make plays and when the offense struggles the defense continues to do its job.
With six games left in the regular season Eastern Michigan is in for a ride taking its fans with them as they attempt to do things that haven't been done since the turn of the century. This Eastern Michigan football team is coming together and playing their best brand of football at exactly the right time but can the good times continue or will this be another year where the lights were just too bright. All we can do for now is wait and watch but for now we can react to their last three games that they played to close out their non-conference schedule.
Game 3: Eastern Michigan at UMass
Result: Eagles lose 38-14
Grade: A
After a difficult stretch against Michigan State and Wisconsin, Eastern Michigan appears to be finding its identity at the right time. After the victory over Lindenwood the Eagles traveled to Amherst and handed undefeated UMass its first loss of the season, winning 38-14 to improve to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in MAC play.
Noah Kim and the Eagles offense put together their best performance of the season, totaling 411 yards and scoring 38 points. Eastern found success through both the air and on the ground, keeping the UMass defense guessing throughout the game.
The second half was where the offense truly separated itself. Kim found Joshua Long for a two-yard touchdown before Amareon Blue scored on a nine-yard run just 24 seconds later. Joey Mattord added a 25-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Rudy Kessinger capped the scoring with a 26-yard field goal.
Five different Eagles scored touchdowns, showing the balance this offense has been searching for all season. After struggling with consistency during the opening weeks, Eastern appears to be gaining confidence at the perfect time.
The defense continued its recent turnaround, holding UMass to just 14 points and 316 total yards. After allowing 54 points to Wisconsin, Eastern has surrendered just 17 points combined in its last two games.
The Eagles are beginning to look more cohesive on defense, making stops when they matter and giving the offense opportunities to build a lead.
Eastern Michigan has turned its season around over the past two weeks, winning back-to-back games by a combined score of 67-17. The offense is producing, the defense is making plays, and the Eagles are undefeated in MAC competition.
There is still plenty of work ahead, but Eastern has given itself a chance to make this season special. Onto Akron
Game 4: Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin 1-0
Result: Eagles lose 54-10
Grade: D+
This game should be scrubbed from the archives. Burn the tapes and forget that Eastern Michigan ever flew to Madison, Wisconsin to take on the Badgers. Embarrassing in every usage of the word.
Seven days after the Eagles took on the Michigan State Spartans falling 35-7 Eastern Michigan returned to face another Big Ten opponent. This time it was the unexpected new and improved Wisconsin Badgers led by quarterback Colton Joseph who threw for 363 yards and 3 touchdowns while adding another touchdown on the ground. Mobile quarterbacks have always been Eastern Michigan’s kryptonite and this time it destroyed them.
Joseph was the star of the show, keeping the Eagles defense off balance and on the field with long sustained drives not allowing Eastern Michigan’s offense to gain any consistency in possession. The Eagles offense scored quickly in the first quarter thanks to a Nick Devereaux over the shoulder catch but the scoring immediately stopped after that. The Badgers would then go on a 41-0 run before the Eagles managed to make it into field goal range and Kessinger knocked through a 38 yard field goal. The scoring wouldn’t stop there as Wisconsin added two more touchdowns, the second coming from a blocked Eastern Michigan field goal attempt that was taken all the way back.
On the offensive side of the ball Noah Kim had arguably his worst game of the season in back to back weeks. Kim threw for 140 yards with one touchdown while also adding two interceptions and a fumble into the mix. Leading wide receiver Nick Devereaux caught the touchdown pass but would later be injured in the second quarter and leave the game. Devereaux sustained a shoulder injury and has been out ever since.
The highlight of the game came in the first quarter when Noah Kim and Nick Devereaux hooked up for the 18 yard touchdown. Devereaux made a spectacular grab off of a beautiful over the shoulder ball from Kim
We gave the Eagles a D+ grade due to the failures on both offense and defense. The inability to find any consistency lowered the teams overall score. Eastern’s offense and Noah Kim must get back on track if this team wants to accomplish its goals because the defense can only hold opponents out of the end zone for so long.
Onto the next.
Game 5: Eastern Michigan vs Lindenwood University 2-3
Result: Eagles win 29-3
Grade: B
In a game where Eastern Michigan should’ve easily dominated on the offensive side of the ball they made it extremely difficult for themselves to do so. After the three straight losses Eastern Michigan came home to play a lesser opponent but spent parts of the game playing down to their level of competition. A big game for Rudy Kessinger gave the Eagles the boost they needed but the inability to finish out drives with touchdowns instead of field goals was a tad concerning.
The struggles by the offense weren’t as magnified due to the defense dominance against the FCS team. The Eagles defense forced six punts out of the nine possessions that Lindenwood had, two of those other possessions were turnover on downs and a field goal. After the game the statistics clearly outlined just how outmatched the Lions were the entire game. Eastern Michigan had eight tackles for loss and four sacks only allowing the Lions offense 191 total yards of offense and 55 yards passing. The defense was the catalyst for the big victory after the debilitating last three weeks.
The Eagles and Lions had similar success on the ground, both gaining over 130 yards but the passing game was the clear difference.
Noah Kim threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns utilizing seven different pass catchers, and with star wide receiver Nick Devereaux not in the starting lineup it gave an opportunity for others to step up in his place. Benson Prosper was the main benefactor of this. Prosper caught ten passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, all career highs for him as an Eastern Michigan Eagle. Harold Mack also made a lasting impact catching six passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.
There are two highlights of the game. The first came just at the end of the first quarter when Noah Kim ripped a 24 yard pass down the seam and into the hands of Benson Prosper who galloped into the end zone giving the Eagles their second touchdown of the game and rewriting his career records all in the span of 15 seconds.
Eagle’s kicker Rudy Kessinger also rewrote his career records at the start of the second quarter after the offense stalled allowing Kessinger to attempt a career long 51 yard field goal. Kessinger knocked it through the uprights, extending the Eagles lead to 16.
The Eagles maintained their dominance over the Lions and walked away with a 29-3 victory stopping the three game losing streak and putting some momentum back on their side.
Eastern Michigan a B grade because of the inability to finish out drives with touchdowns instead of field goals against a lesser opponent. Eastern’s offense and Noah Kim must find consistency if this team wants to accomplish its goals because the defense can only hold opponents out of the end zone for so long.
Final Grade: C+
After six, Eastern Michigan has shown flashes of being the team that many expected it to be coming into the 2026 season, but it has also shown some of the same problems that have plagued the Eagles in recent years.
The 3-3 record may be exactly what t Eastern Michigan needed, but the season is far from over. The Eagles are 2-0 in MAC play, and that could end up being the most important number on their record when the season reaches November.
The biggest question moving forward will be consistency.
The defense has shown that it can create turnovers and make big plays, but it has also struggled to get off the field against teams that can consistently move the ball through the air. The offense, meanwhile, has shown that it can move the football but has struggled to maintain that success for four quarters.
Noah Kim will be a major part of that equation. After an impressive game against UMass, Kim will be tasked with building upon that performance and leading the Eagles into uncharted waters. If Kim and the offense can find consistency, the Eagles have already shown that their defense is capable of keeping them in games.
The bad news for Eastern Michigan is that the second half of their season will put them up against some of the toughest teams in the conference. The Eagles must remain vigilant and in control at all times. The offense will be key to the last six games of the season. Keeping the defense as fresh as possible will be of utmost importance to the success of the football team.
Now comes the part of the schedule that matters most.
With a 2-0 conference record, Eastern Michigan still controls its own path toward a potential MAC championship appearance. The Eagles cannot afford to overlook anyone, but if they can build on the positives from these last two games while fixing the inconsistencies, the team's struggles could quickly become a distant memory.
Three games have given us plenty of questions, but they have also given us plenty of reasons to keep watching.
The Eagles' season is far from over. In fact, the second half of the season has just begun.
