| Year: | 1979 |
| Team: | Central Michigan Chippewas |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Mid-American Conference |
| Short Conf: | MAC |
| Record: | 10–0–1 |
| Conf Record: | 8–0–1 |
| Head Coach: | Herb Deromedi |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Mvp: | Gary Hogeboom |
| Stadium: | Perry Shorts Stadium |
| Champion: | MAC champion |
The 1979 Central Michigan Chippewas football team was an American football team that represented Central Michigan University during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second season under head coach Herb Deromedi, the Chippewas compiled a 10–0–1 record, won the Mid-American Conference championship, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 291 to 133.[1] [2] The team played its home games in Perry Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan,[3] with attendance of 101,705 in five home games.[4]
The team's statistical leaders were Gary Hogeboom with 1,404 passing yards, Willie Todd with 1,003 rushing yards, and Mike Ball with 457 receiving yards.[5] Hogeboom was selected as the team's most valuable player and as the MAC Offensive Player of the Year.[6] Seven Central Michigan players (OT Marty Smallbone, WR Mike Ball, RB Willie Todd, QB Gary Hogeboom, DT Bill White, DB Robert Jackson, and LB Tim Hollandsworth) received first-team All-MAC honors.[7]