1976 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

{{short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1976

| team = Central Michigan Chippewas

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Mid-American Conference

| short_conf = MAC

| record = 7–4

| conf_record= 4–3

| head_coach = Roy Kramer

| hc_year = 10th

| off_coach =

| off_scheme =

| oc_year =

| def_coach = Herb Deromedi

| dc_year = 8th

| def_scheme =

| mvp = John Kloc

| mvp2 = John Wunderlich

| captain =

| stadium = Perry Shorts Stadium

}}

{{1976 Mid-American Conference football standings}}

The 1976 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In their tenth season under head coach Roy Kramer, the Chippewas compiled a 7–4 record (4–3 against MAC opponents), finished in a tie for fourth place in the MAC standings, and outscored their opponents, 223 to 219.{{cite web|title=1976 Central Michigan Chippewas Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=July 20, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/central-michigan/1976-schedule.html}}{{cite web|title=Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide|publisher=Central Michigan University|accessdate=July 20, 2016|pages=100, 112|year=2015|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/cmu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/misc_non_event/2015-Football-Media-Guide.pdf|archive-date=October 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026171041/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/cmu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/misc_non_event/2015-Football-Media-Guide.pdf|url-status=dead}} The team played its home games in Perry Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan,{{cite web|title=Football Facilities|publisher=Central Michigan University|accessdate=July 20, 2016|url=http://www.cmuchippewas.com/facilities/football-facilities.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625081349/http://www.cmuchippewas.com/facilities/football-facilities.html|archive-date=June 25, 2016|url-status=dead}} with attendance of 91,345 in five home games.2015 Media Guide, p. 87.

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Ron Rummel with 761 passing yards, running back Mike Gray with 734 rushing yards, and tight end Wayne Schwalbach with 496 receiving yards.{{cite web|title=1976 Central Michigan Chippewas Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=July 20, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/central-michigan/1976.html}} Offensive guard John Kloc and defensive tackle John Wunderlich were co-recipients of the team's most valuable player award.2015 Media Guide, p. 95. Wunderlich, Schwalbach, and defensive back Ed Rykulski received first-team All-MAC honors.2015 Media Guide, p. 92. Placekicker Rade Savich kicked 14 field goals, a school record that he broke in 1978.2015 Media Guide, p. 82.