Ball State University Athletics
MAC Announces Ball State's 2016 Football Opponents
January 20, 2016 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Mid-American Conference has announced football opponents for the 2016 season.
Ball State will host Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan and Akron, while taking to the road for contests at Central Michigan, Toledo, Buffalo and Miami.
Northern Illinois won the MAC West Division for the sixth time in a row this past fall and played in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. Western Michigan and Akron also made bowl appearances in 2015. The Broncos defeated Middle Tennessee State in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl while Akron edged Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
It's been a few years since Ball State has played either Miami or Buffalo. The Cardinals last played Miami in 2013. Ball State has won three straight meetings against the Redhawks. Meanwhile, Ball State will be making its first trip to Buffalo since 2010. The Cardinals are 8-1 all-time against the Bulls.
Dates for the 2016 league schedule will be released at a later time.
Ball State opens its 2016 schedule with four consecutive non-conference games. The first two games are on the road at Georgia State and Indiana. The Cardinals welcome Eastern Kentucky to Scheumann Stadium for the home opener on Sept. 17. Ball State wraps up non-conference play on Sept. 24 with its first ever meeting and trip to Florida Atlantic.
The Cardinals are under the direction of new head coach Mike Neu, who led Ball State to the 1993 MAC championship as the team's quarterback and was most recently serving as the New Orleans Saints' quarterbacks coach.
For the most up-to-date news on the football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
