Ball State University Athletics
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All-Access: Ball State Among FBS Best 4th Down Machines
October 19, 2016 | Football
Cardinals ranks third nationally in fourth down defense
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Fourth down defense is the ultimate pressure spot of college football. Â It's you versus them. Mano a mano. Â Maybe the offense only needs to pick up a couple of yards --- a couple of inches. Â What are you going to do to stop them? Â This season, Ball State has had the answer.
Saturday at Buffalo the homestanding Bulls went for it on fourth down four times. Â They failed on three, including two of their final three drives while trailing by a touchdown and two respectively. Â So while the Cardinals didn't officially register a turnover in the game, let's just say they actually did. Â Three of them. Â After all, they call it a "Turnover on Downs."
It's nothing new for this team this season. Â Through seven games Ball State ranks third nationally in fourth down defense at 15% (2-13 allowed). Â Only Louisiana Monroe and Duke have faired better. Â The Cards are also tied for second in the country in total fourth down stops. Â Only Old Dominion's 10 rank higher. Â You'd have to go back to 2011 to find a year where Ball State allowed fewer than 50% conversions, and that season they still allowed 45%. Â Needless to say, it's been quite the statistic.
Ball State All-Access went behind the scenes with the Cardinals this week to talk about what's made them tick so well on fourth down. Â Check out the video here.
The Cardinals are next in action for homecoming against Akron, Saturday at 3pm in Munice. For tickets call 888-BSU-Ticket, browse BallStateSports.com, or visit the Stopps Buick GMC Ticket Center inside Worthen Arena.
Saturday at Buffalo the homestanding Bulls went for it on fourth down four times. Â They failed on three, including two of their final three drives while trailing by a touchdown and two respectively. Â So while the Cardinals didn't officially register a turnover in the game, let's just say they actually did. Â Three of them. Â After all, they call it a "Turnover on Downs."
It's nothing new for this team this season. Â Through seven games Ball State ranks third nationally in fourth down defense at 15% (2-13 allowed). Â Only Louisiana Monroe and Duke have faired better. Â The Cards are also tied for second in the country in total fourth down stops. Â Only Old Dominion's 10 rank higher. Â You'd have to go back to 2011 to find a year where Ball State allowed fewer than 50% conversions, and that season they still allowed 45%. Â Needless to say, it's been quite the statistic.
Ball State All-Access went behind the scenes with the Cardinals this week to talk about what's made them tick so well on fourth down. Â Check out the video here.
The Cardinals are next in action for homecoming against Akron, Saturday at 3pm in Munice. For tickets call 888-BSU-Ticket, browse BallStateSports.com, or visit the Stopps Buick GMC Ticket Center inside Worthen Arena.
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