Game Day Central: It’s Finally Here! Ball State’s Home Opener is Saturday

MUNCIE, Ind. – It has been 10 months since the Ball State football team played its most recent game at Scheumann Stadium. Well, the wait is over as UAB visits Ball State this weekend. Everything you need to know involving the home opener is below.

Week #2: UAB at Ball State
Date: Saturday, Sept. 9
Kickoff: 3 p.m.
Television: ESPN3
Listen: WLBC 104.1 FM, WXNT 1430 AM
Live Stats: sidearmstats.com/ballstate/football
Social Media: @BallStateFB, @BallStateSports, , #TBTM, #ChirpChirp
Game Notes: Ball State | UAB
Game Day Information: Tickets | Promotions (#BSUSocialSellout) | Parking, Tailgating and General Info

Three Things to Know:
1. This is the first ever meeting between the two programs. UAB did not field a team in 2015 and 2016. This is the first of two games against a Conference USA opponent. Ball State will travel to 2016 C-USA champion Western Kentucky later this month.

2. Sixteen true freshmen or redshirt freshmen saw action in last weekend's opener. S Bryce Cosby, TE Nolan Givan and OL Kaleb Slaven were in the starting lineup. Givan notched the team's first touchdown of the year while Cosby registered the team's first interception.

3. With his 204 yards passing at Illinois, junior QB Riley Neal became the fifth Cardinal to reach 5,000 career passing yards. Neal currently has 5,021 passing yards. Right above Neal on Ball State's all-time passing list are Talmadge Hill (5,902 yards, 2000-03) and current head coach Mike Neu (6,271, 1990-93)

By the Numbers:
3 – Ball State reached the red zone three times at Illinois and scored touchdowns on all three trips.

7 – Ball State has won seven consecutive home openers by an average of 16.1 points.

9 – Ball State's defense piled up nine tackles for loss in the opener at Illinois, including four sacks.

Game Day Central: It’s Finally Here! Ball State’s Home Opener is Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Bryce Cosby

Nolan Givan

Riley Neal

Kaleb Slaven