Ball State University Athletics
Thursday, August 30
Muncie, Ind.
7 p.m.
Ball State University
vs
Central Connecticut State
Game Day Central: It’s Finally Here! Ball State Football Kicks Off Thursday Night
August 28, 2018 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – It's been nine months since the boys of fall have taken to the gridiron. The Ball State football team has been practicing since Aug. 1 in anticipation of the opener Thursday night against Central Connecticut.
Game #1: Central Connecticut at Ball State
Date: Thursday, Aug. 30
Kickoff: 7:05 p.m.
Television: ESPN+
Listen: WLBC 104.1 FM
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/ballstate/football
Social Media: @BallStateFB, @BallStateSports, #ItsTime, #ChirpChirp
Game Notes: Ball State | Central Connecticut
Game Day Information: Tickets | Parking, Tailgating and General Info | New to the Scheu in 2018
Three Things to Know:
1. Ball State has won eight consecutive home openers by an average of 17.1 points. The 51 points scored by the Cardinals against UAB in the 2017 home opener were the most points scored by Ball State in a game since the end of the 2013 season in a 55-14 win over Miami (Ohio).
2. Two of Ball State's top offensive threats are set to make their return after missing the final nine games of the 2017 season due to injuries: QB Riley Neal and RB James Gilbert.
3. The Cardinals are switching their base defense from a 4-3 look to a 3-4 this fall. Defensive coordinatorDavid Elson's background is in a 3-4 defense and Ball State also lost three of its starting defensive linemen from a year ago: DE Anthony Winbush, DT Kevin Willis and DT John Swisher.
By the Numbers:
1st – This is the first time these two teams have met and the first time the Cardinals have faced a team from the NEC.
6 – Ball State will not leave the state of Indiana for the first six weeks of the season.
9 – Number of seniors on the Ball State roster this fall, which ranks second fewest among all NCAA FBS teams.
Game #1: Central Connecticut at Ball State
Date: Thursday, Aug. 30
Kickoff: 7:05 p.m.
Television: ESPN+
Listen: WLBC 104.1 FM
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/ballstate/football
Social Media: @BallStateFB, @BallStateSports, #ItsTime, #ChirpChirp
Game Notes: Ball State | Central Connecticut
Game Day Information: Tickets | Parking, Tailgating and General Info | New to the Scheu in 2018
Three Things to Know:
1. Ball State has won eight consecutive home openers by an average of 17.1 points. The 51 points scored by the Cardinals against UAB in the 2017 home opener were the most points scored by Ball State in a game since the end of the 2013 season in a 55-14 win over Miami (Ohio).
2. Two of Ball State's top offensive threats are set to make their return after missing the final nine games of the 2017 season due to injuries: QB Riley Neal and RB James Gilbert.
3. The Cardinals are switching their base defense from a 4-3 look to a 3-4 this fall. Defensive coordinatorDavid Elson's background is in a 3-4 defense and Ball State also lost three of its starting defensive linemen from a year ago: DE Anthony Winbush, DT Kevin Willis and DT John Swisher.
By the Numbers:
1st – This is the first time these two teams have met and the first time the Cardinals have faced a team from the NEC.
6 – Ball State will not leave the state of Indiana for the first six weeks of the season.
9 – Number of seniors on the Ball State roster this fall, which ranks second fewest among all NCAA FBS teams.
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
DT
/ Football
DE
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