MAC Championship Preview: Opportunity the Theme for Ball State in Title Tilt with Buffalo

Rocket Mortgage MAC Championship Game
Ball State (5-1, 5-1 MAC) vs. No. 23 Buffalo (5-0, 5-0 MAC)
Friday, Dec. 18 (7:31 p.m. kickoff)
Ford Field (Detroit, Mich.)
Watch: ESPN | Listen: 104.1 WLBC | Live Stats
Social: @BallStateFB, @BallStateSports, #ChirpChirp, #WeFly, #DOB, #MACtion
Game Notes: Ball State | Buffalo | Game Program
Game Week Press Conference: Neu | Plitt | Cosby

Ball State Championship Week is presented by Northwest Bank and Community Hospital of Anderson.

Perhaps Bryce Cosby said it best when he told the media on the MAC Championship game week press conference that he and his Ball State teammates are looking at the title match with Buffalo as an opportunity, not an obstacle.

It might be easy for some to view it the other way. After all, Buffalo enters ranked 23rd in the country. The Bulls score more points than anyone in the country. And UB features the top statistical running back in the country.

But these Cardinals are familiar with obstacles. It's well documented the road they have traveled to get to this point over the past four years from bottom of the league to championship contenders. At this point, challenges are exciting for this group, not worrisome.

"When you're a part of any team, the end goal should always be to get to the point where we're at today," Cosby said. "We've been through a lot, so to see things come full circle and God granting us with this opportunity, it's a blessing to say the least. We're all appreciative. We know the task that's at hand. We're thankful to be in the position we are."

Facing high scoring teams is nothing new for Ball State. Just a week ago, the Cardinals were tasked with defending the nation's sixth-highest scoring team. Western Michigan entered the game averaging 44 points but finished with 27, going scoreless over the final 24 minutes.

In fact, for the past three weeks, with their spot in the MAC race on the line, the Cardinals have limited Toledo, Central Michigan and Western Michigan to an average of 16 points fewer than their average. Led by MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year Brandon Martin and six All-MAC defensive players, including first teamers Cosby and Anthony Ekpe, the Cardinals have made a habit of getting crucial stops and getting the ball back to BSU's high-powered offense.

Quarterback Drew Plitt, playing his best football with 11 total touchdowns in the past three games, described his counterparts on the defensive side of the ball this season as amazing.

Now they get a look a Buffalo team that scores nearly 52 points per game and boasts running back Jaret Patterson who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in just five games. The Bulls rolled through the MAC East Division unbeaten, missing out only on a matchup with Ohio because of COVID cases with the Bobcats.

The Bulls are the only team left standing in the way of Ball State's first MAC championship since 1996. The Cardinals last had a shot in 2008. They were the nationally ranked team at that time, but Buffalo spoiled their bid to extend a perfect season. Friday's matchup is not truly a rematch of that game. The players on this year's roster weren't around then. But they know the history, and their mind is fixed on bringing a championship back to Muncie.

"The mindset for us was Detroit or bust, and that was the mantra that was established way back in January," head coach Mike Neu said. "Our guys worked with tremendous focus and tremendous energy every day, knowing our goal was to win a MAC championship. And we've put ourselves in that position."

Neu is eyeing his third MAC championship with Ball State and his first as a coach. The 1993 MAC offensive player of the year as the BSU quarterback, Neu was a member of the Cardinals' championship teams in 1989 and 1993.

MAC Championship Preview: Opportunity the Theme for Ball State in Title Tilt with Buffalo

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Players Mentioned

Bryce Cosby

Anthony Ekpe

Brandon Martin

Drew Plitt