Tuesday, November 23
Muncie, Ind.
7:00 PM
Ball State University
vs
Buffalo
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Cardinals welcome Bulls for Senior Day, regular season finale
November 22, 2021 | Football
Ball State-Buffalo set for 7 p.m. ET kickoff inside Scheumann Stadium Tuesday night
MUNCIE, Ind. – It seems like just yesterday Ball State was taking the field in the season opener vs. Western Illinois. Flash forward a few months that flew by, the Cardinals are set to welcome Buffalo for the regular season finale Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET.
"It's hard to believe that we're approaching game No. 12 now, but we're excited," Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. "For a lot of these guys, this will be the last time they have a chance to play at Scheumann Stadium. You're always going to remember your last one."
The Cardinals (5-6, 3-4) hope this game won't be their last together as bowl eligibility is on the line. However, it's a tough test as the two teams will meet just six days after their previous game. Buffalo fell to Northern Illinois in overtime, while Ball State dropped a result to Central Michigan.
"We've got to respond," Neu added. "That's the biggest challenge, making sure that whatever happens – win, lose or draw in the previous game – you've got to stick to your process and move to the next game. Obviously, there's some adjustments and some tweaks that will be make, whether that's game plan or personnel – that's part of it.
"We just to have to make sure we're sticking to the process because we've got a lot left to play for. Finish the fight with each other. That's the No. 1 thing."
Should the Cardinals prevail and make a bowl game, it would be just the third time in program history that Ball State has played in bowl games in back-to-back seasons: 2007-08 and 2012-13.
The game will be carried on 104.1 WLBC, online at BallStateSports.com and on the Varsity Network app with the Ball State Radio Network trio of Joel Godett, Rich Spisak and Jack McMullen breaking down the action. The game will also be available on ESPN+ with Jim Barbar and Marcus Ray on the call.
Senior Day
The Cardinals are set to honor 33 seniors prior to the game Tuesday night. As freshmen in 2017, the group endured a 2-10 (0-8 MAC) season, but the class gained invaluable experience and has grown steadily during its time in Muncie. The class helped Ball State improve to 4-8 (3-5) in 2018 and then 5-7 (4-4) with three tight league losses in 2019. Then they led the program to a major breakthrough in 2020 with a 7-1 (5-1) record, a MAC championship and the first bowl win in program history.
Inside the Series: Buffalo
Ball State and Buffalo are slated to square off for the 13th time in series history Tuesday night inside Scheumann Stadium. The Cardinals hold a 10-2 lead in the matchup all-time. The matchup is a rematch of last season's Mid-American Conference Championship, which Ball State won, 38-28. The Cardinals won the first six duels before the Bulls won 42-24 in 2008. Buffalo took the latest decision in Muncie in 2017.
Coach Neu on Buffalo…
"Look at the number of close games they've been involved in. Coach (Maurice) Linguist has good a good job there. He came in under tough circumstances with a late coaching change at Buffalo, but he's got those kids playing hard. They've been through a lot of adversity and challenges this year. They're playing competitively. They can beat anybody on any given week. If you look at the numbers and what they're doing offensively, they're pretty balanced between rushing and passing. Defensively, they've had some stretches where they've played some really, really good football. We've got to be ready. They're a good team coming in here. We had a chance to play them in the MAC Championship a year ago. Yes, they've had some changes. Yes, we've had some changes. We've got to make sure that we're ready to go because it's going to be a hungry team coming in here."
Winning the Turnover Battle
After beginning the year minus-5 in turnover margin through first four games, Ball State has been plus-10 since then with only three turnovers across the last seven games. In the first four games, the Cardinals were outscored 31-0 in points off turnovers. In the past six games, Ball State has scored 48 points off turnovers while allowing only 14.
Attacking the Ball
Ball State has three of the top 15 tacklers in the Mid-American Conference in S Bryce Cosby, ILB Clayton Coll and ILB Jaylin Thomas. Cosby is fifth in the league with 99 tackles, while Thomas is just six tackles behind him in seventh with 93 stops. Coll has 85 tackles, good for ninth in the league.
"It's hard to believe that we're approaching game No. 12 now, but we're excited," Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. "For a lot of these guys, this will be the last time they have a chance to play at Scheumann Stadium. You're always going to remember your last one."
The Cardinals (5-6, 3-4) hope this game won't be their last together as bowl eligibility is on the line. However, it's a tough test as the two teams will meet just six days after their previous game. Buffalo fell to Northern Illinois in overtime, while Ball State dropped a result to Central Michigan.
"We've got to respond," Neu added. "That's the biggest challenge, making sure that whatever happens – win, lose or draw in the previous game – you've got to stick to your process and move to the next game. Obviously, there's some adjustments and some tweaks that will be make, whether that's game plan or personnel – that's part of it.
"We just to have to make sure we're sticking to the process because we've got a lot left to play for. Finish the fight with each other. That's the No. 1 thing."
Should the Cardinals prevail and make a bowl game, it would be just the third time in program history that Ball State has played in bowl games in back-to-back seasons: 2007-08 and 2012-13.
The game will be carried on 104.1 WLBC, online at BallStateSports.com and on the Varsity Network app with the Ball State Radio Network trio of Joel Godett, Rich Spisak and Jack McMullen breaking down the action. The game will also be available on ESPN+ with Jim Barbar and Marcus Ray on the call.
Senior Day
The Cardinals are set to honor 33 seniors prior to the game Tuesday night. As freshmen in 2017, the group endured a 2-10 (0-8 MAC) season, but the class gained invaluable experience and has grown steadily during its time in Muncie. The class helped Ball State improve to 4-8 (3-5) in 2018 and then 5-7 (4-4) with three tight league losses in 2019. Then they led the program to a major breakthrough in 2020 with a 7-1 (5-1) record, a MAC championship and the first bowl win in program history.
Inside the Series: Buffalo
Ball State and Buffalo are slated to square off for the 13th time in series history Tuesday night inside Scheumann Stadium. The Cardinals hold a 10-2 lead in the matchup all-time. The matchup is a rematch of last season's Mid-American Conference Championship, which Ball State won, 38-28. The Cardinals won the first six duels before the Bulls won 42-24 in 2008. Buffalo took the latest decision in Muncie in 2017.
Coach Neu on Buffalo…
"Look at the number of close games they've been involved in. Coach (Maurice) Linguist has good a good job there. He came in under tough circumstances with a late coaching change at Buffalo, but he's got those kids playing hard. They've been through a lot of adversity and challenges this year. They're playing competitively. They can beat anybody on any given week. If you look at the numbers and what they're doing offensively, they're pretty balanced between rushing and passing. Defensively, they've had some stretches where they've played some really, really good football. We've got to be ready. They're a good team coming in here. We had a chance to play them in the MAC Championship a year ago. Yes, they've had some changes. Yes, we've had some changes. We've got to make sure that we're ready to go because it's going to be a hungry team coming in here."
Winning the Turnover Battle
After beginning the year minus-5 in turnover margin through first four games, Ball State has been plus-10 since then with only three turnovers across the last seven games. In the first four games, the Cardinals were outscored 31-0 in points off turnovers. In the past six games, Ball State has scored 48 points off turnovers while allowing only 14.
Attacking the Ball
Ball State has three of the top 15 tacklers in the Mid-American Conference in S Bryce Cosby, ILB Clayton Coll and ILB Jaylin Thomas. Cosby is fifth in the league with 99 tackles, while Thomas is just six tackles behind him in seventh with 93 stops. Coll has 85 tackles, good for ninth in the league.
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