Cardinals welcome Eagles for Homecoming

MUNCIE, Ind. - Homecoming is here. It's a time to celebrate, reunite and relive the memories made.

"I love Homecoming because I think about when I was not here as the head football coach," head coach Mike Neu said. "I always tried to circle the Homecoming game on my calendar when I didn't live close by because you want to try to make plans to come back and see former players that you were with.

"It's an action-packed week leading up to Saturday. I'm thankful to have great weather in the forecast and to have another great day at Scheumann Stadium. We've got to make sure we do our part as the football team as we get ready to go to battle."

And what a battle it promises to be. Both teams coming into the matchup at 4-3 overall. Ball State is 2-1 in Mid-American Conference play, while Eastern Michigan is 1-2.

Expect fireworks in this matchup. The winner in eight of the last 10 matchups has scored at least 35 points. Since 2009, seven of the matchups between the two programs have been decided by one score. Ball State is 5-2 in those instances, including each of the last three duels overall.

Saturday's game will be broadcast on the airwaves with Voice of the Cardinals Mick Tidrow, Nick Traub and Jack McMullen on the Ball State Gainbridge Radio Network, WLBC and SiriusXM 988. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Jim Barbar and Marcus Ray describing the action.

In addition, a special edition of Query & Schultz will be recorded live inside the gates of Scheumann Stadium from 12-2 p.m. on the ISC Sports Network and YouTube.

Locked in for a big matchup this weekend for Homecoming at The Scheu ??#1AAT x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/J2mYbS4OUr
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) October 20, 2022

Inside the Series: Eastern Michigan

Ball State and Eastern Michigan are set to square off for the 64th time in series history Saturday in Muncie. The Cardinals have won 13 of the last 17 meetings overall, including seven of the last 10. In addition, Ball State has won the last three meetings, all of which were decided by a touchdown. Since the turn of the millennium, the Cardinals are 16-6 against the Eagles.

Ball State has produced comebacks of at least nine points in two of the last three seasons vs. Eastern Michigan. In 2021, the Cardinals, down 24-13, outscored the Eagles 25-7 across the final 19:30 to secure a 38-31 victory inside Scheumann Stadium. Caleb Huntley punched it in from six yards out with six seconds remaining in the game to highlight the win.

In 2020 at Rynearson Stadium, Ball State overtook Eastern Michigan in the fourth quarter and held off the Eagles in the closing seconds for a 29-23 win. The Cardinals trailed 23-14 midway through the third quarter and scored the game's final 15 points to secure the victory. Last season in Ypsilanti, Ball State produced a nearly flawless offensive performance with 433 total yards - 233 through the air and 200 on the ground - en route to a 38-31 victory. The Cardinals got up 14-0 in the first quarter and, despite a late rally by the Eagles, held on to win.

Coach Neu on Eastern Michigan…
"They're going to be ready to play. You know you're going to get their best effort when they come in here. They're a very sound football team that's coached well in all three phases. They get the ball in the hands of their playmakers. They're going to come in here hungry. We're hungry. Both teams sit at 4-3, so there's a lot on the line. We've got to be ready to go because we've had some battles with them, especially in the last three years. I expect that to be the same this weekend."

Homecoming

The Cardinals are scheduled to host their annual Homecoming game for the 96th time in program history Saturday. Ball State is 54-38-2 on Homecoming all-time.

Ball State is 4-4 against Eastern Michigan on its Homecoming all-time, earning wins on Oct. 19, 2002 (42-17), Oct. 14, 2000 (33-14), Oct. 10, 1992 (31-7) and Oct. 23 1948 (23-48). The Eagles have won the last two matchups with the Cardinals on their Homecoming in 2018 (42-20) and 2004 (31-24).

Prior to last season's game on Oct. 23 vs. Miami (Ohio), the latest Homecoming game in a season was on Oct. 22, 2016 vs. Akron - the same day as this season's game. Oct. 22 and Oct. 23 are the latest dates for a Homecoming game for Ball State since Oct. 25, 1980 vs. Western Michigan.

The Hunt for a Perfect October

With a spotless 3-0 record during the month, Ball State is aiming to complete a perfect October when it takes on Eastern Michigan Saturday.

The Cardinals have gone 4-0 or better in the month of October 10 times in program history: 1948, 1949, 1958, 1965, 1975, 1977, 1986, 1989, 1996 and 2013. In addition, due to how the calendar lined up, Ball State went 5-0 in 1965 and 1977.

In the 10 years that the Cardinals have gone 4-0 or better in October, Ball State has combined for a year-end record of 78-23-3 (.795), two MAC titles and four bowl appearances.

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