Ball State ready for primetime clash with Toledo

MUNCIE, Ind. - Two Mid-American Conference rivals are set to square off Tuesday night as Ball State travels to Toledo for a primetime kickoff at 8 p.m. ET inside the Glass Bowl. With the Cardinals at 3-2 in MAC play and the Rockets at 4-1 in league action, the battle features the top two teams in the West Division standings.

Because of the magnitude of the game this late into the season, ESPN has picked up the contest and will air Ball State's first regular season game on the main network channel in at least a decade.

"It's an awesome opportunity," head coach Mike Neu said. "You've got to be able to win in order for that to happen. It's a great opportunity to be on a great stage again and to be playing a meaningful game. That's what our goal has always been. When you get to November, you want to be in a position to be playing meaningful games. This is two football teams fighting for the same thing. I've got a lot of respect for the job that Coach (Jason) Candle has done there."

The winner of the game controls its own destiny for the remainder of the season as both teams are playing for a division crown and a berth in the MAC Championship game.

In addition, a victory Tuesday night could be historic as the Cardinals are aiming to secure bowl eligibility for the third consecutive season, something that has never been done in program history.

"I try to tell our guys all the time that it's not added pressure as long as you're putting in the work, paying attention in the meetings, you're locked in and you're putting in the necessary time to studying the game plan," Neu added. "If you do that and you feel good about the preparation and the time that you've put in, all I can ask you to do is go out there and do your job. If you do your job with maximum effort for four quarters, that's all anybody can ask of you. The stakes are the same for both football teams."

The game will be broadcast on the airwaves with Voice of the Cardinals Mick Tidrow, Haven Fields and Jack McMullen on the Ball State Gainbridge Radio Network, WLBC and SiriusXM 972. The game will be televised on ESPN with Dave Neal, Dan Mullen and Taylor Davis describing the action.

Locked in for a battle ????#1AAT x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/hgzOJyE28D
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) November 8, 2022

Inside the Series: Toledo

Ball State and Toledo are set to square off for the 48th time in series history Tuesday. The Cardinals have won two of the last three meetings, including the last matchup inside the Glass Bowl, 27-24, in 2020. Ball State had lost four of the previous five duels at Toledo prior to the victory. However, the Rockets won last season's duel in Muncie, 22-12.

Getting a victory in Toledo has led to great success for Ball State. Following the last three wins inside the Glass Bowl (2008, 2012, 2020), the Cardinals reached a bowl game all three seasons. A win on Tuesday night would secure bowl eligibility for the third straight season. Ball State has never gone to a bowl in three consecutive campaigns.

Coach Neu on Toledo…
"Overall, their team speed is really good. That speaks to the job that they do in recruiting as well. They're a good defensive football team. They've got a lot of experience on defense and a lot of experience on offense. This is a team that when you look at their numbers in all three phases, they're one of the top teams on offense, one of the top teams on defense and one of the top teams on special teams. On the discipline side, they're one of the least penalized teams. They're really doing a good job. This is a good team."

Coll Nominated for Wuerffel Trophy

ILB Clayton Coll was nominated for the prestigious Wuerffel Trophy, given annually to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.

A team captain and member of the leadership council, Coll has led the Cardinals to back-to-back bowl games for the third time ever. He's a two-time Academic All-MAC selection while boasting a 3.77 GPA in progress towards a degree in biology.

In the community, Coll has volunteered numerous hours at nursing homes, serving meals to families in need at his hometown high school and has been a mentor among much more.

Playmakers on the Outside

WR Jayshon Jackson and Yo'Heinz Tyler bring a load of playmaking experience through their collegiate careers. Along with Penn State and UTSA, Ball State's duo of Jackson and Tyler are the only pairing to have each caught at least one ball in 30 consecutive games.

Jackson is one of only two players in the country to have at least three games of 10 catches and 100 receiving yards this season, joining Charlie Jones (Purdue), who has four.

Next Event

Related Videos