Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, September 24
Statesboro, Ga.
6:00 PM ET
Ball State University
at
Georgia Southern
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Cardinals fly south for non-conference matchup with Georgia Southern
September 23, 2022 | Football
Ball State makes the trip to the Peach State for a battle with a solid Georgia Southern squad
MUNCIE, Ind. – As the fall season has officially begun and the football weather has arrived in Muncie, Ball State is heading south for a matchup with Georgia Southern. The Cardinals and Eagles are slated to meet on the gridiron for the first time in series history Saturday at 6 p.m. ET in Statesboro.
"We're playing a good football team this weekend in Georgia Southern," head coach Mike Neu said. "They're good in all phases. The job that Coach (Clay) Helton has done in his first year there has been very impressive.
"They're a well-rounded team. They throw it well, they run it well and they play really good defense. This will be a great challenge for us going to a place where traditionally they've been extremely successful as one of the winningest programs in college football at home."
Georgia Southern holds one of the best home-field advantages in the FBS, posting a 206-46 record at Allen E. Paulson Stadium. That winning percentage is the fourth-best out of all currently used FBS stadiums, trailing only Alabama, Boise State and Oklahoma.
In addition, the matchup is set to feature two of the top performing offensive lines thus far into the season. Ball State has only allowed one sack through 230 offensive snaps this season and is one of 10 teams in the country to allow one or fewer sack this season, including Georgia Southern (0). The Cardinals and Eagles have both allowed just six negative plays all season, which is only topped by Georgia and TCU nationally.
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 989. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Danny Waugh, Cole Neely and Amy Zimmer describing the action.
Inside the Series
The Cardinals and Eagles are set to meet for the first time on the gridiron Saturday evening in Statesboro. Ball State has matched up with current members of the Sun Belt Conference 10 times in program history and are 4-6 in those games, which includes wins over Appalachian State, Georgia State and James Madison.
Coach Neu on Georgia Southern…
"It's not a surprise to see what they're doing from an offensive standpoint as the No. 1 offense in the Sun Belt and averaging over 521 yards per game and 41 points per game. We know quarterback Kyle Vantrease extremely well having played against him a couple of years ago in the MAC Championship game. He played at a high level for a long time in our conference and he's doing a great job down there.
Not Neu to the Peach State
Saturday's contest carries some regional significance to head coach Mike Neu as he got his first head coaching job with the Augusta Stallions in the Arena Football League 2, roughly 80 miles away from Statesboro. In his lone season with the Stallions, Neu led Augusta to a 14-4 record and a regular season title in their inaugural season.
Coach Neu also picked up his first collegiate win coaching his alma mater in the Peach State vs. Georgia State, 31-21, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Historic Shutout
Ball State is coming off a 31-0 shutout against Murray State last weekend at Scheumann Stadium.
Ball State recorded a shutout for the first time since defeating Toledo (31-0) on Oct. 4, 2008. It is the 21st shutout with the Cardinals winning by at least 31 in program history with the previous shutout victory by at least 31 since defeating Kent State (34-0) on Nov. 19, 1994.
Ball State's defense limited Murray State to just 155 total yards on 53 plays, forced three turnovers and held the Racers to go just 3-of-14 on third down. Of Murray State's 53 plays, only nine came in Ball State's side of the field with four coming on one drive in the second quarter and four more off a Cardinal turnover.
"We're playing a good football team this weekend in Georgia Southern," head coach Mike Neu said. "They're good in all phases. The job that Coach (Clay) Helton has done in his first year there has been very impressive.
"They're a well-rounded team. They throw it well, they run it well and they play really good defense. This will be a great challenge for us going to a place where traditionally they've been extremely successful as one of the winningest programs in college football at home."
Georgia Southern holds one of the best home-field advantages in the FBS, posting a 206-46 record at Allen E. Paulson Stadium. That winning percentage is the fourth-best out of all currently used FBS stadiums, trailing only Alabama, Boise State and Oklahoma.
In addition, the matchup is set to feature two of the top performing offensive lines thus far into the season. Ball State has only allowed one sack through 230 offensive snaps this season and is one of 10 teams in the country to allow one or fewer sack this season, including Georgia Southern (0). The Cardinals and Eagles have both allowed just six negative plays all season, which is only topped by Georgia and TCU nationally.
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 989. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Danny Waugh, Cole Neely and Amy Zimmer describing the action.
Looking to build on our momentum this weekend in Statesboro ??#1AAT x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/tWX3KuGFkZ
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) September 22, 2022
Inside the Series
The Cardinals and Eagles are set to meet for the first time on the gridiron Saturday evening in Statesboro. Ball State has matched up with current members of the Sun Belt Conference 10 times in program history and are 4-6 in those games, which includes wins over Appalachian State, Georgia State and James Madison.
Coach Neu on Georgia Southern…
"It's not a surprise to see what they're doing from an offensive standpoint as the No. 1 offense in the Sun Belt and averaging over 521 yards per game and 41 points per game. We know quarterback Kyle Vantrease extremely well having played against him a couple of years ago in the MAC Championship game. He played at a high level for a long time in our conference and he's doing a great job down there.
Not Neu to the Peach State
Saturday's contest carries some regional significance to head coach Mike Neu as he got his first head coaching job with the Augusta Stallions in the Arena Football League 2, roughly 80 miles away from Statesboro. In his lone season with the Stallions, Neu led Augusta to a 14-4 record and a regular season title in their inaugural season.
Coach Neu also picked up his first collegiate win coaching his alma mater in the Peach State vs. Georgia State, 31-21, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Historic Shutout
Ball State is coming off a 31-0 shutout against Murray State last weekend at Scheumann Stadium.
Ball State recorded a shutout for the first time since defeating Toledo (31-0) on Oct. 4, 2008. It is the 21st shutout with the Cardinals winning by at least 31 in program history with the previous shutout victory by at least 31 since defeating Kent State (34-0) on Nov. 19, 1994.
Ball State's defense limited Murray State to just 155 total yards on 53 plays, forced three turnovers and held the Racers to go just 3-of-14 on third down. Of Murray State's 53 plays, only nine came in Ball State's side of the field with four coming on one drive in the second quarter and four more off a Cardinal turnover.
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