Ball State University
Toledo
Football Returns to Scheumann Stadium With Streak-Busting In Mind Against Toledo
October 12, 2023 | Football
| Ball State (1-5; 0-2 MAC) vs. Toledo (5-1, 2-0 MAC) | |
| Game 7 - vs. Toledo | Saturday, Oct. 14 at 2:00 p.m. Live Stats | ESPN+Â |
| Notes | Ball State | Toledo | Media Center |
| Social Media | X (Twitter)Â | Instagram |
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State returns to Scheumann Stadium this week with sights set on its first conference win in 2023. The Cardinals aim to bust a three-game losing streak while halting a five-game win streak by Toledo which leads the MAC West Division.
** The Cardinals absorbed back-to-back road defeats to open the MAC campaign, falling at Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan the past two weeks. Now, Ball State hopes to even its MAC record with a pair of home games, this week and next.
** At Eastern Michigan, the Cardinals got a standout defensive performance, but couldn't muster any second-half scoring in a 24-10 setback. Ball State managed 10 tackles for loss and five sacks, and limited EMU to 61 rushing yards. After trading field goals in the first period, the Eagles got a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter thanks to a Ball State fumble. The only scoring the rest of the game came on EMU's 50-yard aerial in the third quarter.
** LB Cole Pearce has posted a season-high 10 tackles in each of the past two games. He had a pair of sacks at EMU and boasts three sacks among four TFL in those two games.
** The Cardinals are trying to get back on track in the MAC, three years removed from a conference title in 2020. After its 5-1 campaign in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and a win in the Arizona Bowl, Ball State finished 4-4 in the league in 2021 and 3-5 in 2022. Behind veteran-laden offensive and defensive lines leading play at the line of scrimmage, Ball State has high hopes of returning among MAC contenders in 2023.
WHAT A WIN MEANS:
** The Cardinals will run their record to 2-5 and win their first conference game of the season.Â
** Ball State would snap a three-game skid and avoid a four-game losing streak.
** Mike Neu will capture his 35th victory as head coach of his alma mater, passing Brady Hoke's win total from 2003-08 with the seventh-most career coaching wins at Ball State.
