Cardinals Open 49th Season in MAC, Saturday at Western Michigan

Ball State (1-3; 0-0 MAC) at Western Michigan
Game 5 - at Western Michigan (1-3; 0-1 MAC)	Saturday, Sept. 30 at 3:30 p.m. Live Stats \| ESPN+
Notes	Ball State \| Western Michigan \| Media Center
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MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State opens Mid-American Conference play this week while visiting Western Michigan. Since joining the Mid-American Conference in 1973 and playing its first MAC football season in 1975, Ball State plays its 49th MAC opener on Saturday against the Broncos.

** Ball State last won a MAC opener on Oct. 5, 2019 at Northern Illinois, 27-20. Even in its MAC Championship season of 2020, the Cardinals fell in their MAC opener against Miami.

** Ball State sustained a humbling setback last Saturday, falling behind 14-0 to Georgia Southern before taking its fourth offensive snap. The Cardinals trailed 23-0 at intermission, and 40-0 before adding a late field goal.

** 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 Camellia 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.

** Non-conference play featured a pair of road bouts against SEC powers Kentucky and Georgia, and saw the Cardinals show respectability despite scores made worse by second-quarter turnovers in each. A home opener against Indiana State produced a 45-7 win, but last week's setback vs. Georgia Southern was an unexpected gut check.

** The prevailing theme in the Ball State locker room this week: "We're 0-0 and a new season begins!"

WHAT A WIN MEANS:
** The Cardinals will run their record to 2-3 and win their first road game of the season. It would be the Cardinals' first road win since beating Kent State 27-20 last season in Ohio.

** It would mark the first time Ball State won its MAC opener since a 2019 win at Northern Illinois.

** 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.

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Cardinals Open 49th Season in MAC, Saturday at Western Michigan

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