Ball State University Athletics
Community/Family Weekend and Homecoming Dates Highlight 2024 Football Schedule
March 05, 2024 | Football, Cardinal Varsity Club
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Mid-American Conference has announced its 2024 football schedule, completing a 12-game slate for Ball State that begins with non-conference foe Missouri State in a home opener at Scheumann Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Key dates highlighting the schedule are a Community and Family Weekend date on Oct. 5 against Western Michigan, and a Homecoming tilt three weeks later, against Northern Illinois, on Oct. 26. The homecoming date offers special significance as the Cardinals carry a two-game win streak against the Huskies in its Bronze Stalk Trophy rivalry game.
Opening in the second week of the college football season after Army withdrew from its contract to play at Ball State on Aug. 31, the Cardinals host the Bears before traveling in successive weeks to Miami (FL), Central Michigan and James Madison. Ball State meets a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference for the first time since 2019, one week ahead of opening its 50th MAC season while visiting Central Michigan.
Western Michigan visits Scheumann Stadium in an annual community and family celebration for local fans, students, partners and alumni on Oct. 5. The Cardinals visit Kent State in MAC play, Oct. 12, before breaking for a final non-conference bout at Vanderbilt, Oct. 19, in what is the first time the schools have ever met on the gridiron.
Beginning with the homecoming tussle against the Huskies, Ball State faces five straight MAC opponents to close the season – three at home against NIU, Miami (OH), and Bowling Green, and on the road at Buffalo and Ohio.
Ball State faces rivalry opponents in consecutive weeks when NIU and Miami (Nov. 5) both come to Muncie. The Miami game – the Redbird Rivalry – opens midweek #MAC-tion play on a Tuesday evening in the Cardinals' only midweek game to be played at home.
#MAC-tion play continues on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at Buffalo. Ball State has 11 days between traveling to Buffalo and hosting Bowling Green on Saturday, Nov. 13. The schedule concludes on a Friday night against the Bobcats at Ohio (Nov. 29), the day after Thanksgiving.
"I'm just excited to start playing and competing," said ninth-year head coach Mike Neu, "I am excited about our team and, now that we know who we're playing, let's go!"
Season tickets for Ball State football are available at BallStateSports.com or by calling 1-888-BSU-TICKET.
2024 Ball State Football Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 7 Missouri State
Saturday, Sept. 14 at Miami (Fla.)
Saturday, Sept. 21 at Central Michigan *
Saturday, Sept. 28 at James Madison
Saturday, Oct. 5 Western Michigan * (Community and Family Weekend)
Saturday, Oct. 12 at Kent State *
Saturday, Oct. 19 at Vanderbilt
Saturday, Oct. 26 Northern Illinois * (Homecoming)
Tuesday, Nov. 5 Miami (Ohio) *
Tuesday, Nov. 12 at Buffalo *
Saturday, Nov. 23 Bowling Green *
Friday, Nov. 29 at Ohio *
Game times to be determined
* denotes Mid-American Conference game
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Key dates highlighting the schedule are a Community and Family Weekend date on Oct. 5 against Western Michigan, and a Homecoming tilt three weeks later, against Northern Illinois, on Oct. 26. The homecoming date offers special significance as the Cardinals carry a two-game win streak against the Huskies in its Bronze Stalk Trophy rivalry game.
Opening in the second week of the college football season after Army withdrew from its contract to play at Ball State on Aug. 31, the Cardinals host the Bears before traveling in successive weeks to Miami (FL), Central Michigan and James Madison. Ball State meets a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference for the first time since 2019, one week ahead of opening its 50th MAC season while visiting Central Michigan.
Western Michigan visits Scheumann Stadium in an annual community and family celebration for local fans, students, partners and alumni on Oct. 5. The Cardinals visit Kent State in MAC play, Oct. 12, before breaking for a final non-conference bout at Vanderbilt, Oct. 19, in what is the first time the schools have ever met on the gridiron.
Beginning with the homecoming tussle against the Huskies, Ball State faces five straight MAC opponents to close the season – three at home against NIU, Miami (OH), and Bowling Green, and on the road at Buffalo and Ohio.
Ball State faces rivalry opponents in consecutive weeks when NIU and Miami (Nov. 5) both come to Muncie. The Miami game – the Redbird Rivalry – opens midweek #MAC-tion play on a Tuesday evening in the Cardinals' only midweek game to be played at home.
#MAC-tion play continues on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at Buffalo. Ball State has 11 days between traveling to Buffalo and hosting Bowling Green on Saturday, Nov. 13. The schedule concludes on a Friday night against the Bobcats at Ohio (Nov. 29), the day after Thanksgiving.
"I'm just excited to start playing and competing," said ninth-year head coach Mike Neu, "I am excited about our team and, now that we know who we're playing, let's go!"
Season tickets for Ball State football are available at BallStateSports.com or by calling 1-888-BSU-TICKET.
2024 Ball State Football Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 7 Missouri State
Saturday, Sept. 14 at Miami (Fla.)
Saturday, Sept. 21 at Central Michigan *
Saturday, Sept. 28 at James Madison
Saturday, Oct. 5 Western Michigan * (Community and Family Weekend)
Saturday, Oct. 12 at Kent State *
Saturday, Oct. 19 at Vanderbilt
Saturday, Oct. 26 Northern Illinois * (Homecoming)
Tuesday, Nov. 5 Miami (Ohio) *
Tuesday, Nov. 12 at Buffalo *
Saturday, Nov. 23 Bowling Green *
Friday, Nov. 29 at Ohio *
Game times to be determined
* denotes Mid-American Conference game
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