Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics
Backfield Battle: National Sack Leaders Collide This Weekend
September 16, 2025 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – Through three weeks of the 2025 season, Ball State's defense has proven itself among the nation's best at getting into the backfield. The Cardinals lead the Mid-American Conference and are tied for fourth nationally in total sacks with 11.
Only Southern California (14), West Virginia (13) and Pittsburgh (12) have more, while Ball State joins Arizona, Auburn, Marshall and Tennessee in a five-way tie. Week four opponent Connecticut sits at No. 9 in the rankings among five other teams with 10.
Ball State has produced exactly five sacks and eight tackles for loss in each of its last two games.
Individually, Nathan Voorhis has been the catalyst. Voorhis has notched a sack in each of Ball State's first three games, including a career-high 2.5 against New Hampshire in week two. Playing with Bryant University last year, the defensive end earned a streak of five straight games with a sack. Through only three games this year, Voorhis is already just one sack shy of besting the Cardinals' 2024 sack leader, Riley Tolsma, who had 5.5.
His 4.5 sacks on the season rank him fourth in the nation, just 0.5 behind three players with five, which includes UConn's Byrun Parham, setting up the perfect stage as the sack leaders collide this weekend. Voorhis played in 21 games for the Huskies across the 2022 and 2023 seasons before transferring to Bryant in search of more playing time. Now set to face his former team, Voorhis looks to continue his breakout start at the place his college career began.
Fans can follow the action Saturday afternoon by watching live on CBS Sports Network, or listening live on WLBC 104.1 FM.
Only Southern California (14), West Virginia (13) and Pittsburgh (12) have more, while Ball State joins Arizona, Auburn, Marshall and Tennessee in a five-way tie. Week four opponent Connecticut sits at No. 9 in the rankings among five other teams with 10.
Ball State has produced exactly five sacks and eight tackles for loss in each of its last two games.
Individually, Nathan Voorhis has been the catalyst. Voorhis has notched a sack in each of Ball State's first three games, including a career-high 2.5 against New Hampshire in week two. Playing with Bryant University last year, the defensive end earned a streak of five straight games with a sack. Through only three games this year, Voorhis is already just one sack shy of besting the Cardinals' 2024 sack leader, Riley Tolsma, who had 5.5.
His 4.5 sacks on the season rank him fourth in the nation, just 0.5 behind three players with five, which includes UConn's Byrun Parham, setting up the perfect stage as the sack leaders collide this weekend. Voorhis played in 21 games for the Huskies across the 2022 and 2023 seasons before transferring to Bryant in search of more playing time. Now set to face his former team, Voorhis looks to continue his breakout start at the place his college career began.
Fans can follow the action Saturday afternoon by watching live on CBS Sports Network, or listening live on WLBC 104.1 FM.
Players Mentioned
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