FOOTBALL GAMEDAY: Cardinals and Falcons Battle Saturday as Ball State Returns to MAC Play

Ball State (1-5, 0-2 MAC) at Bowling Green (2-4, 2-0 MAC)
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MUNCIE, Ind. -- At the midway point of the 2026 college football season, Ball State returns to Mid-American Conference action this week to begin a six-game, seven-week sprint through the back half of the Cardinals' schedule with hopes of a rebound and rise in conference standings. It is Ball State's fifth road game of the season, against just two home outings.

-- Ball State faces a MAC rival that has won three straight meetings against the Cardinals, and nine of the past 10. The Falcons topped the Cardinals 38-13 two years ago at Scheumann Stadium, and dropped a 24-21 heartbreaker at Doyt Perry Stadium in 2023.

-- Ball State comes off a 45-14 loss at Northwestern last week, which, on its surface was a fourth straight defeat with few positives. However, against a juggernaut Wildcats defense that ranks in the FBS Top 25 in scoring defense and pass defense, the efficient Cardinals moved the ball consistently and faced 3-and-out just two times. Ball State's 22 first downs were the most by a MAC school this season over 12 different MAC vs. Big Ten matchups. The Cardinals' 360 yards in total offense were second among those 12 MAC-B1G battles. By comparison, Northwestern allowed Big Ten rival Penn State just 20 first downs and 291 yards a week earlier.

-- The Cardinals faced a 14-0 deficit early against the Wildcats, but rebounded with two TDs of their own in the second period, trailing 31-14 at intermission. For the day, quarterback Keldric Luster finished 27-of-41 passing for 209 yards and a touchdown strike to Jamarion McDougle. His longest pass of the day was a 46-yard aerial to Donovan Hamilton.

-- Ball State passed for 270 yards overall, eclipsing Northwestern's 233-yard pass defense average. Reserve quarterback Tyler Mizzell was 4-of-5 through the air for 51 yards and first-year QB Mason Atkins made his collegiate debut on a 10-yard completion to Elijah Jackson. Jabari Smith posted a career-high seven catches and McDougle added a career-high six receptions.

-- On the other side of the ball, Northwestern scored on its first four possessions, and 6 of 8 overall. After allowing touchdowns on the Wildcats' first three drives, the Cardinals forced a field goal late in the first half, and punts on two of NU's four second-half possessions. Third-year linebacker Kaleb Stewart paced Ball State with a career-high eight tackles, plus a sack.

WHAT A WIN MEANS:
-- Ball State will win on the road for the first time in the Mike Uremovich Era. It would mark the Cardinals' first road win since Oct. 12, 2024 at Kent State (37-35). Uremovich has begun his tenure at Ball State with 12 of his first 19 games on the road (7 in 2025; first 5 in 2026).
-- The Cardinals will snap a three-game BG win streak in the all-time series. The Cardinals would defeat the Falcons for just the second time in the teams' past 11 meetings.

BY THE NUMBERS:
41-24 -- A 41-24 score at Doyt Perry Stadium in 2014 represents the Cardinals' last win in the series against Bowling Green -- its only win since 1996.
22 & 360 -- In 12 MAC-B1G meetings in 2026, Ball State is the only MAC team to boast at least 22 first downs & 360 yards in its battle against the Big Ten.
16-203 -- Donovan Hamilton has recorded 16 catches for 203 yards over the past three games. He boasts 50+ receiving yards in all three.
360 -- Ball State's 360 total yards last week marked its best road production this season; and its best against a Big Ten foe since 2019 (398 vs IU).

INSIDE THE SERIES:
-- The Falcons have prevailed in three straight head-to-head meetings with Ball State, in 2015, 2023 and 2024.
-- Ball State's last visit to Doyt Perry Stadium ended in heartbreak. After the teams traded touchdowns for a 21-21 score midway through the fourth period, the Falcons scored a goahead field goal with 5:43 to play. The Cardinals' Jackson Courville fell inches short on a 52-yard field goal try as time expired.
-- Ball State has defeated the Falcons just once in the last 10 meetings since 1996, earning a 41- 24 victory in 2014. That is the Cardinals' only win in the series since 1996.
-- Bowling Green's offense has been explosive in its most recent meetings with Ball State. In the last 10 matchups, the Falcons have averaged nearly 34 points per game, only twice scoring fewer than 30 points (24 both times).
-- One of just three ties in the last 37 seasons of Ball State football came against Bowling Green in 1993, battling to a 26-26 stalemate. The tie was Ball State's only conference blemish en route to a Mid-American Conference title that season.

FOOTBALL GAMEDAY: Cardinals and Falcons Battle Saturday as Ball State Returns to MAC Play

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Players Mentioned

Mason Atkins

Donovan Hamilton

Elijah Jackson

Keldric Luster

Jamarion McDougle

Tyler Mizzell

Jabari Smith

Kaleb Stewart

Ball State University Athletics