Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, October 17
Bowling Green, OH
12 p.m.
Ball State University
2-5 , 1-2
32
at
31
Bowling Green
2-5 , 2-1
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball St. | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 32 |
| Bowling Green | 0 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics
Cardinals Take First Road Win Since 2024 in Overtime Thriller at Bowling Green
October 17, 2026 | Football
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Ball State football team captured its first road victory since Oct. 12, 2024, taking a thrilling 32-31 win in overtime over Bowling Green inside Doyt Perry Stadium.
The Cardinals (2-5, 1-2 MAC) earned their first overtime win since a double-overtime victory versus Northern Illinois in 2022 (Oct. 1). After enduring14 consecutive road losses since the 2024 season, Ball State claimed its first road win in the Mike Uremovich era. Ball State also earned its first Mid-American Conference win of the year.
Down a score with just under a minute to go in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals marched 78 yards to knot the contest as time expired after a 20-yard touchdown catch by Eli Hohlt, the longest reception and first touchdown of his career.
The Falcons (2-5, 2-1 MAC) stuck first in overtime with a 4-yard rush up the middle. During Ball State's responding drive, an eight-yard rushing touchdown by TJ Horton was called back to the one-yard line, but it didn't matter as he ran the ball into the end zone on the ensuing play for his seventh rushing touchdown of the year, and second of the day. The score set up Ball State for a two-point conversion opportunity which was successfully caught in by tight end Alex Scherle, on a scrambling throw by Keldric Luster.
The Cardinals earned the dramatic comeback win, but the victory was nearly sealed late in the fourth quarter with Ball State taking possession with 1:11 to play and a chance for a winning score. Instead, Luster fumbled on the series' opening play and K'Dyah Banks went 35 yards with the recovery to give the Falcons their first lead of the game, and set up the late heroics.
Tied at 10 going into the second half, Ball State broke ahead late in the third quarter after Luster ran the ball for a career-long 29-yard score that was the longest run of his career. The Cardinals' 96-yard drive was the unit's longest drive this season. Luster's 125 total rushing yards overall led both sides and served as a career-best performance.
Along with his contributions on the ground, Luster created plenty of opportunities in the air, throwing for 195 yards with 16 completions on 24 attempts and one touchdown -- plus the two-point conversion toss to Scherle after extending the play with his legs.
The Falcons attempted to answer Luster's go-ahead touchdown run, driving 57 yards on six plays before Ball State cornerback Will Yates intercepted a pass to record Ball State's first takeaway since a fumble recovery at Liberty in week three. The turnover put Ball State in command with 46 seconds left in the third period.
The Cardinals opened the fourth quarter with the lead, but Bowling Green took over and used over seven minutes to milk the clock and score the game-tying TD with 1:15 to play on a 6-yard pass from Jay Kastantin to Eli Jacon-Duffy.
Ball State's defense made several big plays throughout the day, stunning the Falcons to 40 first half rushing yards and 41 second half rushing yards – the least number of yards allowed by the Cardinals in a half this season. The Falcons' 98 rushing yards overall were the fewest since Ball State allowed 89 to Kent State last season. Minus a 77-yard touchdown reception from Bowling Green in the second quarter, the Falcons were limited to just 65 total yards in the first 30 minutes of game time.
During Bowling Green's opening drive in the first period, Ball State defensive lineman Ben Marsh was credited with a pair of sacks (1 solo, 1 assisted with Layton Starks), to force the Falcons to punt. Those two sacks reflected Ball State's consistent pressure which resulted in four sacks on the day. When the Cardinals took over, Brody Boehm put Ball State on the scoreboard with a 39-yard field goal. Boehm has scored on 4 of 5 field goals from 38 yards or longer this season.
The strong defensive effort was accented by Yates' interception and the sacks from Marsh, Starks, Ameir Glenn and Austin Stief, giving the Cardinals multiple sacks for the first time since week two versus Stony Brook.
CJ Nelson was another Cardinal who had a career-day against the Falcons, posting six receptions for 59 yards. The reception total was the most he's recorded in a Ball State uniform. Isaiah Thacker's career-long 29-yard reception in the second quarter, set up Horton's eight-yard rushing score for Ball State's first touchdown of the day.
Following its momentous conference win Saturday afternoon, Ball State returns to Scheumann Stadium to celebrate 100 years of Homecoming, next week against Sacramento State. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. with broadcast available on ESPN+ and WLBC 104.1 FM.
The Cardinals (2-5, 1-2 MAC) earned their first overtime win since a double-overtime victory versus Northern Illinois in 2022 (Oct. 1). After enduring14 consecutive road losses since the 2024 season, Ball State claimed its first road win in the Mike Uremovich era. Ball State also earned its first Mid-American Conference win of the year.
Down a score with just under a minute to go in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals marched 78 yards to knot the contest as time expired after a 20-yard touchdown catch by Eli Hohlt, the longest reception and first touchdown of his career.
The Falcons (2-5, 2-1 MAC) stuck first in overtime with a 4-yard rush up the middle. During Ball State's responding drive, an eight-yard rushing touchdown by TJ Horton was called back to the one-yard line, but it didn't matter as he ran the ball into the end zone on the ensuing play for his seventh rushing touchdown of the year, and second of the day. The score set up Ball State for a two-point conversion opportunity which was successfully caught in by tight end Alex Scherle, on a scrambling throw by Keldric Luster.
The Cardinals earned the dramatic comeback win, but the victory was nearly sealed late in the fourth quarter with Ball State taking possession with 1:11 to play and a chance for a winning score. Instead, Luster fumbled on the series' opening play and K'Dyah Banks went 35 yards with the recovery to give the Falcons their first lead of the game, and set up the late heroics.
Tied at 10 going into the second half, Ball State broke ahead late in the third quarter after Luster ran the ball for a career-long 29-yard score that was the longest run of his career. The Cardinals' 96-yard drive was the unit's longest drive this season. Luster's 125 total rushing yards overall led both sides and served as a career-best performance.
Along with his contributions on the ground, Luster created plenty of opportunities in the air, throwing for 195 yards with 16 completions on 24 attempts and one touchdown -- plus the two-point conversion toss to Scherle after extending the play with his legs.
The Falcons attempted to answer Luster's go-ahead touchdown run, driving 57 yards on six plays before Ball State cornerback Will Yates intercepted a pass to record Ball State's first takeaway since a fumble recovery at Liberty in week three. The turnover put Ball State in command with 46 seconds left in the third period.
The Cardinals opened the fourth quarter with the lead, but Bowling Green took over and used over seven minutes to milk the clock and score the game-tying TD with 1:15 to play on a 6-yard pass from Jay Kastantin to Eli Jacon-Duffy.
Ball State's defense made several big plays throughout the day, stunning the Falcons to 40 first half rushing yards and 41 second half rushing yards – the least number of yards allowed by the Cardinals in a half this season. The Falcons' 98 rushing yards overall were the fewest since Ball State allowed 89 to Kent State last season. Minus a 77-yard touchdown reception from Bowling Green in the second quarter, the Falcons were limited to just 65 total yards in the first 30 minutes of game time.
During Bowling Green's opening drive in the first period, Ball State defensive lineman Ben Marsh was credited with a pair of sacks (1 solo, 1 assisted with Layton Starks), to force the Falcons to punt. Those two sacks reflected Ball State's consistent pressure which resulted in four sacks on the day. When the Cardinals took over, Brody Boehm put Ball State on the scoreboard with a 39-yard field goal. Boehm has scored on 4 of 5 field goals from 38 yards or longer this season.
The strong defensive effort was accented by Yates' interception and the sacks from Marsh, Starks, Ameir Glenn and Austin Stief, giving the Cardinals multiple sacks for the first time since week two versus Stony Brook.
CJ Nelson was another Cardinal who had a career-day against the Falcons, posting six receptions for 59 yards. The reception total was the most he's recorded in a Ball State uniform. Isaiah Thacker's career-long 29-yard reception in the second quarter, set up Horton's eight-yard rushing score for Ball State's first touchdown of the day.
Following its momentous conference win Saturday afternoon, Ball State returns to Scheumann Stadium to celebrate 100 years of Homecoming, next week against Sacramento State. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. with broadcast available on ESPN+ and WLBC 104.1 FM.
Players Mentioned
K/P
/ Football
DT
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
TE
/ Football
OLB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
WR
/ FootballTeam Stats
BSU
BG
Total Yards
435
313
Pass Yards
195
215
Rushing Yards
240
98
Penalty Yards
57
60
1st Downs
23
18
3rd Downs
5
5
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
30:15
29:45
1st Quarter
BSU 3, BG 0
BSU - Boehm,Brody 39 yd field goal 10 plays, 69 yards, TOP 05:53
2nd Quarter
BSU 10, BG 0
BSU - Horton,TJ 8 yd run (Boehm,Brody kick), 7 plays, 63 yards, TOP 02:38
BSU 10, BG 7
BG - Ridley,Brennan 77 yd pass from Kastantin,Jay (Kenner,Travis kick) 1 plays, 77 yards, TOP 00:12
BSU 10, BG 10
BG - Kenner,Travis 49 yd field goal 11 plays, 44 yards, TOP 04:22
3rd Quarter
BSU 17, BG 10
BSU - Luster,Keldric 28 yd run (Boehm,Brody kick), 10 plays, 96 yards, TOP 06:08
4th Quarter
BSU 17, BG 17
BG - Jacon-Duffy,Eli 6 yd pass from Kastantin,Jay (Kenner,Travis kick) 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 07:24
BSU 17, BG 24
BG - Banks,D'kyah 35 yd fumble recovery (Kenner,Travis kick)
BSU 24, BG 24
BSU - Hohlt,Eli 20 yd pass from Luster,Keldric (Boehm,Brody kick) 6 plays, 78 yards, TOP 00:57
OT Quarter
BSU 24, BG 31
BG - Dendy,Austyn 4 yd run (Kenner,Travis kick), 4 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
BSU 32, BG 31
BSU - Horton,TJ 1 yd run (Scherle,Alex pass), 7 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
Game Leaders
CMP
16
TD
1
YDS
195
INT
0
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