Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics
Cardinals Carry Renewed Confidence into Homecoming Matchup
October 19, 2026 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State football returns home this week looking to build on the momentum of its first Mid-American Conference win of the season as it prepares to host Sacramento State. Head coach Mike Uremovich, along with Gavin Forsha and Chris Hood, met with the media Monday morning to discuss the Cardinals' recent win and upcoming matchup.
Ball State enters week eight coming off an overtime road victory, but Uremovich emphasized the importance of moving forward and continuing to correct mistakes regardless of the result.
"It's exciting to get a win," Uremovich said. "It's still the same. We come in on Sunday, whether win or lose. You have to remove the emotions from the game, and there's plenty of things that we did really well on Saturday, and we talked about those, but there's a lot of things that we need to fix too."
Uremovich said the Cardinals cannot allow the victory to take attention away from areas that still need improvement.
"It's human nature when you win that you just think everything's okay," Uremovich said. "We approached Sunday the exact same way as the however-many games we lost in a row before that. We had our staff meeting. I went through a teaching tape with the staff and told them the things that we had to fix."
Forsha echoed that approach, saying the Cardinals have shifted their focus entirely to their next opponent.
"This week is all about Sacramento State," Forsha said. "Last week was good, but it's 1-0 each week for us, and we're trying to get it done this week."
The Cardinals will face a Sacramento State team that Uremovich described as physical and athletic on both sides of the football. Defensively, Sacramento State presents additional challenges because of its ability to use several different fronts and coverages.
"They are very multiple," Uremovich said. "You're going to see a three-man front, a four-man front, the old Chicago Bear defense. You're going to see Cover 1, Cover 3 quarters. They do a ton on defense, and it will create problems for you because you've got to know your rules."
Hood said the Cardinals' offensive line has already faced several different defensive looks this season and is confident in its ability to adjust.
"We've handled a lot of exotic fronts this year and a lot of crazy stuff," Hood said. "So, I think we're extremely confident to go into that and pick up those blitzes and pick up the guys that are coming in."
Ball State also looks to build on one of its more complete defensive performances of the season. Forsha said the unit's improvement has developed over several weeks and began to come together in the Cardinals' most recent game.
"I feel like every week we've gotten better," Forsha said. "I feel like we've improved each week. Last week, I felt like we put it all together for the first time in a full game, and I hope to do it every game now."
Uremovich said maintaining that progress starts with players understanding their assignments and being in the correct position before the snap.
"Defensive football is about getting lined up, getting your cleats in the ground and getting your eyes right every play," Uremovich said. "Then after that, they got to go play, and we did a really good job of that on Saturday against a good running football team with a talented quarterback."
Offensively, Hood credited growing confidence and trust among the Cardinals for helping the unit make progress after a difficult start to the season.
"I think confidence and vibes," Hood said. "I think that's a big thing. Everyone had trust in each other, had trust in [Keldric Luster], had trust in the five offensive linemen, wide receivers, tight ends, running backs. We all are trusting each other, and the vibes are high."
That confidence was tested in Ball State's recent victory after the Cardinals lost a fumble in a crucial late-game drive in the fourth quarter. Hood said the response from Luster and the rest of the team demonstrated a change in the Cardinals' mentality.
"There was never a sense of doubt," Hood said. "[Luster] fumbled it. He made a mistake, but he got back up. We all got back up. We were all excited to go back in. I mean, we knew we had to go and score anyway, so that mindset didn't change."
Ball State has also relied on its depth as injuries have created opportunities for other players. Uremovich pointed to Eli Hohlt and Alex Scherle as examples of players who were prepared when their opportunities arrived.
"That's why you recruit and develop, and nobody cares when your guys get hurt," Uremovich said. "People get hurt all the time. You've got to be able to get the next guy ready to play."
Hohlt, who earned a scholarship ahead of the season after joining the team as a walk-on in 2023, delivered a key grab as regulation time expired in the Cardinals' recent win. Uremovich said seeing a former walk-on contribute in an important moment was particularly rewarding.
"When you give a walk-on a scholarship, they earned it," Uremovich said. "[Hohlt] loves Ball State, man, and he worked his tail off to get that opportunity. And then for him to be able to be in the game and make that play is great."
Hood also credited Hohlt's work ethic and willingness to contribute on special teams throughout his career.
"There's no one that was more deserving of that scholarship than him," Hood said. "He kept grinding and putting his head down, and it finally came into play. He's going to keep working. He's going to keep giving you everything he's got."
The Cardinals now return to Muncie for a homecoming. Uremovich said the team is looking forward to playing in front of its home crowd again as it attempts to carry its recent momentum into another week.
"We're really excited to be at home," Uremovich said. "We played good football at home since we've been here, and I know our guys love playing in front of the home crowd, and it's homecoming. ... Hopefully, we get the same thing this Saturday."
Ball State hosts newest Mid-American Conference foe Sacramento State inside Scheumann Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24, with kickoff slated for 3:30 p.m. ET. The broadcast is available on ESPN+ and WLBC 104.1 FM.
Ball State enters week eight coming off an overtime road victory, but Uremovich emphasized the importance of moving forward and continuing to correct mistakes regardless of the result.
"It's exciting to get a win," Uremovich said. "It's still the same. We come in on Sunday, whether win or lose. You have to remove the emotions from the game, and there's plenty of things that we did really well on Saturday, and we talked about those, but there's a lot of things that we need to fix too."
Uremovich said the Cardinals cannot allow the victory to take attention away from areas that still need improvement.
"It's human nature when you win that you just think everything's okay," Uremovich said. "We approached Sunday the exact same way as the however-many games we lost in a row before that. We had our staff meeting. I went through a teaching tape with the staff and told them the things that we had to fix."
Forsha echoed that approach, saying the Cardinals have shifted their focus entirely to their next opponent.
"This week is all about Sacramento State," Forsha said. "Last week was good, but it's 1-0 each week for us, and we're trying to get it done this week."
The Cardinals will face a Sacramento State team that Uremovich described as physical and athletic on both sides of the football. Defensively, Sacramento State presents additional challenges because of its ability to use several different fronts and coverages.
"They are very multiple," Uremovich said. "You're going to see a three-man front, a four-man front, the old Chicago Bear defense. You're going to see Cover 1, Cover 3 quarters. They do a ton on defense, and it will create problems for you because you've got to know your rules."
Hood said the Cardinals' offensive line has already faced several different defensive looks this season and is confident in its ability to adjust.
"We've handled a lot of exotic fronts this year and a lot of crazy stuff," Hood said. "So, I think we're extremely confident to go into that and pick up those blitzes and pick up the guys that are coming in."
Ball State also looks to build on one of its more complete defensive performances of the season. Forsha said the unit's improvement has developed over several weeks and began to come together in the Cardinals' most recent game.
"I feel like every week we've gotten better," Forsha said. "I feel like we've improved each week. Last week, I felt like we put it all together for the first time in a full game, and I hope to do it every game now."
Uremovich said maintaining that progress starts with players understanding their assignments and being in the correct position before the snap.
"Defensive football is about getting lined up, getting your cleats in the ground and getting your eyes right every play," Uremovich said. "Then after that, they got to go play, and we did a really good job of that on Saturday against a good running football team with a talented quarterback."
Offensively, Hood credited growing confidence and trust among the Cardinals for helping the unit make progress after a difficult start to the season.
"I think confidence and vibes," Hood said. "I think that's a big thing. Everyone had trust in each other, had trust in [Keldric Luster], had trust in the five offensive linemen, wide receivers, tight ends, running backs. We all are trusting each other, and the vibes are high."
That confidence was tested in Ball State's recent victory after the Cardinals lost a fumble in a crucial late-game drive in the fourth quarter. Hood said the response from Luster and the rest of the team demonstrated a change in the Cardinals' mentality.
"There was never a sense of doubt," Hood said. "[Luster] fumbled it. He made a mistake, but he got back up. We all got back up. We were all excited to go back in. I mean, we knew we had to go and score anyway, so that mindset didn't change."
Ball State has also relied on its depth as injuries have created opportunities for other players. Uremovich pointed to Eli Hohlt and Alex Scherle as examples of players who were prepared when their opportunities arrived.
"That's why you recruit and develop, and nobody cares when your guys get hurt," Uremovich said. "People get hurt all the time. You've got to be able to get the next guy ready to play."
Hohlt, who earned a scholarship ahead of the season after joining the team as a walk-on in 2023, delivered a key grab as regulation time expired in the Cardinals' recent win. Uremovich said seeing a former walk-on contribute in an important moment was particularly rewarding.
"When you give a walk-on a scholarship, they earned it," Uremovich said. "[Hohlt] loves Ball State, man, and he worked his tail off to get that opportunity. And then for him to be able to be in the game and make that play is great."
Hood also credited Hohlt's work ethic and willingness to contribute on special teams throughout his career.
"There's no one that was more deserving of that scholarship than him," Hood said. "He kept grinding and putting his head down, and it finally came into play. He's going to keep working. He's going to keep giving you everything he's got."
The Cardinals now return to Muncie for a homecoming. Uremovich said the team is looking forward to playing in front of its home crowd again as it attempts to carry its recent momentum into another week.
"We're really excited to be at home," Uremovich said. "We played good football at home since we've been here, and I know our guys love playing in front of the home crowd, and it's homecoming. ... Hopefully, we get the same thing this Saturday."
Ball State hosts newest Mid-American Conference foe Sacramento State inside Scheumann Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24, with kickoff slated for 3:30 p.m. ET. The broadcast is available on ESPN+ and WLBC 104.1 FM.
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