Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Arkansas State University
November 01, 2026 | Women's Basketball
| Ball State vs. Arkansas State | MAC-SBC Challenge | |
| Game 1 | Monday, Nov. 2 at 6:30 pm ET | Worthen Arena |
| Gameday Info | Live Stats | ESPN+ | Listen | TIckets |
| Game Notes and Media Info | Ball State | Arkansas State |
| Social Media | X (Twitter) | Instagram | Facebook |
Opening Tip:
- Season Opener at Worthen Arena:
The Cardinals officially tip off the 2026–27 regular season at home on Monday, November 2, at 6:30 PM ET against Arkansas State.
- MAC-SBC Challenge:
This matchup serves as the first of two games for Ball State in the annual Mid-American Conference against Sun Belt Conference challenge.
- Preseason Favorites:
Ball State enters the season with high expectations after topping the 2026–27 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, being picked to win both the regular-season crown and the MAC Tournament Championship.
- Championship Pedigree:
Head coach Brady Sallee, entering his 15th season as the program's winningest coach, leads a squad coming off back-to-back MAC regular-season championships.
- Preseason All-MAC Honors:
The Cardinals' starting lineup features elite star power, anchored by senior center Tessa Towers (Preseason First Team All-MAC) and sharpshooter Grace Kingery (Preseason Second Team All-MAC).
- Razor-Thin Margins:
Both games in the series have been decided by exactly two points.
- The 2025 Thriller: In last year's season opener, Ball State secured its first-ever win against the Red Wolves. The Cardinals fought through a highly physical game in Jonesboro, relying heavily on a massive 52–39 rebounding advantage to pull out the 68–66 road victory.
- Monday's Significance: Monday's game at Worthen Arena will mark the first time Arkansas State has ever played a road game in Muncie against Ball State.
- The Ultimate "Short" Bench: Brady Sallee's 2026–27 squad holds a unique distinction: they feature the smallest roster in the entire Mid-American Conference (MAC) with only 10 active players. Every other team in the conference has at least 13.
- Global Pipeline: Ball State has built a reputation for recruiting heavily across Europe. Their rotations regularly feature elite international talents, with recent standout freshmen hailing from France, Belgium, Spain, and Italy.
