Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Samantha Blankenship / Ball State University
Football Schedule Announced for Uremovich's Second Season at Ball State
March 24, 2026 | Football, Cardinal Varsity Club
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Mid-American Conference has announced its 2026 football schedule, completing a 12-game slate for Ball State that begins with Big Ten powerhouse Ohio State, followed by a home opener against non-league foe Stony Brook, at Scheumann Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Key dates highlighting the schedule begin with that home opener against Stony Brook, showcasing Ball State's Family Weekend in the Cardinals' first meeting against the Seawolves. The Cardinals open MAC play on Sept. 26 at Kent State, then host Community Day, Oct. 3, when Ball State welcomes Toledo. The University and football program celebrate homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 24, when the Cardinals host MAC newcomer Sacramento State in the Hornets' first visit to Muncie.
In its second year under coach Mike Uremovich, Ball State visits Columbus, Ohio on Sept. 5 to open the 2026 campaign, facing the Buckeyes in one of three first-time matchups on the schedule. A week later, the Cardinals face Stony Brook before traveling in consecutive weeks to non-league foe Liberty, then Kent State.
After the Toledo matchup, Ball State battles a second Big Ten opponent, Northwestern, in the season's final non-conference bout on Oct. 10. The Cardinals will be the second team on the Wildcats' schedule to play in their newly renovated Ryan Field, scheduled to open just a week earlier.
Ball State stays on the road to battle Bowling Green, Oct. 17, before returning for its annual homecoming celebration that commemorates the 100th anniversary of the University's first homecoming in 1926.
From that point forward, the Cardinals play four straight November games in the MAC, including three consecutive midweek #MAC-tion games – Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Massachusetts; Wednesday, Nov. 11 at home against Buffalo; and Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Ohio. Ball State closes the regular season at home against Central Michigan on Nov. 28, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Ball State plays its 52nd season in the MAC this season, though gone is a rivalry with Northern Illinois and added to the slate are Sacramento State and UMass, whom the Cardinals have never met before in MAC play. Sac State enters the league for football this fall, following the Minutemen's entrance into the MAC in all sports in 2025-26. Also absent in the MAC's eight-team league rotation is a Redbird Rivalry game with Miami (OH). It is the first time since 1984 that neither the Huskies or RedHawks are on the Ball State schedule.
The MAC Championship Game is scheduled Saturday, Dec. 5.
"As we begin spring practice, it's exciting to see our official schedule released for the fall," said Uremovich. "Once again, we have a very challenging non-conference schedule, which will prepare us for the always-competitive Mid-American Conference play. We have had a great offseason to this point and I am really excited to see these guys on the field the next few weeks, as we prepare for the 2026 season."
Season tickets for Ball State football are available at BallStateSports.com/FootballTickets or by calling 1-888-BSU-TICKET.
2026 Ball State Football Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 5 at Ohio State
Saturday, Sept. 12 Stony Brook (Family Weekend)
Saturday, Sept. 19 at Liberty
Saturday, Sept. 26 * at Kent State
Saturday, Oct. 3 * Toledo (Community Day)
Saturday, Oct. 10 at Northwestern
Saturday, Oct. 17 * at Bowling Green
Saturday, Oct. 24 * Sacramento State (Homecoming)
Wednesday, Nov. 4 * at Massachusetts
Wednesday, Nov. 11 * Buffalo
Tuesday, Nov. 17 * at Ohio
Saturday, Nov. 28 * Central Michigan
Game times to be determined
* denotes Mid-American Conference game
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Key dates highlighting the schedule begin with that home opener against Stony Brook, showcasing Ball State's Family Weekend in the Cardinals' first meeting against the Seawolves. The Cardinals open MAC play on Sept. 26 at Kent State, then host Community Day, Oct. 3, when Ball State welcomes Toledo. The University and football program celebrate homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 24, when the Cardinals host MAC newcomer Sacramento State in the Hornets' first visit to Muncie.
In its second year under coach Mike Uremovich, Ball State visits Columbus, Ohio on Sept. 5 to open the 2026 campaign, facing the Buckeyes in one of three first-time matchups on the schedule. A week later, the Cardinals face Stony Brook before traveling in consecutive weeks to non-league foe Liberty, then Kent State.
After the Toledo matchup, Ball State battles a second Big Ten opponent, Northwestern, in the season's final non-conference bout on Oct. 10. The Cardinals will be the second team on the Wildcats' schedule to play in their newly renovated Ryan Field, scheduled to open just a week earlier.
Ball State stays on the road to battle Bowling Green, Oct. 17, before returning for its annual homecoming celebration that commemorates the 100th anniversary of the University's first homecoming in 1926.
From that point forward, the Cardinals play four straight November games in the MAC, including three consecutive midweek #MAC-tion games – Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Massachusetts; Wednesday, Nov. 11 at home against Buffalo; and Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Ohio. Ball State closes the regular season at home against Central Michigan on Nov. 28, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Ball State plays its 52nd season in the MAC this season, though gone is a rivalry with Northern Illinois and added to the slate are Sacramento State and UMass, whom the Cardinals have never met before in MAC play. Sac State enters the league for football this fall, following the Minutemen's entrance into the MAC in all sports in 2025-26. Also absent in the MAC's eight-team league rotation is a Redbird Rivalry game with Miami (OH). It is the first time since 1984 that neither the Huskies or RedHawks are on the Ball State schedule.
The MAC Championship Game is scheduled Saturday, Dec. 5.
"As we begin spring practice, it's exciting to see our official schedule released for the fall," said Uremovich. "Once again, we have a very challenging non-conference schedule, which will prepare us for the always-competitive Mid-American Conference play. We have had a great offseason to this point and I am really excited to see these guys on the field the next few weeks, as we prepare for the 2026 season."
Season tickets for Ball State football are available at BallStateSports.com/FootballTickets or by calling 1-888-BSU-TICKET.
2026 Ball State Football Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 5 at Ohio State
Saturday, Sept. 12 Stony Brook (Family Weekend)
Saturday, Sept. 19 at Liberty
Saturday, Sept. 26 * at Kent State
Saturday, Oct. 3 * Toledo (Community Day)
Saturday, Oct. 10 at Northwestern
Saturday, Oct. 17 * at Bowling Green
Saturday, Oct. 24 * Sacramento State (Homecoming)
Wednesday, Nov. 4 * at Massachusetts
Wednesday, Nov. 11 * Buffalo
Tuesday, Nov. 17 * at Ohio
Saturday, Nov. 28 * Central Michigan
Game times to be determined
* denotes Mid-American Conference game
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