Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, September 26
Kent, OH
12:00 p.m.
Ball State University
at
Kent State
Photo by: Keith Lucas / Sideline Media Productions
Football Turns the Page Ahead of MAC Opener
September 21, 2026 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State football opens Mid-American Conference play Saturday with a road matchup at Kent State as the Cardinals look to move forward from Week 3 at Liberty. Head coach Mike Uremovich, along with TJ Horton and Stu Smith, met with the media Monday to discuss the start of conference play and the challenge presented by the Golden Flashes.
Uremovich emphasized the importance of looking past the non-conference schedule as Ball State expects another competitive year in the MAC.
"It's a one-game season in conference play," Uremovich said. "Who's a contender and who's not, that's determined by how you play each week, and then hopefully, you get to late October and November."
Before the Cardinals can turn their attention toward making a run in conference play, Uremovich wants his team to eliminate the mistakes that hurt it against the Flames. Penalties remain his biggest point of concern after Ball State committed 11 for the second straight week.
"The penalties. That's it," Uremovich said. "We don't do that around here, but we have done that around here for the last two weeks, and that's not how we're going to play football here."
Offensively, avoiding those mistakes will be important in keeping the Cardinals out of difficult down-and-distance situations.
"We can't have self-inflicted wounds and make it third-and-forever," Uremovich said. "I don't care what offense you are in the country, if it's third-and-eight plus all day, you're going to have a hard time."
Defensively, much of Ball State's attention will be on Kent State quarterback Dru DeShields. Uremovich praised DeShields' experience and ability to extend plays with his legs while continuing to look downfield.
Smith also expects DeShields' versatility to challenge the Cardinals' defense.
"He can throw it, he can run it and he has a quick game," Smith said. "He's definitely a good player, a tough opponent, but at the end of the day, if we just go execute what we do as a defense, then we're going to be just fine."
For Ball State, the emphasis throughout the week remains on learning from the first three games without allowing previous results to linger. Horton said the offense needs to respond to mistakes by quickly turning its attention to the next opportunity.
"When something goes bad, we can't get down on ourselves," Horton said. "When something goes bad, we need to just move on to the next play, score on the next drive, and the next drive after that."
That approach carries into Ball State's larger goal as conference play begins.
"Our goal is still ahead of us, which is winning a MAC championship," Smith said. "It's time to bond together as a team and be closer than ever."
The Cardinals begin their MAC schedule at Kent State on Sept. 26, with kickoff scheduled for noon. Broadcast will be available on ESPN+ and WLBC 104.5.
Uremovich emphasized the importance of looking past the non-conference schedule as Ball State expects another competitive year in the MAC.
"It's a one-game season in conference play," Uremovich said. "Who's a contender and who's not, that's determined by how you play each week, and then hopefully, you get to late October and November."
Before the Cardinals can turn their attention toward making a run in conference play, Uremovich wants his team to eliminate the mistakes that hurt it against the Flames. Penalties remain his biggest point of concern after Ball State committed 11 for the second straight week.
"The penalties. That's it," Uremovich said. "We don't do that around here, but we have done that around here for the last two weeks, and that's not how we're going to play football here."
Offensively, avoiding those mistakes will be important in keeping the Cardinals out of difficult down-and-distance situations.
"We can't have self-inflicted wounds and make it third-and-forever," Uremovich said. "I don't care what offense you are in the country, if it's third-and-eight plus all day, you're going to have a hard time."
Defensively, much of Ball State's attention will be on Kent State quarterback Dru DeShields. Uremovich praised DeShields' experience and ability to extend plays with his legs while continuing to look downfield.
Smith also expects DeShields' versatility to challenge the Cardinals' defense.
"He can throw it, he can run it and he has a quick game," Smith said. "He's definitely a good player, a tough opponent, but at the end of the day, if we just go execute what we do as a defense, then we're going to be just fine."
For Ball State, the emphasis throughout the week remains on learning from the first three games without allowing previous results to linger. Horton said the offense needs to respond to mistakes by quickly turning its attention to the next opportunity.
"When something goes bad, we can't get down on ourselves," Horton said. "When something goes bad, we need to just move on to the next play, score on the next drive, and the next drive after that."
That approach carries into Ball State's larger goal as conference play begins.
"Our goal is still ahead of us, which is winning a MAC championship," Smith said. "It's time to bond together as a team and be closer than ever."
The Cardinals begin their MAC schedule at Kent State on Sept. 26, with kickoff scheduled for noon. Broadcast will be available on ESPN+ and WLBC 104.5.
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