Slow-Starting Cardinals Can't Keep Up with Kent State in MAC Opener

Saturday, September 26

Kent, OH

12:00 p.m.

Ball State University

1-3 , 0-1

Kent State

2-2 , 1-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Ball St.	0	0	7	6	13
Kent St.	7	10	0	9	26

Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics

Slow-Starting Cardinals Can't Keep Up with Kent State in MAC Opener

September 26, 2026 | Football

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – The Ball State football team opened Mid-American Conference play Saturday afternoon, falling to Kent State at Dix Stadium, 26-13.

The Cardinals (1-3, 0-1 MAC) gave up a safety in the closing quarter but managed to respond with a Jalen Bonds rush past the goal line on the other end of the field, scoring the last points for either team with a failed two-point conversion. Ball State's second successful trip inside the redzone was set up by Donovan Hamilton's 33-yard grab to the Kent State 18-yard line. Bonds scored four plays later, but it was not enough to change the outcome in a game the Golden Flashes led from the first quarter.

With the final result, both teams played their first game this season within 21 points.

Ball State saw 14 unanswered points go to the Flashes (2-2, 1-0 MAC) in the first half, a deficit fueled by five Kent State plays of 20 or more yards, including three of 25 or more. Ball State's offense struggled to cover the field in the opening half, with two of three first-half drives ending only three yards past midfield. The offensive production progressed in the second half, with the Cardinals recording 134 of their 164 passing yards between the third and fourth quarters.

Tyler Mizzell made his first start in a Ball State uniform, completing 16 throws for 164 yards and a touchdown. Mizzell connected with Hamilton to get Ball State on the board in the second quarter. The grab was the first receiving touchdown of Hamilton's collegiate career and Mizzell's first touchdown pass as a Cardinal.

Hamilton earned a career-best 80 receiving yards by the end of the afternoon. His seven catches tied his career-high, which he set at UConn last season. Bonds followed with 57 receiving yards, including a 38-yard catch during Ball State's scoring drive in the second quarter. Bonds and Hamilton recorded the Cardinals' two longest receptions this year. Bonds also led Ball State's rushing, tallying 36 yards on 11 attempts.

Sterling Smith recorded a career-high nine tackles for the second straight game, matching his total at Liberty last week (Sept. 19). In his first game played this season, Mikeah Webster earned a career-best in tackles, capturing eight. Webster also had two tackles for loss, totaling seven yards. Will Yates followed with seven, while Cincear Lewis had six. Like Webster, also starting for the first time this season was veteran offensive lineman Cole Mosier, who started at right guard after missing the season's first three games.

The Cardinals return to Scheumann Stadium to host Toledo on Oct. 3 for Community Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, with broadcast on ESPN+ and WLBC 104.1 FM.