FOOTBALL GAMEDAY: Cardinals Venture to Top-Ranked Ohio State

Saturday, September 5

Columbus, OH

12:30 p.m.

Ball State University

Ohio State

Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics

FOOTBALL GAMEDAY: Cardinals Venture to Top-Ranked Ohio State

September 03, 2026 | Football

2026 Season and Single-Game Tickets

Ball State (0-0, 0-0 MAC) at Ohio State (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Game 1 - at Ohio State	Saturday, Sept. 5 at 12:30 p.m. ET Live Stats \| Big Ten Network
Ball State Gainbridge Radio Network	Radio Pre- and Postgame: 11:30 a.m. ET on WMUN 92.5 FM/1340 AM Game Broadcast: 12:30 p.m. ET on WLBC 104.1 FM WMUN Listen Live \| WLBC Listen Live
Game Notes and Media Info	Ball State \| Ohio State \| MAC \| Media Center
Ball State Ticket Information	2026 Season Tickets \| Home Opener & Family Day vs. Stony Brook (Sept. 12, 2 p.m.) \| Community Day vs. Toledo (Oct. 3, Time TBD)
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MUNCIE, Ind. -- Not to be mistaken with The Scheu (Scheumann Stadium) in Muncie, Ball State visits Ohio Stadium on Saturday to begin its 102nd season at "The Horseshoe," aptly regarded for its horseshoe shape. At what is the third-largest on-campus football facility in the country, Ball State opens its second season under head coach Mike Uremovich.

-- Ball State battles against the No. 1-ranked team in the country for the second time in four seasons, after playing at top-ranked Georgia in 2023. This is the sixth straight season the Cardinals have battled a Big Ten, SEC or ACC opponent in Week 1 or 2.

-- For the fourth time since 2021, Ball State meets a nationally-ranked non-conference opponent in Week 1 or Week 2: No. 11 Penn State in 2021, No. 1 Georgia in 2023, No. 10 Miami in 2024 ... and this year's top-ranked Buckeyes.

-- Counting Saturday's bout in Columbus, the Cardinals will have played in each of the four largest stadiums in college football: Michigan in 2006 (capacity 107,601), Penn State in 2021 (capacity 106,304), Ohio State (capacity 102,780) and Texas A&M in 2015 (capacity 102,733). Counting the Ohio State game, the Cardinals have played in five of the nation's six largest stadiums; and six of the top 10. Other top stadium capacities include #6 Tennessee in 2022 and #9 Georgia in 2023.

-- Mike Uremovich begins his second year at the Cardinal helm, owning a 4-8 mark in 2025 and looking forward to more improvements in 2026. A former coordinator at Northern Illinois, Temple and NC State, Uremovich now boasts a full recruiting cycle under his belt and utilizes a Cardinals' roster that is more dynamic, deeper in depth and speedier on both sides of the ball.

-- QB Keldric Luster is expected to make his first college start at Ohio Stadium, beginning his fourth college season after stints at SMU (7 games over 2023 & 2024) and Texas State (2 appearance last year). He follows Layne Hatcher, another Texas State transfer, who started the 2023 Ball State opener at Kentucky. He plays behind an experienced offensive line and will distribute the ball to a core of running backs and receivers that is speedier and deeper than in 2025.

-- Just two defensive starters return from the 2025 roster -- cornerbacks Will Yates and DJ Fields. Fields is a converted safety. The Cardinals' defense will be anchored by a host of transfers.

WHAT A WIN MEANS:
-- The Cardinals will win their opening game for the second time in three years.
-- Ball State would defeat a Top 15-ranked foe for the first time in history and a nationally-ranked opponent for the first time since downing No. 19 San Jose State in the 2020 Arizona Bowl.

SERIES NOTES AND TOP STORYLINES

INSIDE THE SERIES: OHIO STATE
-- The Cardinals and Buckeyes have never played on the gridiron.
-- The Cardinals begin their first of four trips to Ohio during the 2026 season, with upcoming visits to Kent State (Sept. 26), Bowling Green (Oct. 17) and Ohio (Nov. 17).

GRIFFIN: CARDINAL DB WITH LENGTHY BUCKEYES LINEAGE RETURNS TO OHIO STADIUM
-- In addition to playing four years at Ohio State, Ball State transfer and grad student Dianté Griffin graduated from Ohio State last spring in a ceremony conducted at Ohio Stadium. He is the grandson of two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, and was the seventh member of the Griffin family to don the Buckeyes' scarlet and gray.
-- Griffin was a walk-on at Ohio State in 2022, completing four seasons with the Buckeyes' including a national championship to cap the 2024 season.
-- His father and Archie's son, Andre, played RB for the Buckeyes (1998-01). Other former OSU RBs and DBs include uncle Adam, great uncles Ray and Duncan, and grandfather Dave Reynolds (mid-1960s).

SEASON OPENERS
-- Since 2000, Ball State holds an even 13-13 mark in season openers.

VS NO. 1
-- Only at Georgia on Sept. 9, 2023, has Ball State ever faced a No. 1-ranked team in the AP poll. The Cardinals and Bulldogs were scoreless in the first period before Georgia scored 31 in the second frame, on the way to a 45-3 final score.
-- Ball State's only prior matchup against a top-ranked opponent came in a 62-6 defeat at Oklahoma on Oct. 1, 2011. The Sooners were ranked No. 1 that week in the coaches poll, No. 2 in the AP Poll behind LSU.

VS POWER FOUR
-- The Cardinals have played a season opener against a Power-4 team five times since 2017. Saturday's game is the sixth. (2026 at Ohio State; 2025 at Purdue; 2023 at Kentucky; 2022 at Tennessee; 2019 vs. Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium; 2017 at Illinois).

VS BIG TEN
-- Ball State faces a Big Ten opponent for the third time in five years. Previously, the Cardinals squared off against a member of the Big Ten in six consecutive seasons from 2014-19.
-- With a visit to the new Ryan Field at Northwestern on Oct. 10, the Cardinals face two Big Ten programs in the same season for the first time since making back-to-back road trips to Purdue (Sept. 18) and Iowa (Sept. 25) in 2010.
-- Ball State faces two Big Ten opponents in the same season for just the seventh time in its history (1995, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2010).
-- The Cardinals played three current Big Ten school in 2007 when they traveled to then-Big XII Nebraska (L, 40-41) in September, and later battled at both Illinois (L, 17-28) and Indiana (L, 20-38).
-- The Cardinals are seeking their fourth win against a Big Ten opponent. Ball State is 3-31-1 against teams currently in the Big Ten and 3-29 against Big Ten foes at the time of the game (Illinios 0-2, Indiana 3-7, Iowa 0-3, Michigan 0-1, Minnesota 0-2, Northwestern 0-1, Penn State 0-1, Purdue 0-9 and Wisconsin 0-3 while in the Big Ten; Nebraska 0-1, Rutgers 0-1-1).
-- Ball State's last victory over a Big Ten opponent was a 41-39 thriller at Indiana on Sept. 15, 2012.

PRESIDENT NO STRANGER TO OHIO STADIUM
-- Saturday may be the first trip to Ohio Stadium for the football Cardinals, but Ball State's head cardinal -- President Geoffrey S. Mearns -- is no stranger. Mearns, a former track athlete at Yale, grew up in Ohio and competed in the 1977 OHSAA State Track and Field Championships conducted at Ohio Stadium.
-- Representing Shaker Heights High School as a senior, Mearns finished third in the mile (4:16.7) and fourth in the two-mile (9:33.6) in the boys 3A state finals.
-- Ohio Stadium was the home of OHSAA state championships until the track was permanently removed in 1998.

LIMIT THE FLAGS
-- The MAC leader for almost the entire 2025 season in fewest penalties (56), fewest penalties per game (4.67), fewest penalty yards (466) and fewest penalty yards per game (38.83), the Cardinals finished second or third in the MAC in all four categories.

        MAC Rk |    FBS Rk
Fewest Penalties   2nd   12th
Fewest Penalties/Gm   3rd   22nd
Fewest Penalty Yds   2nd   12th
Fewest Penalty Yds/Gm   2nd   13th

OFFENSIVE STORYLINES & NOTES

THE NARRATIVE
-- In short, the Cardinals are deeper at both running back and receiver, with more speed in both positions.
-- Secondly, a dual-threat QB will lead the Cardinals, whether it be ordained QB1 Keldric Luster or his backup, Tyler Mizzell.
-- Up front, Ball State returns three starters on the offensive line, though versatile guard/center Cole Mosier will miss this week's opener in order to heal and return for Mid-American Conference play on September 26 against Kent State. Chris Hood (LT) and Tristan Cook (RT) are bookend tackles who chose to stay at Ball State for their fifth and third seasons.
-- The Cardinals struggled offensively last year while looking for a pass game with run-first QB Kiael (pronounced ky-ELL) Kelly behind center. Minus that pass game, the offense was largely one-dimensional and improvements were tough to quantify. With either Luster or Mizzell, though, excitement is high with the Cardinals poised to display much more speed and versatility.

STRONG IN RUN GAME IS UREMOVICH MANTRA
-- Since hired in December 2024, head coach Mike Uremovich has preached a strong run game.
-- Ball State rushed at least 33 times in 10 of 12 games last season, averaging 131.8 yards per game on the ground. Those figures should increase in 2026 with a more potent pass game to balance the defense.

DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE "BOWLING BALL" QB
-- Social media pundits had fun with Ball State's QB announcement last week, noting that the 5-10, 250-lb. Keldric Luster may resemble a sturdy, tough-to-tackle bowling ball.
-- Luster was named the starting QB during a position meeting on Thursday, Aug. 20, one day ahead of a Friday scrimmage. He transfers from Texas State after a year with the Bobcats and two at SMU, where he totaled nine games over his first three seasons.
-- At 5-10 and 250 pounds, the robust signal-caller makes his first college start on Saturday. One of Luster's biggest QB characteristics is a powerful, hard-throwing arm that fires strikes to his receivers.

RUNNING BACK TANDEM
-- The Cardinals' most experienced runner is fourth-year tailback TJ Horton, who also doubles as Ball State's top kick returner.
-- Horton was fifth in the MAC in kickoff return yards last season (24.5 yds per return). He boasts 287 yards on 83 carries over the past two years out of the backfield.
-- If Horton is the "lightning" of the running back duo, Jalen Bonds could be tabbed as its "thunder." Not necessarily a big back, Bonds is Ball State's biggest ball carrier and his rugged frame helped him emerge as the Cardinals' top ball carrier in the final three games of 2025.
-- Bonds was utilized as both a rusher and receiver over just three games last year. He gained 77 yards rushing and 52 receiving overall.
After receiving four carries in his college debut against Eastern Michigan last year, he rushed for 58 yards and caught passes for 54 yards at Toledo, to record the most scrimmage yards (112) by a Ball State freshman since Carson Steele in 2021.
-- Bonds became the 10th Ball State freshman since 2000 to eclipse 110 scrimmage yards in a game.
-- New to the mix in 2026 is Kansas transfer Johnny Thompson Jr., a fourth-year player who bears speed like Horton and should see plenty of reps.
-- Former Purdue transfer Elijah Jackson, and freshmen Char-rese Breveard and Anthony McMullen Jr., round out the Cardinals' backfield.

RECEIVING DEPTH
-- Third-year Donovan Hamilton, fourth-year Isaiah Thacker and fifth-year Jamarion McDougle are the Cardinals' most veteran returning receivers, but added to the mix this year is a host of speedy transfers including Corey Thompson Jr. (UNLV/Utah State), CJ Nelson (Eastern Illinois) and Jabari Smith (Florida Atlantic).
-- Hamilton emerged as the Cardinals' top receiver last season. A local product from Indianapolis, Hamilton transferred from Purdue and recorded the Cardinals' season-high with seven catches at UConn last September.
-- Speed was a recruiting focus with this class of transfers, and this year's depth promises to provide ample targets for Cardinals QBs.

SIX TIGHT ENDS
-- Ball State will employ multiple tight ends, in a variety of sets, using the position as much as a blocking fullback as a route-running pass catcher.
-- Tate Hoover, an athletic offensive linemen in high school and a fullback at Hutchinson CC, leads the tight ends unit. He played in all 12 games last year and started in seven -- catching just one pass (9 yards).
-- Other candidates to see significant time in 2026 are transfers Alex Scherle and Sean Ward, from Rice and Dartmouth, respectively. Second-year player Mason Riggins and fourth-year Leo Collins should also be active in the rotation.
-- Last year, it was a routine occurence for six different tight ends to log minutes by the end of the Cardinals' first offensive series.
-- Nearly every active tight end will participate on various special teams units.

TALLEST MAN IN THE MAC LEADS O-LINE
-- The 6-foot-10 nephew of former Purdue and NBA star Brad Miller, Chris Hood leads all Ball State players with 20 starts over his college career. Hood starts at left tackle and begins his fifth and final college season. He is the tallest player in the Mid-American Conference.

OFFENSIVE LINE CONTINUITY
-- Ball State started the same offensive line in each of the first six games, and in 8 of 12 overall last season, led by Hood and Cook at tackles in every game, and Mosier at center. Cook has been termed by Ball State coaches as the line's most solid and reliable blocker.
-- Only the interior line has changes this season, with Mosier shifting to guard and out for the first few weeks. Third-year player and former walk-on Grant Haworth is tabbed to start at center, ahead of Dartmouth transfer Maxwell Wentz. Mosier is expected to shift to left guard, but third-year returner Zach Bandy is touted to start at Ohio State. The right guard position could see rotation between a pair of transfers -- Jacob Jeudy from Div. II Concord and Misa Sandoval from Vanderbilt.

FORT WAYNE VERSATILITY
-- Both products of suburban Fort Wayne, Ind., just north of Ball State, offensive line standouts Chris Hood and Cole Mosier both have displayed some athleticism in the trenches. The high school rivals now are teammates.
-- Hood, a high school basketball star like many in his family, started over three positions at times in 2024, before settling at left tackle all of last season. He has played both tackle positions, and subbed at right guard in a 2024 emergency due to injuries and a transfer.
-- Mosier is one of just 24 players nationally, and just two in the MAC, to have played all five positions along the offensive line. Last year, Mosier was the Cardinals' full-time center, while playing a few snaps at right guard. He was injured all of 2024 and played much of 2023 as a blocking tight end. During that 2023 season, he also saw snaps at left guard and both tackles.
-- Mosier wears No. 73 usually, but he was used so frequently as a blocking TE in 2023 that he began wearing No. 90 when he reported in that role. Ball State rosters were updated at midseason to reflect him wearing No. 73/90.

DEFENSIVE NOTES & STORYLINES

THE NARRATIVE
-- Gone are 10 of 12 regular starters for the Ball State defense this year, but in their place is a strong cast of returning players and a select group of transfers who should continue to raise the left of play for third-year coordinator Jeff Knowles.
-- The defensive line routinely rotates 8-12 players each game, and needs to find a replacement for MAC sacks leader Nathan Voorhis, recently with the New York Jets. But in his place is hungry rusher Jared Badie, a transfer from San Diego State, and returning fifth-year star Justin Thomas who missed the 2023 season due to a preseason injury. Several members of the 2025 rotation return, including stalwarts Ameir Glenn and Ben Marsh who expect to start at tackles. Other top rotation stars include Austin Stief, Layton Starks and Ka'Shawn Thomas.
-- Glenn and Ka'Shawn Thomas, both of whom transferred from Wake Forest (Glenn in 2025, Thomas in 2026) could start beside one another at nose tackle and defensive tackle.
-- The linebacking corps graduated its seniors last season, but a younger crop of reserves is primed to take their place. Transfers Cincear Lewis, Kaleb Stewart and Gavin Forsha are expected to lead the linebacking posts along with second-year star Lucas Szymborski. Injured second-year Mikeah Webster is a team leader who could start by year's end.
-- Even with returning starters Will Yates and DJ Fields at the corners, and part-time starter Deondre Shepherd, the defensive secondary could be Ball State's most improved unit.
-- Yates is regarded as the Cardinals' best cover man, having started parts of the past two seasons since arriving as a true freshman. Fields is a converted safety who made eight starts in 2025.
-- Throughout spring ball and training camp, secondary coverage has been turned up for the Cardinals with a host of impact transfers in the mix:
   - Quentavius ("Q") Scandrett returns to the MAC after a transfer to Arkansas, and should start at sniper, a hybrid LB/DB.
   - Sterling ("Stu") Smith transfers from Purdue and should start at boundary safety, with returner Kamron Chamble in the mix.
   - Transfers Cedric Franklin II, from Arkansas State, and Anthony Pinnace, from Michigan State, are quality backups to Yates and Fields.

TURNOVER CARDS: FIRST FIVE VS. LAST SEVEN
-- Over last season's last seven games, the Ball State defense forced TWELVE turnovers (9 INTs, 3 FRs), compared to just ONE in its first five games.

VOORHIS RECENTLY WITH NEW YORK JETS
-- Among the departed from last year's defense was MAC sacks leader Nathan Voorhis (pronounced VORR-is) who finished fourth among FBS leaders in sacks per game (1.00) and whose 12 sacks finished one shy of Ball State's single-season record of 13.
-- Voorhis was an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets, but was waived last week.

SPECIAL TEAMS STORYLINES & NOTES

THE NARRATIVE
-- Ball State will have a new placekicker and punter this year, after graduation by kickers Carson Holmer and DC Pippin, and punter Adam Saul.
-- Long snapper Caden Britton returns, as does holder Cole Stumbaugh, and Stumbaugh should assume punting duties in 2026.
-- Taking responsibility at placekicker is highly regarded Brody Boehm (pronounced BAME) who transferred from Missouri last year as a redshirt freshman, but was injured in training camp. Now, the third-year kicker expects to ply his trade in front of fourth-year transfer Hudson Fiene (pronounced FEE-nee).
-- Boehm is considered to have a strong leg with capability beyond 50 yards.
-- The backup punter is first-year player Lachlan Mathieson who arrives from a kicking academy in Melbourne, Australia. Fun fact: all of his punting in Australia came from a "snap" out of a jugs machine. The first he punted with a long snapper was in Ball State's training camp in August.

FREAKS LIST
-- Local product Brody Boehm, who attended Missouri in 2024-25 before transferring to Ball State, close to his home in nearby Westfield, is due to handle placekicking chores for the Cardinals.
-- He enters his first year as the starter as the only kicker selected among 101 members of The Athletic's 2026 Freak's List by Bruce Feldman. The only player selected from the Mid-American Conference, he was just one of two specialists chosen nationally.
-- His family story is compelling, helping "coach" his older brother Ben, who has Down syndrome and has become a world-class Special Olympics powerlifter. Nicknamed "Ironman," Ben won gold and bronze medals in recent world championships conducted in Romania and Iceland.

BALLSTATESPORTS.COM/CARDSKICKCANCER
-- Started in 2025 with Britton, Stumbaugh and Holmer, Ball State specialists initiated a "Cards Kick Cancer" initiative in which fans and supporters can pledge support for every point scored by the Cardinals kicking unit.
-- Last year's Ball State initiative, done exclusively by the players and with minimal promotion, raised over $3,000. Ball State fans and supporters can learn more and contribute by visiting:
   BallStateSports.com/CardsKickCancer.
-- The idea was initiated by Britton, who's younger brother Behren is a leukemia survivor. This year, the initiative is supported by Boehm and the rest of Ball State's specialists.
-- All funds support the "Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation" that fights childhood cancer. Alex Scott's inspiring story has evolved into a Foundation that has raised more than $300 million for childhood cancer and funded over 1,500 research projects that have saved the lives of kids fighting cancer with no treatment options available.

HEART OF THE CARDINAL
-- Based on the "Cards Kick Cancer" initiative and a regular, year-round display of community service, last year's special teams trio -- Caden Britton, Cole Stumbaugh and Carson Holmer -- was presented the "Heart of the Cardinal" award at Ball State SportsLink's 2026 Chirpies Awards Show, an annual presentation of Ball State athletics' best and brightest performances from the previous year.

ALLSTATE AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM AND WUERFFEL TROPHY NOMINEE
-- Based on community service and the "Cards Kick Cancer" initiative, long snapper Caden Britton is this year's Ball State nominee for both the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and the Wuerrfel Trophy. As only one player per school is eligible for nomination, Britton represents the Ball State specialists who have collaborated on fundraising and community service in consecutive years.

PROGRAM & COACHES NOTES AND STORYLINES

PRESEASON HONOREES
8 Eleven different Ball State players were honoring last summer with preseason accolades by various publications:

-- Brody Boehm, K
-Freaks List (The Athletic)
** The only kicker and the only MAC player on this year's Freaks List!
-- Caden Britton, LS
-Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and Wuerffel Trophy Nominee
-Preseason All-MAC (Phil Steele Preview)
-- Tristan Cook, OT
-Preseason All-MAC (Athlon Sports)
-Preseason All-MAC (Phil Steele Preview)
-Preseason All-MAC (SportsInfo Solutions)
-- Ameir Glenn, DT
-Preseason All-MAC (Pro Football Network)
-- Donovan Hamilton, WR
-Preseason All-MAC (Athlon Sports)
-Preseason All-MAC (Phil Steele Preview)
-- Chris Hood, OT
-Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1000 Watchlist
-Preseason All-MAC (Athlon Sports)
-Preseason All-MAC (Phil Steele Preview)
-- TJ Horton, RB/KOR
-Preseason All-MAC (Athlon Sports)
-Preseason All-MAC (Phil Steele Preview)
-- Quentavius Scandrett, S
-Preseason All-MAC (Athlon Sports)
-- Corey Thompson Jr., WR
-College Football Comeback Player of the Year Award Watchlist
-- Maxwell Wentz, C
-Preseason All-MAC (Pro Football Network)
-- Will Yates, CB
-Preseason All-MAC (Athlon Sports)
-Preseason All-MAC (Phil Steele Preview)
-Preseason All-MAC (Pro Football Network)

WIDE-RANGING NEW ROSTER IN 2026
-- The Cardinals welcomed 59 new players since the end of the 2025 campaign, and 35 of those have come from other college programs -- 32 four-year transfers and three junior-college transfers.
-- In addition to the sweeping number of newcomers, Uremovich's staff has utilized a broad search geographically, too. From a preliminary preseason depth chart, 22 offensive and defensive starters came from hometowns in 11 different states -- California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Texas.

INDIANA AND INDY-AREA HIGH SCHOOLS
-- Over one-third of Ball State's roster (39 of 115 players) come from Indiana high schools, and 23 are from the Indianapolis region.
-- A breakdown of Indy-area high schools represented on the Cardinals' roster: Avon-1, Bishop Chatard-2, Brownsburg-1, Cathedral-5, Central Grove-2, Fishers-1, Greenfield Central-1, Hamilton Southeastern-2, Lawrence Central-1, New Palestine-2, Westfield-4, Zionsville-1

SCHOLARSHIP EARNERS
-- Since last spring, three former walk-ons have been awarded scholarships by Mike Uremovich.
-- Offensive lineman Grant Haworth, whose father Jack was a standout linebacker for Ball State in the early 1990s, was awarded a full scholarship during spring ball this year. Haworth is a local product of nearby Fishers High School who signed with the Cardinals as an invited walk-on prior to the 2024 season.
-- Similarly, fourth-year players Cole Earlewine and Eli Hohlt were awarded scholarships at the close of training camp in August. Earlewine, out of Hamilton Southeastern High School, will see reps at sniper in the defensive secondary. Hohlt, from Center Grove High School south of Indianapolis, will be utilized as part of a deepening corps of wide receivers.

300-POUNDERS
-- Ball State boasts 19 300-pounders on its full roster, 15 on the offensive line and four on the defensive front.
-- Defensive tackle Keilan Smith tips the scales at a team-high 335 pounds.
-- At 6-foot-10 and 330 pounds, Chris Hood tops the offensive line.

BLACK-AND-GOLD TO RED-AND-WHITE
-- The schools from which the most Ball State players have transferred are Purdue (4) and Wake Forest (3).
-- Among four players who transferred from Purdue, starters Donovan Hamilton (WR) and Stu Smith (DB) both wear jersey No. 1. Running back Elijah Jackson wears No. 0. The fourth Boilermaker transfer is defensive lineman Reese Hill. All four starred locally at Indianapolis high schools.
-- Tyler Mizzell arrived at Concord after spending the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Wake Forest where he was teammates with current Ball State defensive linemen Ameir Glenn and Ka'Shawn Thomas. All three were together on the Demon Deacs' 2024 roster.

THACKER BROTHERS
-- Among nine brothers in all, Isaiah and Michael Thacker are among four brothers adopted and raised by Daniel and Teresa Thacker in the East Indianapolis suburb of New Palestine. Isaiah, a fourth-year receiver, and Michael, a second-year defensive lineman, both starred locally for powerhouse New Palestine High School.
-- Nine brothers (oldest to youngest): Noah, Anthony, Jonah, Ben, Josh, Daniel, Isaiah, Michael and Joe.

OLOOTU AND McKINNEY TRANSFERS
-- Assistant secondary coach Mayomi Olootu (pronounced my-OH-mee oh-LOW-too) has had impact not only coaching on the field, but recruiting, too.
-- Two projected starters this year were hand-picked by Olootu from McKinney High School in Texas, where Olootu coached prior to joining the Ball State staff in 2024. QB1 Keldric Luster graduated from McKinney in 2023, before stints at SMU and Texas State. Safety Deondre Shepherd graduated in 2024 and spent time at Coastal Carolina before his arrival in Muncie.

DARTMOUTH DUO
-- Another duo arriving from the same school are fifth-year transfers Sean Ward and Maxwell Wentz, who recently spent four years together at Dartmouth. Both graduated from Dartmouth and arrived in Muncie in June.
-- A starting center for the Big Green, Wentz serves as part of an interior line rotation, and was a Preseason All-MAC honoree by Pro Football Network. Ward fits into a wide rotation of tight ends.

CONCORD DUO
-- Tyler Mizzell and Jacob Jeudy arrived at Ball State together among a class of 2026 transfers, both from Division II Concord University in West Virginia, where both earned all-conference honors with offensive guard Jeudy protecting his quarterback Mizzell.
-- The former Concord teammates now are roommates and best friends -- Jeudy a fifth-year player originally from Miami, Florida; and Mizzell, a fourth-year from Denver, North Carolina.

ALL EASTERN BUT FOR RYAN FIELD
-- All travel is eastward in 2026, but for a brief jaunt into the Central time zone when the Cardinals visit Northwestern's new Ryan Field on October 10.
-- The Cardinals venture into Ohio on four occasions in 2026, with other road trips planned for the states of Virginia (Liberty on Sept. 19) and Massachusetts (UMass on Nov. 4).

PLAY-CALLERS AND HS TEAMMATES
-- First at Temple (2018-21) and now again at Ball State, Mike Uremovich and Jeff Knowles are believed to be the only pair of FBS offensive and defensive play-callers who were high school teammates.

10 of 13; 17 of 28
-- Ten of Uremovich's 13 other coaches on his full-time staff have been with him at prior stops.
-- Counting GAs, operations and the Cardinals' strength and conditioning staff, a remarkable 17 out of 28 Ball State staffers have served with Uremovich at previous stops.

TOGETHER: SPORTS LINK DOCUMENTARY
-- For the second straight season, Ball State football has teamed with on-campus partner Ball State Sports Link to present a weekly documentary series that will follow head coach Mike Uremovich and the 2026 Cardinals.
-- Nationally renowned among major U.S. universities for its sports media production program, Sports Link crews produced a 12-episode weekly docuseries with Ball State Football last season, in one of their most ambitious projects. "It's important to me because I like to get our players' stories out there," Uremovich said. "I know we're going to feature football, but we're also going to get into some of their personal lives and some of the experiences they've had. There's more to these guys than just the jersey that runs out there on Saturday."
-- For the second year, TOGETHER is directed by now-junior executive producer Jude Kieffer and Sports Link alum, turned program graduate assistant, Jordan Klimes. Episodes drop bi-weekly in 2026, on Thursdays of game week, on BallStateSports.com and Ball State and Sports Link YouTube channels.