2024 Ball State Cardinals football team

2024 Ball State Cardinals football
2024 Ball State Cardinals football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	3–6 (2–3 MAC)
Head coach	Mike Neu (9th season);
Offensive coordinator	Jared Elliott (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Jeff Knowles (1st season)
Home stadium	Scheumann Stadium
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Mid-American Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Bowling Green	4	–	1	5	–	4
Miami (OH)	4	–	1	5	–	4
Ohio	4	–	1	6	–	3
Western Michigan	4	–	1	5	–	4
Buffalo	3	–	2	5	–	4
Toledo	3	–	2	6	–	3
Eastern Michigan	2	–	3	5	–	4
Ball State	2	–	3	3	–	6
Northern Illinois	2	–	3	5	–	4
Central Michigan	1	–	4	3	–	6
Akron	1	–	4	2	–	7
Kent State	0	–	5	0	–	9
Championship: December 7, 2024
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant As of November 7, 2024 Rankings from AP Poll

The 2024 Ball State Cardinals football team represents Ball State University as a member of the Mid-American Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals are led by Mike Neu in his ninth year as the head coach. The Cardinals play home games at Scheumann Stadium, located in Muncie, Indiana.^[1]

Preseason

Preseason polls

On July 19 the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Ball State was picked to finish ninth in the conference. They received zero votes to win the MAC Championship.^[2]^[3]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
MAC Coaches poll
1	Miami	119 (9)
2	Toledo	109 (3)
T3	Bowling Green	92
T3	Northern Illinois	92
5	Ohio	81
6	Eastern Michigan	64
7	Western Michigan	60
8	Central Michigan	59
9	Ball State	42
10	Buffalo	37
11	Akron	24
12	Kent State	13

Predicted finish	Team	Votes
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
1	Miami	10
2	Toledo	2

Schedule

Unusually, Ball State did not play a game on "Week 1" of the season; they were the only idle FBS team on the traditional start of the season. Army, their original Week 1 opponent, dropped out after joining the American Athletic Conference. Ball State replaced Army with an October 19 game against Vanderbilt.^[4]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 7	2:00 p.m.	Missouri State*	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+	W 42–34	10,018
September 14	3:30 p.m.	at No. 10 Miami (FL)*	Hard Rock Stadium Miami Gardens, FL	ACCN	L 0–62	51,564
September 21	1:00 p.m.	at Central Michigan	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI	ESPN+	L 34–37	18,011
September 28	1:30 p.m.	at James Madison*	Bridgeforth Stadium Harrisonburg, VA	ESPN+	L 7–63	25,786
October 5	2:00 p.m.	Western Michigan	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+	L 42–45	10,342
October 12	12:00 p.m.	at Kent State	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	ESPN+	W 37–35	7,322
October 19	7:00 p.m.	at Vanderbilt*	FirstBank Stadium Nashville, TN	SECN+/ESPN+	L 14–24	27,884
October 26	3:30 p.m.	Northern Illinois	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN (Bronze Stalk Trophy)	ESPN+	W 25–23	15,318
November 5	8:00 p.m.	Miami (OH)	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN	L 21–27	6,412
November 12	7:00 p.m.	at Buffalo	UB Stadium Buffalo, NY	CBSSN
November 23		Bowling Green	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN
November 29	12:00 p.m.	at Ohio	Peden Stadium Athens, OH	ESPNU/CBSSN
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

^[5]

Game summaries

Missouri State (FCS)

Game One – Missouri State Bears (FCS) (0–1) at Ball State Cardinals (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears (FCS)	0	0	0	0	0
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0

at Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, IN

Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
Game attendance: 10,018
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Statistics	MSU	BALL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Missouri State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 10 Miami (FL)

Game Two – Ball State Cardinals (1–0) vs No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (2–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0
No. 10 Hurricanes	10	21	10	21	62

at Hard Rock Stadium • Miami Gardens, FL

Date: September 14, 2024
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
Game attendance: 51,564
TV announcers (ACCN): Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst), and Coley Harvey (sideline reporter)

Game information

First quarter

(6:15) MIA – Andres Borregales 30-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 71 yards, 5:10; Miami 3–0)
(1:25) MIA – Xavier Restrepo 21-yard pass from Cam Ward, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 5 plays, 60 yards, 2:34; Miami 10–0)

Second quarter

(4:46) MIA – Chris Johnson Jr. 37-yard pass from Cam Ward, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 7 plays, 82 yards, 2:51; Miami 17–0)
(1:53) MIA – Elijah Arroyo 21-yard pass from Cam Ward, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 2 plays, 53 yards, 0:16; Miami 24–0)
(1:30) MIA – Xavier Restrepo 20-yard pass from Cam Ward, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 2 plays, 20 yards, 0:12; Miami 31–0)

Third quarter

(12:26) MIA – Jacolby George 17-yard pass from Cam Ward, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 2:27; Miami 38–0)
(3:24) MIA – Andres Borregales 32-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 63 yards, 6:54; Miami 41–0)

Fourth quarter

(14:49) MIA – Ajay Allen 56-yard run, Abram Murray kick (Drive: 2 plays, 90 yards, 0:23; Miami 48–0)
(11:46) MIA – Elija Lofton 40-yard pass from Emory Williams, Abram Murray kick (Drive: 3 plays, 57 yards, 1:14; Miami 55–0)
(6:40) MIA – Jordan Lyle 7-yard run, Abram Murray kick (Drive: 7 plays, 60 yards, 4:10; Miami 62–0)

Statistics	BALL	MIA
First downs	9	31
Total yards	115	750
Rushing yards	6	243
Passing yards	109	507
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	18–32–1	30–40–0
Time of possession	27:01	32:59

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing	Kadin Semonza	16/26, 111 yards, INT
	Rushing	Braedon Sloan	5 carries, 13 yards
	Receiving	Braedon Sloan	4 receptions, 41 yards
Miami (FL)	Passing	Cam Ward	19/28, 346 yards, 5 TD
	Rushing	Ajay Allen	7 carries, 104 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jacolby George	6 receptions, 109 yards, TD

at Central Michigan

Game Three – Ball State Cardinals (1–1) at Central Michigan Chippewas (1–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0
Chippewas	0	0	0	0	0

at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Date: September 21, 2024
Game time: 1:00pm
TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	BALL	CMU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Central Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at James Madison

Game Four – Ball State Cardinals (1–2) at James Madison Dukes (3–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	7	0	0	0	7
Dukes	22	7	20	14	63

at Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA

Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
Game time: 1:30 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: S at 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
Game attendance: 25,786
Referee: Jeremy Parker
TV announcers (ESPN+): Curt Dudley (play-by-play), Brian Barlow (analyst) and David Hulvey (sideline)

Game information

First quarter

(10:15) JMU – Yamir Knight 12-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 4:37; James Madison 7–0)
(6:54) JMU – George Pettaway 24-yard run, Taylor Thompson rush (Drive: 5 plays, 35 yards, 1:24; James Madison 15–0)
(3:34) BALL – Tanner Koziol 15-yard pass from Kadin Semonza, Carson Holmer kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:20; James Madison 15–7)
(1:51) JMU – Omarion Dollison 5-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 1:43; James Madison 22–7)

Second quarter

(4:20) JMU – Yamir Knight 10-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 9 plays, 59 yards, 4:32; James Madison 29–7)

Third quarter

(13:58) JMU – Eric O'Neill 27-yard interception (James Madison 35–7)
(9:45) JMU – Cam Ross 26-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 4 plays, 55 yards, 1:19; James Madison 42–7)
(7:19) JMU – Alonza Barnett III 18-yard run, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 2 plays, 33 yards, 0:42; James Madison 49–7)

Fourth quarter

(10:55) JMU – Taylor Thompson 22-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 9 plays, 94 yards, 4:13; James Madison 56–7)
(2:40) JMU – Jobi Malary 32-yard run, Max Lipinski kick (Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 6:41; James Madison 63–7)

Statistics	BALL	JMU
First downs	19	29
Total yards	250	522
Rushing yards	77	236
Passing yards	173	286
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	28–38–3	21–29–0
Time of possession	33:41	26:19

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing	Kadin Semonza	22/35, 168 yards, TD, 3 INT
	Rushing	Braedon Sloan	14 carries, 72 yards
	Receiving	Tanner Koziol	9 receptions, 78 yards, TD
James Madison	Passing	Alonza Barnett III	20/28, 280 yards, 5 TD
	Rushing	Wayne Knight	6 carries, 63 yards
	Receiving	Taylor Thompson	5 receptions, 91 yards, TD

Western Michigan

Game Five – Western Michigan Broncos (1–3) at Ball State Cardinals (1–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	0	0	0	0
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0

at Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, IN

Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
Game time: 2:00 p.m.
TV announcers (ESPN+): Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play) and Tyoka Jackson (analyst)

Statistics	WMU	BALL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Kent State

Game Six – Ball State Cardinals (1–4) at Kent State Golden Flashes (0–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	10	10	7	10	37
Golden Flashes	0	7	7	21	35

at Dix Stadium • Kent, OH

Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 62 °F (17 °C) • Wind: NE at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
Game attendance: 7,322
Referee: Jeremy Valentine
TV announcers (ESPN+): Anthony Lima (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	BALL	KENT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Vanderbilt

Game Seven – Ball State Cardinals (2–4) at Vanderbilt Commodores (4–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	7	0	7	0	14
Commodores	3	11	0	10	24

at FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, TN

Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Clear, 64 °F (18 °C)
Game attendance: 27,884
Referee: Jeff Heaser
TV announcers (SECN+/ESPN+): Richard Cross (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

BALL – Kiael Kelly 9-yard run (Jason Courville kick), 8:06. Cardinals 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 6:54.
VAN – Brock Taylor 27-yard field goal, 1:42. Cardinals 7–3. Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 6:24.

Second quarter

VAN – Brock Taylor 24-yard field goal, 11:37. Cardinals 7–6. Drive: 7 plays, 81 yards, 3:32.
VAN – Eli Stowers 41-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Diego Pavia pass to Cole Spence), 2:39. Commodores 14–7. Drive: 11 plays, 97 yards, 3:45.

Third quarter

BALL – Tanner Koziol 7-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick), 6:03. Tied 14–14. Drive: 11 plays, 94 yards, 6:34.

Fourth quarter

VAN – Brock Taylor 38-yard field goal, 14:44. Commodores 17–14. Drive: 14 plays, 54 yards, 6:14.
VAN – Diego Pavia 5-yard run (Brock Taylor kick), 7:48. Commodores 24–14. Drive: 8 plays, 45 yards, 4:03.

Statistics	BALL	VAN
First downs	16	21
Total yards	268	420
Rushing yards	78	145
Passing yards	190	275
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	21–29–0	17–31–0
Time of possession	25:25	34:35

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing	Kadin Semonza	21/29, 190 yards, TD
	Rushing	Vaughn Pemberton	5 carries, 32 yards
	Receiving	Tanner Koziol	9 receptions, 68 yards, TD
Vanderbilt	Passing	Diego Pavia	17/31, 275 yards, TD
	Rushing	Diego Pavia	13 carries, 82 yards, TD
	Receiving	Eli Stowers	8 receptions, 130 yards, TD

Northern Illinois (rivalry)

Game Eight – Northern Illinois Huskies (4–3) at Ball State Cardinals (2–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Huskies	0	0	0	0	0
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0

at Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, IN

Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
TV announcers (ESPN+): Kelsie Kaspar (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst)

Statistics	NIU	BALL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Miami (OH)

Game Nine – Miami RedHawks (4–4) at Ball State Cardinals (3–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
RedHawks	0	0	0	0	0
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0

at Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, IN

Date: Tuesday November 5, 2024
Game time: 8:00 p.m.
TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)

Statistics	MIA	BALL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Miami (OH)	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Buffalo

Game Ten – Ball State Cardinals (3–6) at Buffalo Bulls (5–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0
Bulls	0	0	0	0	0

at UB Stadium, Amherst, New York

Date: Tuesday November 12, 2024
Game time: 7:00 p.m.
TV: CBSSN

Statistics	BALL	UB
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Buffalo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Bowling Green

Game Eleven – Bowling Green Falcons (0–0) at Ball State Cardinals (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	0	0	0	0	0
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0

at Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, IN

Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
Game time: TBA p.m.

Statistics	BGSU	BALL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bowling Green	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Ohio

Game Twelve – Ball State Cardinals (0–0) at Ohio Bobcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0
Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Peden Stadium, Athens, Ohio

Date: Friday November 29, 2024
Game time: 12:00 p.m.

Statistics	BALL	OHIO
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Ohio	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "2024 Football Coaching Staff". Ball State University Athletics. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
^ "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
^ Helwick, Steve (August 27, 2024). "Ball State is the only FBS team with a Week 1 bye: Here's why". Hustle Belt. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
^ "2024 Ball State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.

[1] "2024 Football Coaching Staff". Ball State University Athletics. Retrieved February 1, 2024.

[2] "Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.

[3] "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.

[4] Helwick, Steve (August 27, 2024). "Ball State is the only FBS team with a Week 1 bye: Here's why". Hustle Belt. Retrieved September 12, 2024.

[5] "2024 Ball State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.

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v t e Ball State Cardinals football
Venues	Ball State Field (1924–1967) Scheumann Stadium (1967–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Indiana State (Blue Key Victory Bell) Northern Illinois (Bronze Stalk Trophy)
Culture & lore	Charlie Cardinal The Pride of Mid-America Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
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