Sitting at 2-5 with its back against the wall, Ball State (2-5, 1-2) will be playing Central Michigan (3-4, 2-1) on Oct. 24.
The Chippewas, have one of the top quarterbacks in the Mid-American Conference and in the nation. Redshirt junior Cooper Rush has thrown for 2,084 yards thus far, which is second in the conference and 10th in the country.
One of the things head coach Pete Lembo took note of was Central Michigan's offensive unit, particularly the guys protecting their star quarterback.
"One thing you can always count on is their offensive line is going to be big and physical," Lembo said. "The right tackle number 74 [Derek] Edwards is only a sophomore, and he may be the best one they have."
The Ball State defense is allowing 491 yards per game. Ball State's secondary could be in for a long day if it can't find a way to contain Central Michigan's passing attack.
No active Central Michigan player has defeated Ball State. The Cardinals have won the last five meetings against the Chippewas. Including a 32-29 thriller in Mount Pleasant last season, when Scott Secor kicked a 55-yard field goal with 17 seconds left.
This time around, though, the Chippewas come in as favorites to knock down the Cardinals at Scheumann Stadium.
Central Michigan has a 3-4 record, but this could be a result of its tough schedule this season.
"I think they're really a terrific football team," Lembo said. "They've played a very, very challenging out-of-conference schedule this year and competed very well in it."
Central Michigan allows 154 yards per game on the ground, which is the fifth worst in the MAC. It has allowed 11 scores via the run game, which should bode well for Darian Green and James Gilbert.
This may be a game where the dynamic duo returns to their ground-and-pound mentality.
During the first four games of the season, Green averaged over 100 yards per game. In his last three performances, his numbers have dropped down to 39 per game. Gilbert is also struggling, averaging 42 in the last three games.
Green and Gilbert’s production struggles may be due to the defenses stacking the box, sometimes with eight defenders focused on the run. This will likely be the same story Oct. 24, as Central Michigan will look to force freshman quarterback Riley Neal to lead the offense to its first victory with him as the starter.
Central Michigan’s pass defense ranks second in the MAC, allowing 171 yards through the air per game.
Neal will have his opportunities, but he'll need to make sure they're mistake-free. Neal has committed a turnover in each of his starts so far.
Lembo has yet to lose to Central Michigan, but understands its talent across the board.
"I think it's a very solid team in all three phases," Lembo said. "We've been in a bunch of close games with these guys, and every one of them has been a battle."
The Cardinals will need to win this game to avoid losing their fifth in a row, which would tie Lembo’s worst streak during his time at Ball State.
In a game that will likely be played in wet conditions with a 50 percent chance of rain in Muncie around kickoff, each team may rely heavily on the rushing game.
Ball State and Central Michigan will kick off at 3 p.m. Oct. 24 at Scheumann Stadium.
Read More
The closure of the historic Mark III Tap Room impacts Muncie’s LGBTQ+ community.
By Meghan Holt / 27 minutes agoPatrons of the oldest gay bar in Indiana reflect on how it affected their lives.
A 40-year alliance: Brian Dudley is a staple with Wapahani baseball
By Zach Carter / 1 hours agoBrian Dudley spent 40 years as the Wapahani varsity baseball coach and finished his career with an 828-320 record.
Top-seeded Cardinals’ postseason run ends with upset loss to Lindenwood
By Adam Altobella / 12 hours agoNo. 10 Ball State was upset by No. 18 Lindenwood in a five-set battle (25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 19-25, 11-15) on the Cardinals’ home court Thursday night. With how scarce at-large bids to the NCAA men’s volleyball tournament are, it is likely that the red and white’s 2024 campaign is over.
