Barring disasterous (and unlikely) finishes by three teams, Ball State now has no chance of sharing the Mid-American Conference West Division.
What the Cardinals are shooting for now is a second consecutive 6-6 season, something that can be accomplished with wins at Eastern Michigan Saturday and against Bowling Green on Nov. 22. Coach Brady Hoke said it's a matter of playing for the seniors.
"We're always going to play for our seniors," Hoke said. "For them to have two non-losing seasons in a row is something they'll have a legacy for -- starting to build a program. I think that's really important."
Ball State (4-6, 3-3 MAC) looks to begin the proper send-off to its seniors Saturday at Eastern Michigan (2-8, 1-5).
"You want to make sure it's important to the young kids," Hoke said. "What I tell them is, 'Hey, you're going to be a senior. If you've got some freshman or redshirt freshman, you'll want them to play their butts off for you and prepare for you.'"
On Saturday's 28-20 loss at Western Michigan, Hoke said his team needs to cash in and make a big play when the opportunity presents itself, and not make critical mistakes. By his count, the Cardinals missed three sacks and two interceptions, "five or six" drops, as well as a missed 40-yard field goal.
Ball State also had several penalties that either bogged down offensive drives or aided Western possessions, and while missed tackles were not abundant, they came "at critical times."
"We just didn't take advantage of opportunities we had, and you have to do that," Hoke said. "Championship teams do that. It's a team, in my opinion, we should have beat. I thought we were a better team, and we didn't execute."
One play that was almost executed turned into the game's only turnover.
Faced with a third-and-seven from his own 33 midway through the fourth quarter, BSU quarterback Talmadge Hill rolled out to his right before scrambling to the left sideline. With several defenders closing in, Hill heaved downfield to an open and waiting Ryan Hahaj. The sophomore receiver made the 43-yard reception before being tackled, and appeared to be down before the ball popped loose. But the officials ruled otherwise and Western Michigan took over.
The Broncos then scored a touchdown to move ahead 28-13.
Hoke admitted that he didn't completely see the play.
"I was looking at Talmadge, because I knew he was going to get drilled," he said. "So I never really saw the end of the play. I saw Ryan catch it, then I went back to Talmadge. I didn't look at the replay, either. Our coaches thought it was coming out on his way down. It's hard to tell."
Hill, who did indeed get drilled, watched the end of the play on the Waldo Stadium's jumbotron and was more assured about he saw
"It looked like he was down (before the fumble)," he said.
Hoke added that it never should have been that close of a play, though.
"The one thing we tell our guys is give the ball to the official," he said. "Hand the ball to the official and there isn't any doubt."
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