Ball State announced its 2005 schedule Wednesday -- one that features just four home games and a daunting non-conference slate.
"It's a heck of a schedule," coach Brady Hoke said.
The team opens at Iowa on Sept. 3. It will be the first time the Cardinals have played the Hawkeyes, who won share of the Big Ten title and were 10-2 last season.
Following the Iowa game, the Cardinals host their first home game against Mid-American Conference foe Bowling Green at 7 p.m. on Sept. 10.
"Playing BG right off the bat is exciting to us," Hoke said. "It's an adjustment [to play a conference game so early], but it's a Saturday game so your weekly schedule is not affected. Playing the first conference game at home is exciting. Playing Bowling Green: exciting."
Other non-conference games are at Auburn on Sept. 17 and at Boston College on Oct. 1. The Tigers won all 13 games in 2004, while BC opened its 9-3 season in 2004 with a 19-11 victory at Ball State.
"Facing two top-25 teams out of conference, going up to Iowa City and down to Auburn and Boston College, who was co-champions of the Big East, it's going to be a heck of a challenge for us," Hoke said. "It's one that we'll look forward to."
Iowa, Auburn and Bowling Green are ranked in ESPN's Pat Forde's Pre-Spring top 25, with Boston College also listed on 12 teams to watch.
The conference schedule features home matchups against Toledo at 2 p.m. on Sept. 15, Akron at 2 p.m. on Nov. 5 and Central Michigan at noon on Nov. 19 to close the season. The Cardinals will face Western Michigan, Ohio, Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan on the road.
"You're tied into playing people in your division," Hoke said. "To face an OU team with a new coach and playing in Ohio is going to be something new. And Akron coming here, playing them last year it's a little familiar. I think it's a good schedule; obviously it's a tough schedule, one that's going to be a challenge for us. We're going to have to be ready to play every week."
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