When the Ball State University football team travels east this weekend to play Boston College, the Cardinals will be fighting the same battle they've fought since the season's opening kickoff.
A ranked opponent.
An inexperienced team that's still learning the ropes of college football.
And a lineup once again decimated by suspensions from the book policy violations.
This time, Ball State will be without 16 players - nine on defense and seven on offense - due to the suspensions.
"I don't think it's been the kind of season you want to have," coach Brady Hoke said. "I'm proud of how the kids have handled it. They're probably handling it better than the head coach is."
The Cardinals have played about 10 freshmen so far, Hoke said, three or four of whom weren't expected to be playing this season.
"We've got to worry about ourselves and what we can control," quarterback Joey Lynch said. "Expectations around here are for the position, not whether you're a freshman or a senior."
Ball State will travel with 56 players, making Hoke concerned about the players wellbeing.
"As a coach, you're responsible with the safety of the players," Hoke said. "There's a safety issue somewhere when you only travel with 56."
The suspended defensive players include every lineman who would have started. As a result, Ball State will only have five linemen available instead of the usual eight, and Ball State could heavily rely on its 10 linebackers for help.
"You can be creative defensively - have guys hit gaps and do that kind of stuff," Hoke said. "We could even put one guy down. Some of those guys could probably play pretty well down."
Defensive tackle Tom Kellar, who was injured at Auburn and is one of the suspended players, probably would have played.
"You're talking about playing younger guys who haven't played as much and maybe don't have the skill at this point or the size or the strength," Hoke said. "That bothers me. That bothers me a lot."
Sophomore Jacob Jordan is one of the defensive players moving up in the depth chart as a result of the suspensions. He'll start at defensive tackle and is listed on the second-string at defensive end. Boston College will be his first collegiate start.
"Nothing has changed," Jordan said. "We treat it like every game even if we have our starters in. They treat me like a starter."
Boston College's own defensive line presents a formidable challenge for the Cardinals offensive line.
Mathias Kiwanuka, a 6'7" defensive end from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, has size, strength and speed, Hoke said, and is a future NFL player.
"He's playing more physical than he did a year ago," Hoke said. "He's a first round draft pick. He's something special. He's one of those guys that don't come around very often. We'll have our hands full with him."
Boston College, which joined the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, is 3-1, their lone loss coming against Florida State, 28-17.
The Seminoles were ranked eighth in the nation at that time. The Eagles grabbed their first ACC win last weekend by beating Clemson, 16-13, in overtime.
Last season, Ball State hung in with Boston College until a third quarter touchdown pulled the Eagles away for a 19-11 win.
"We've got to match their intensity and go out and see what happens," Lynch said.
BALL STATE AT
Boston College
TIME
1 p.m. Saturday
VENUE
Alumni Stadium
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