With a recent stretch of inconsistent play, national college football analysts proclaimed Ball State University's undefeated record and national ranking was in jeopardy Wednesday night against Northern Illinois University.
They couldn't have been more wrong.
Ball State rolled to a 45-14 win in front of a nationally televised audience on ESPN2 in a game that was never within 14 points in the second half. The win improved the Cardinals' record to 9-0, which is tied with the 1965 season for the best start in program history.
Receiver Louis Johnson said the win sent a message to the national media.
"I know [ESPN analyst] Lee Corso said we were his upset alert," Johnson said. "We got to prove the whole country wrong and let him know he gets a lot of things right, but this time he made a mistake."
Ball State wasted no time getting to work.
The Cardinals scored 21 points in the opening half, eight more than it combined for in the previous three first halves. The Cardinals' third touchdown - a 25-yard pass from Nate Davis to Dan Ifft - came with 1:53 left in the second quarter and gave Ball State a 21-0 halftime lead.
"We just came in ready this week," starting left tackle Andre Ramsey said. "We all wanted to start fast. We talked about that all week."
Northern Illinois scored on its first possession of the third quarter, but Ball State responded with a touchdown five plays later on Davis' one-yard sneak. The score pushed the Cardinal's lead to 28-7, and the game was never within 21 points the rest of the way.
Davis completed 18-of-22 passes for 300 yards and four touchdowns. It was his first 300-yard passing performance in six games.
"Me and coach Parrish watched film more than I ever had," Davis said. "I think that it really helped a lot."
Ball State running back MiQuale Lewis surpassed 1,000 yards on the season, finishing with 119 on 19 carries. He also scored on a one-yard touchdown run that opened Ball State's scoring with 1:41 left in the first quarter.
It was Lewis' 15th rushing touchdown of the season, which ties him for second in the country.
Lewis had nine yards on his first nine carries and 42 yards on 12 carries at halftime. He said he became more aggressive in the second half.
"I just started hitting holes better," Lewis said of his improvement as the game went on. "I was second guessing myself, so I had to hit the hole full speed."
With a dominating win on ESPN2, Ball State coach Brady Hoke said he knows the external BCS hype is sure to increase. As impressive as the victory was, Hoke said, it didn't change his team's goals.
"[The BCS] hasn't ever been important to us, and it isn't important to us," Hoke said. "What's important is winning our first Mid-American Conference championship since 1996. That was a goal that was established in 2003 - when I got here - and it continues to be my goal."
Numbers from Wednesday300: Nate Davis passing yards165: Louis Johnson receiving yards119: MiQuale Lewis rushing yards4: Nate Davis passing touchdowns1: Nate Davis rushing touchdowns48: Briggs Orsbon receiving yards17: Third-quarter points1965 - First time since 1965 Ball State has started a season 9-031 - Career wins for Brady Hoke1 - Amount of teams still undefeated in the MAC3 - Amount of teams still undefeated in non-BCS conferences16 - Ball State's ranking in the AP Poll17 - Ball State's ranking in the BCS0 - Wins needed for Ball State to become bowl eligible3 - Wins needed for Ball State to finish the regular season undefeated
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