Through the halfway point in the season, Ball State has started to figure out its team identity. Coach Pete Lembo said when his team is successful, it limits its giveaways, converts third downs and doesn't commit penalties.
The most glaring statistic though is the number of turnovers Ball State commits in its four wins – zero – compared to the turnovers it commits in its three losses – 10 – this season.
"It's pretty obvious when we don't turn the ball over we've got a pretty good chance," Lembo said. "When we do turn it over it certainly hurts us. I think most college football teams are that way, but it's a little more glaring with our team."
In last week's win against Ohio, Ball State (4-3, 2-1) forced three turnovers, including a key fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter. The team will need more of the same on Saturday when it takes on Mid-American Conference West Division opponent Central Michigan (2-5, 1-2).
The Chippewas have stumbled into MAC play after a tough non-conference schedule that included three road games against Bowl Championship Subdivision teams. Lembo said the most misleading thing about Central Michigan is its record, even as it comes into the game from a 35-28 loss to Eastern Michigan.
"[Central Michigan] is a team that is far better than their record indicates," he said. "They're far more talented than what a 2-5 record might represent."
Junior quarterback Ryan Radcliff has thrown for 1,748 yards along with 13 touchdowns this season, but he's also thrown 11 interceptions. His favorite target, junior wide receiver Cody Wilson, leads the team with 35 receptions for 384 yards.
"They've got a quarterback who's tall and strong armed and if you give him a lot of time he will pick you apart," Lembo said.
A win for Ball State would not only put it at 3-1 at Scheumann Stadium, it would make the team one win shy of becoming bowl eligible. But Lembo knows this game won't come easy for the Cardinals.
"When you turned on the film Sunday night, coming off some really tough opponents here the last few weeks I have to admit I was hoping to see maybe [Central Michigan] weren't quite as good," he said. "It didn't take long of watching them in all three phases that they're just another really good MAC team."
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