There isn’t a single player on Ball State’s roster that has defeated Northern Illinois University. Instead, it’s been a string of painful defeats.
The Huskies defeated the Cardinals in 2009 and haven’t lost any of the four head-to-head games since. Now, an entire locker room of Ball State players long to overcome a haunting Northern Illinois team.
“Watching the film from last year and the year before that, it just really hurts,” junior wide receiver Willie Snead said. “Everything is on the line [this week]… And I feel like everybody on this team is really hungry.”
Northern Illinois defeated Ball State by a combined 15 points in the last two seasons. Snead said his team controlled its own fate last season, but didn’t finish — he doesn’t want to feel that pain again this time around.
Though the winner’s biggest reward in this game will be a Mid-American Conference West championship, personal motivations exist, as well. Senior Zane Fakes said it would be rewarding to finally defeat the Huskies.
“It’d mean a lot to me,” the tight end said. “I mean, its just another game, but just the fact that I haven’t had the chance to beat them in my career, to get that win under my belt would be big.”
Northern Illinois is ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll going into today’s game. A Ball State win would likely mean a spot on that list in addition to a guaranteed shot at this season’s overall MAC championship.
The University at Buffalo, which currently leads the MAC East, defeated Ball State in the 2008 MAC championship game. This team’s veterans weren’t around to experience that 42-24 loss, but they’re motivated to reach the championship game all the same.
Senior wide receiver Jamill Smith said this week’s game is being treated just like every game up to this point — a championship of its own. The 9-1 Cardinals haven’t lost a game since week three and don’t intend to lose again any time soon.
“Every game is a MAC championship game,” he said. “NIU is in our way, so they’re the next one on the ladder. In this conference, every game matters and we know we can’t play in the conference championship unless we get this next one.”
The fifth-year senior said this game means “everything” to him. With 160 career receptions, Smith is fifth all-time in Ball State’s record books.
He’s had plenty of time to reflect on the fact that Northern Illinois overlooked him coming out of high school and in all five seasons since.
“It’s the only team I haven’t beat in my time here,” Smith said. “They didn’t [give me an offer]. Everything. Just everything is on the top of your head. I’m so ready. But at the same time, we’re going to come out here and prepare like we would for any opponent.
“Just trying to keep the emotions low, but knowing that the enthusiasm is high, really high.”
It’s been a season-long task for Ball State to focus on its schedule one week at a time. The Cardinals have taken on just two teams with a winning record this year.
To put it in perspective, Ball State’s opponents are a combined 34–64. It would have been easy to look ahead to a Northern Illinois team that is now 9-0, but coaches have made sure to prevent that tendency.
Fakes said coaches talk about the team’s upcoming opponent every week, making it easy on him not to lose focus. It’s not uncommon, he said, to completely forget who is two weeks ahead on the schedule.
A win this week would allow Ball State to reach for the rest of its goals this season. It’s a chance for seniors to finally put an end to the losses.
“We just look at the next week, and then the next week,” Smith said. “Everybody at the same time had that [Northern Illinois] game in the back of their head, because we know that this week is everything.”
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