by In its 100th season, Ball State football has opted to return to its roots.
After a storybook season in 2020 saw Muncie, Indiana’s hometown team finish with a 9-1 record and claim a bowl game victory over #19 San Jose State, the Cardinals have found themselves consistently plagued by inconsistency.
Following a 4-8 record in 2023 with redshirt junior Kiael Kelly at the helm of an experimental offense, the Cardinals are reorienting their scheme away from the run-pass option plays that proved to be the focus of the team’s offensive attack last season.
The now former starting quarterback, Kelly, has been reassigned to defensive back, with redshirt freshman Kadin Semonza set to take his place as the Cardinals’ new QB1.
The quarterback room is not, however, the only storyline to monitor in 2024. Ball State’s head coach, Mike Neu, could be on the hot seat after three consecutive losing seasons, but not before he’s given at least one more chance to reignite Scheumann Stadium’s recently dormant flame.
Neu’s new squad will have 12 regular-season games to make their mark, highlighted by a tough slate of non-conference opponents.
Week Two – Missouri State at Ball State
Before Missouri State heads to the FBS in 2025, it will first head to Muncie, Indiana, to begin its last season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference on Sept. 7. For Ball State, their matchup against the Bears could set the tone for the season against a Missouri State team that is returning 20 of its starters from last season. As the only non-conference game that will be hosted in Muncie this season, it will be a crucial game for the Cardinals, who will have extra time to prepare for the Bears after opening their season with a bye week.
Week Three – Ball State at #19 Miami (FL)
On paper, the Cardinals’ matchup against Miami (FL) is projected to be their most difficult outing of the season. On Sept. 14, Ball State will head across the country to face one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s best teams. The line of scrimmage could provide an interesting duel between the veteran offensive line of the Cardinals and a defensive line loaded with top-end transfer talent and a pair of returning former 4-star recruits for the Hurricanes. It would, however, likely require a miracle for Ball State to make this a competitive game.
Week Five – Ball State at James Madison
James Madison lost a lot of talented players to the transfer portal this offseason, but even without top performers from last season like their starting quarterback, Jordan McCloud, the Dukes still project to be a top-end team in the Sun Belt Conference and a tough matchup on the road for the Cardinals. Both teams experienced a lot of turnover this season, and there is upset potential here for Ball State, but it will be an uphill battle on Sept. 28.
Week Eight – Ball State at Vanderbilt
Ball State and Vanderbilt both ranked near or at the bottom of their respective conferences last season. The difference between these squads is the fact that Vanderbilt’s conference is the SEC (Southeastern Conference). The Commodores’ quarterback room is getting a complete overhaul this year with their two top contributors from last season, AJ Sawnn and Ken Seals, both leaving through the transfer portal, and their wide receiver room didn’t fare any better, losing all three of their starting wide receivers. Vanderbilt did, however, bring in a lot of talent through the portal, especially from New Mexico State, pouching several potential starting-caliber players and the offensive coordinator away from the Aggies. The Cardinals and Commodores will clash on Oct. 19, but despite Vanderbilt’s lackluster record over the past several seasons, it will be a tough task for the Cardinals to pry a win away from the Commodores on the road in this mid-season matchup.
