by Note: Kee On Sports requested to talk with redshirt senior QB1 Kiael Kelly and redshirt senior DB Joedrick Lewis. However, Ball State Athletics did not provide those athletes.
An even 25-25-2 series record.
A chance to keep the Bronze Stalk trophy in Muncie, Indiana, and possibly for good.
Yet, Ball State football fell for the fifth time on the road this season. This time, it was a 21-7 defeat in what could be the final Battle for the Bronze Stalk against Northern Illinois, which is leaving the Mid-American Conference (MAC) at the end of the season.
Ball State head coach Mike Uremovich said the reason they lost was simple.
“I really thought in every phase of the game, they out-physicalled us, which is extremely disappointing,” he said.
‘Out-physicalled’ is one way to put it, as the Huskies recorded 305 rushing yards in the contest. This is the most the Cardinals (3-5, 2-2 MAC) have allowed all season.
The assault on the ground began with a Northern Illinois score as sophomore running back Telly Johnson Jr. took a 53-yard rush to the end zone on the team’s first drive of the game. Though the Huskies (2-6, 1-4 MAC) threw an interception and lost two fumbles in the win, none of that equated to any offensive success for Ball State.
“The defense did create turnovers, but we didn’t do anything with them offensively,” Uremovich said.
This is the fourth time in 2025 where the Cardinals haven’t put up more than 10 points on the road (25 at UConn). Ball State’s lone score came in the second quarter when redshirt senior tight end Drew Cassens caught his first touchdown of the season. Cassens is a former Northern Illinois football player and is familiar with the program like Uremovich and other Ball State coaching staff members are.
Uremovich said after the game that Cassens would probably want to ‘trade that’ play in for a win.
Though the score capped off an 11-play, 8-yard drive, which seemed to provide a spark for Ball State’s offense, mistakes caught up with them.
It started when Ball State attempted a 45-yard field goal with 7:04 remaining in the second quarter. The kick sailed right, and it was the second time redshirt junior kicker Carson Holmer had missed from the 40 to 45 yard range in 2025. He is 3-for-7 on the season on field goal kicks.
Though the Huskies couldn’t capitalize on the miss, it was still another opportunity the Red and White had to light a fire under their offense.
But that wasn’t the last costly Cardinal mistake Saturday afternoon. Following an interception thrown by Ball State redshirt senior QB1 Kiael Kelly, the Huskies faced a third-and-five play. Cardinals’ senior defensive end Nathan Voorhis came around the edge and sacked Northern Illinois redshirt sophomore QB1 Josh Holst.
This forced a punt from the Huskies. But then the problems continued for the Cardinals as the catch was muffed.
The Huskies jumped on the football and recovered the fumble. Four plays later, Northern Illinois scored, thanks to a 16-yard pass play from Holst.
“There’s no one free from blame, whether that’s offensively, defensively or special teams,” Uremovich said.
Holst finished the game going 6-for-11 with one touchdown pass. On the ground, he had 43 yards with one rushing score. For Ball State, Kelly ended the loss 10-for-23 with one touchdown pass and two interceptions.
After the Cardinals’ last road loss to Western Michigan, Uremovich said it was on the coaching staff. This time, the first-year Ball State head coach echoed that with a little more context.
“I’m giving the loss to the entire program. I’m not blaming anybody other than myself and the coaches,” he said. “It’s ultimately whatever’s on the field. We gotta do better and we gotta get them to execute better.”
Ball State will have some time off before hosting Kent State Wednesday, Nov. 5, with the starting time to still be announced.
Uremovich said only time will tell how this result impacts the Cardinals going forward.
“We’ll find out how we come back to work on Monday and find out how we play in about 10 or 11 days from now,” he said. “We’ll find out what we’re made of, because this is another situation we have to overcome adversity, and I’m sure they’ll meet the challenge.”
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu, zachcarter039@gmail.com or via X @ZachCarter85.
