2020 Ball State Cardinals football team
American college football season
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The 2020 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals were led by fifth-year head coach Mike Neu and played their home games at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana. They competed as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference.
| 2020 Ball State Cardinals football | |
|---|---|
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MAC champion MAC West Division champion Arizona Bowl champion | |
MAC Championship Game, W 38–28 vs. Buffalo | |
Arizona Bowl, W 34–13 vs. San Jose State | |
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| West Division | |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 23 |
| AP | No. 23 |
| Record | 7–1 (5–1 MAC) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Kevin Lynch (1st season) |
| Offensive scheme | Multiple |
| Defensive coordinator | Tyler Stockton (2nd season) |
| Base defense | 3–4 |
| Home stadium | Scheumann Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 25 Buffalo xy | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kent State | 3 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Miami (OH) | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Akron | 1 | – | 5 | 1 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling Green | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 23 Ball State xy$ | 5 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Michigan | 4 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toledo | 4 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Michigan | 3 | – | 3 | 3 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Michigan | 2 | – | 4 | 2 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Illinois | 0 | – | 6 | 0 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Ball State 38, Buffalo 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rankings from AP Poll. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In a season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cardinals played to a 5–1 record in a limited regular-season schedule. The team then defeated Buffalo in the conference championship game. The season ended with a victory over San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl for the first bowl game victory in program history.[2]
Schedule
Ball State had games scheduled against Indiana, Maine, and Michigan, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4] On July 28, it was announced that Ball State had added Iowa State to the schedule.[5] Soon after, the MAC decided to cancel its season, followed by the same announcements from the Big Ten Conference, Pac-12 Conference, and Mountain West Conference.
On September 25, the Mid-American Conference changed course, playing a six-week scheduled football season starting the week of November 4.[6]
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4 | 7:00 p.m. | at Miami (OH) | CBSSN | L 31–38 | 0 | [7] | |
| November 11 | 7:00 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | CBSSN | W 38–31 | 1,183 | ||
| November 18 | 7:00 p.m. | Northern Illinois |
| ESPNews | W 31–25 | 0 | |
| November 28 | 12:00 p.m. | at Toledo | ESPN3 | W 27–24 | 0 | ||
| December 5 | 5:30 p.m. | at Central Michigan | ESPNU | W 45–20 | 0 | ||
| December 12 | 12:00 p.m. | Western Michigan |
| ESPN+ | W 30–27 | 823 | |
| December 18 | 7:30 p.m. | vs. Buffalo | ESPN | W 38–28 | 0 | ||
| December 31 | 2:00 p.m. | vs. No. 22 San Jose State* | CBS | W 34–13 | 0 | ||
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Game summaries
Miami
Red Bird Rivalry
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
| • RedHawks | 0 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 38 |
- Date: November 4, 2020
- Location: Yager Stadium
Oxford, OH - Game start: 7:02 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 42 minutes
- Game weather: Temperature: 58 °F (14 °C) • Weather: Clear Skies • Wind: 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h), SW
- Referee: J. Valentine
- TV announcers (CBSSN): John Sadak (play–by–play), Ross Tucker (analyst)[9]
Eastern Michigan
Ball State vs. Eastern Michigan
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 14 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
| • Cardinals | 7 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 38 |
- Date: November 11, 2020
- Location: Scheumann Stadium
Muncie, IN - Game start: 7:02 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 39 minutes
- Game attendance: 1,183
- Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h), N
- Referee: Greg Sujack[10]
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Ben Holden (play–by–play), Ross Tucker (analyst)[11]
Northern Illinois
Bronze Stalk Trophy
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huskies | 7 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 25 |
| • Cardinals | 0 | 14 | 6 | 11 | 31 |
- Date: November 18, 2020
- Location: Scheumann Stadium
Muncie, IN - Game start: 7:02 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 22 minutes
- Game attendance: 859
- Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
- Referee: Ron Hudson[12]
- TV announcers (ESPNews): Clay Matvick (play–by–play), Rocky Boiman (analyst)[13]
Toledo
Ball State vs. Toledo
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Cardinals | 14 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
| Rockets | 0 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 24 |
- Date: November 28, 2020
- Location: Glass Bowl
Toledo, OH - Game start: 12:05 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 43 minutes
- Game attendance: 0
- Game weather: 41 °F (5 °C) • Weather: Sunny skies • Wind: 9 miles per hour (14 km/h) W
- Referee: Bryan Banks[14]
- TV announcers (ESPN3): Michael Reghi (play–by–play), Devin Gardner (analyst)[15]
Central Michigan
Ball State vs. Central Michigan
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Cardinals | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
| Chippewas | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
- Date: December 5, 2020
- Location: Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Mount Pleasant, MI - Game start: 2:02 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 13 minutes
- Game attendance: 0
- Game weather: 34 °F (1 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) W
- Referee: Tom Stapleton[16]
- TV announcers (ESPNU): Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman[17]
Western Michigan
Ball State vs. Western Michigan
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos | 3 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
| • Cardinals | 6 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 30 |
- Date: December 12, 2020
- Location: Scheumann Stadium
Muncie, IN - Game start: 12:05 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 33 minutes
- Game attendance: 823
- Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C) • Weather: Mostly sunny • Wind: 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) SW
- Referee: Ron Hudson[18]
- TV announcers (ESPN+): Joel Godett, Jay Walker[19]
Buffalo (MAC Championship Game)
Ball State vs. Buffalo
MAC Championship Game
MAC Championship Game
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Cardinals | 7 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 38 |
| Bulls | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
- Date: December 18, 2020
- Location: Ford Field
Detroit, MI - Game start: 7:31 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 25 minutes
- Game attendance: 0
- Game weather: n/a (indoor stadium)
- Referee: Tom Stapleton[20]
- TV announcers (ESPN): Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst) and Katie George (sideline)
San Jose State (Arizona Bowl)
Ball State vs. San Jose State
Arizona Bowl
Arizona Bowl
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Cardinals | 27 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 34 |
| No. 22 Spartans | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
- Date: December 31, 2020
- Location: Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ
- Game start: 2:13 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 31 minutes
- Game attendance: 0
- Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C) • Weather: Scattered clouds • Wind: 8 miles per hour (13 km/h) ESE[21]
- Referee: Joe Lehring
- TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Rick Neuheisel (analyst) and Jenny Dell (sideline)[22]