2021 Ball State Cardinals football team

2021 Ball State Cardinals football
2021 Ball State Cardinals football
Camellia Bowl, L 20–51 vs. Georgia State
Conference	Mid-American Conference
	West Division
Record	6–7 (4–4 MAC)
Head coach	Mike Neu (6th season);
Offensive coordinator	Kevin Lynch (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Tyler Stockton (3rd season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Scheumann Stadium
	Seasons ← 2020 2022 →

The 2021 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals were led by sixth-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.

ConferenceMid-American Conference

West Division

Record6–7 (4–4 MAC)

Headcoach

Mike Neu (6th season)

Quick facts Ball State Cardinals football, Camellia Bowl, L 20–51 vs. Georgia State ...

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2021 Mid-American Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
East Division
Kent State xy	6	–	2	7	–	7
Miami (OH)	5	–	3	7	–	6
Ohio	3	–	5	3	–	9
Bowling Green	2	–	6	4	–	8
Buffalo	2	–	6	4	–	8
Akron	1	–	7	2	–	10
West Division
Northern Illinois xy$	6	–	2	9	–	5
Central Michigan x	6	–	2	9	–	4
Toledo	5	–	3	7	–	6
Ball State	4	–	4	6	–	7
Eastern Michigan	4	–	4	7	–	6
Western Michigan	4	–	4	8	–	5
Championship: Northern Illinois 41, Kent State 23
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant

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Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	7:00 p.m.	Western Illinois*	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+	W 31–21	13,149
September 11	3:30 p.m.	at No. 11 Penn State*	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	FS1	L 13–44	105,323
September 18	4:00 p.m.	at Wyoming*	War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY	Stadium	L 12–45	23,467
September 25	2:00 p.m.	Toledo	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+	L 12–22	14,902
October 2	5:00 p.m.	Army*	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+	W 28–16	13,713
October 9	3:30 p.m.	at Western Michigan	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPNU	W 45–20	11,403
October 16	2:00 p.m.	at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	ESPN+	W 38–31	15,258
October 23	3:30 p.m.	Miami (OH)	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+	L 17–24	15,703
November 2	7:00 p.m.	at Akron	InfoCision Stadium Akron, OH	CBSSN	W 31–25	7,683
November 10	7:00 p.m.	at Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL (Bronze Stalk Trophy)	ESPN2	L 29–30	7,894
November 17	7:00 p.m.	Central Michigan	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPNU	L 17–37	5,602
November 23	7:00 p.m.	Buffalo	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+	W 20–3	6,112
December 25	2:30 p.m.	vs. Georgia State*	Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL (Camellia Bowl)	ESPN	L 20–51	7,345
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	RV	RV
Coaches	RV	RV
CFP	Not released															Not released

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Illinois	0	7	7	7	21
• Ball State	7	0	14	10	31

Statistics	Western Illinois	Ball State
First downs	17	18
Total yards	437	404
Rushing yards	70	216
Passing yards	367	188
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	31:02	28:58

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Illinois	Passing	Connor Sampson	30/43, 367 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Myles Wanza	8 carries, 37 yards
	Receiving	Dennis Houston	12 receptions, 237 yards, 2 TDs
Ball State	Passing	Drew Plitt	17/28, 188 yards, 2 TDs
	Rushing	Will Jones	18 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Justin Hall	8 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TDs

2021 Ball State Cardinals football team

Schedule

Rankings

Game summaries

Western Illinois

At No. 11 Penn State

At Wyoming

Toledo

Army

At Western Michigan

At Eastern Michigan

Miami (Ohio)

At Akron

At Northern Illinois (Bronze Stalk Trophy)

Central Michigan

Buffalo

Vs. Georgia State (Camellia Bowl)

References

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks


1	10:01	PSU	Noah Cain 5-yard run (Jordan Stout kick)	PSU 7–0
1	5:53	PSU	Sean Clifford 1-yard run (Jordan Stout kick)	PSU 14–0

2	14:25	BSU	Jake Chanove 24-yard field goal	PSU 14–3
	11:22	PSU	Jordan Stout 45-yard field goal	PSU 17–3
	2:50	PSU	Jahan Dotson 25-yard pass from Sean Clifford (Jordan Stout kick)	PSU 24–3
	0:00	BSU	Jake Chanove 23-yard field goal	PSU 24–6

3	5:56	PSU	Jesse Luketa 16-yard interception (Jordan Stout kick)	PSU 31–6
3	1:53	PSU	Jordan Stout 26-yard field goal	PSU 34–6

4	9:59	PSU	Jordan Stout 22-yard field goal	PSU 37–6
	6:58	BSU	Carson Steele 6-yard run (Jake Chanove kick)	PSU 37–13
	2:10	PSU	Theo Johnson 23-yard pass from Ta'Quan Roberson (Jordan Stout kick)	PSU 44–13


1	7:42	WYO	John Hoyland 24-yard field goal (7 plays, 53 yards, 2:45)	WYO 3–0
1	5:46	WYO	Keyon Blankenbaker 52-yard interception (John Hoyland kick) (5 plays, 23 yards, 1:56)	WYO 10–0

2	14:55	WYO	Treyton Welch 1-yard reception from Sean Chambers (John Hoyland kick) (8 plays, 80 yards, 3:14)	WYO 17–0
	3:51	WYO	Dawaiian McNeely 16-yard run (John Hoyland kick) (6 plays, 68 yards, 2:48)	WYO 24–0
	0:17	WYO	Sean Chambers 1-yard run (John Hoyland kick) (5 plays, 31 yards, 0:25)	WYO 31–0

3	1:59	BALL	Will Jones 1-yard run (kick no good) (15 plays, 87 yards, 5:34)	WYO 31–6

4	11:04	WYO	Xazavian Valladay 1-yard run (John Hoyland kick) (11 plays, 75 yards, 5:55)	WYO 38–6
	8:21	BALL	Carson Steele 19-yard run (2-point pass incomplete) (8 plays, 75 yards, 2:43)	WYO 38–12
	6:35	WYO	Chad Muma 40-yard interception (John Hoyland kick) (1 play, 0 yards, 0:09)	WYO 45–12

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing	John Paddock	13/20, 82 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Carson Steele	13 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Jayshon Jackson	10 receptions, 92 yards
Wyoming	Passing	Sean Chambers	14/23, 201 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Xazavian Valladay	14 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Isaiah Neyor	4 receptions, 84 yards

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Toledo	Passing	Carter Bradley	10/18, 144 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Dequan Finn	12 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Devin Maddox	2 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD
Ball State	Passing	Drew Plitt	21/35, 190 yards
	Rushing	Justin Hall	5 carries, 64 yards
	Receiving	Justin Hall	7 receptions, 97 yards


1	14:48	BALL	Justin Hall 99-yard kickoff return (Jake Chanove kick) (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00)	BALL 7–0
	10:26	BALL	Jayshon Jackson 45-yard pass from Drew Plitt (Jake Chanove kick) (1 play, 45 yards, 0:08)	BALL 14–0
	4:48	BALL	Carson Steele 2-yard rush (Jake Chanove kick) (10 plays, 57 yards, 3:30)	BALL 21–0

2	13:14	ARMY	Tyhier Tyler 4-yard rush (Cole Talley kick) (12 plays, 75 yards, 6:34)	BALL 21–7
2	1:37	ARMY	Tyhier Tyler 2-yard rush (Cole Talley kick) (14 plays, 80 yards, 8:19)	BALL 21–14

4	8:00	BALL	Yo'Heinz Tyler 18-yard pass from Drew Plitt (Jake Chanove kick) (3 plays, 45 yards, 0:49)	BALL 28–14
4	2:09	ARMY	TEAM 6-yard safety (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00)	BALL 28–16

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Army	Passing	Jemel Jones	5/11, 66 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Tyhier Tyler	24 carries, 63 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Isaiah Alston	2 receptions, 36 yards
Ball State	Passing	Drew Plitt	17/28, 233 yards, 2 TDs
	Rushing	Carson Steele	8 carries, 17 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Yo'Heinz Tyler	5 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Miami	Passing	Brett Gabbert	20/24, 207 yards, 2 TDs
	Rushing	Tyre Shelton	14 carries, 46 yards
	Receiving	Jack Sorenson	8 receptions, 138 yards
Ball State	Passing	Drew Plitt	22/34, 227 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Carson Steele	11 carries, 49 yards
	Receiving	Jayshon Jackson	9 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Michigan	Passing	Daniel Richardson	20/25, 283 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
	Rushing	Lew Nichols III	32 carries, 219 yards, 3 TDs
	Receiving	Kalil Pimpleton	7 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD
Ball State	Passing	Drew Plitt	21/39, 170 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Carson Steele	20 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Jayshon Jackson	6 receptions, 61 yards

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Buffalo	Passing	Matt Myers	18/39, 188 yards, 4 INTs
	Rushing	Matt Myers	16 carries, 78 yards
	Receiving	Ron Cook Jr.	4 receptions, 56 yards
Ball State	Passing	Drew Plitt	19/31, 176 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Carson Steele	25 carries, 45 yards
	Receiving	Jayshon Jackson	9 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD


1	8:59	BALL	Jayshon Jackson 56-yard reception from Drew Plitt (Jake Chanove kick) (2 plays, 61 yards, 0:38)	BALL 7–0
	4:55	GSU	Aubry Payne 18-yard reception from Darren Grainger (Noel Ruiz kick) (10 plays, 75 yards, 4:04)	TIED 7–7
	2:02	GSU	Javon Denis 37-yard fumble recovery (Noel Ruiz kick)	GSU 14–7

2	14:11	GSU	Noel Ruiz 27-yard field goal (7 plays, 24 yards, 1:48)	GSU 17–7
	9:20	BALL	Jacob Lewis 34-yard field goal (7 plays, 30 yards, 2:06)	GSU 17–10
	6:01	GSU	Noel Ruiz 28-yard field goal (8 plays, 65 yards, 3:19)	GSU 20–10
	0:18	BALL	Jacob Lewis 43-yard field goal (13 plays, 53 yards, 5:43)	GSU 20–13

3	12:05	GSU	Robert Lewis 10-yard reception from Darren Grainger (Noel Ruiz kick) (8 plays, 75 yards, 2:55)	GSU 27–13
	7:08	GSU	Darren Grainger 34-yard run (Noel Ruiz kick) (7 plays, 68 yards, 3:29)	GSU 34–13
	1:33	GSU	Aubry Payne 16-yard reception from Darren Grainger (Noel Ruiz kick) (5 plays, 71 yards, 1:37)	GSU 41–13
	0:00	GSU	Antavious Lane 55-yard interception (Noel Ruiz kick)	GSU 48–13

4	9:03	GSU	Noel Ruiz 45-yard field goal (8 plays, 38 yards, 3:27)	GSU 51–13
4	3:13	BALL	Drew Plitt 1-yard run (Jake Chanove kick) (15 plays, 75 yards, 5:50)	GSU 51–20

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Georgia State	Passing	Darren Grainger	15/19, 203 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Darren Grainger	11 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Aubry Payne	8 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TDs
Ball State	Passing	Drew Plitt	27/46, 293 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Carson Steele	15 carries, 62 yards
	Receiving	Jayshon Jackson	12 receptions, 146 yards, 1 TD