American college football season
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 .
Previous season [ ]
The Cardinals finished the 2020 season 7–1, 5–1 in MAC play to finish in first place in the West Division. They went on to defeat Buffalo in the MAC Championship Game . The Cardinals were invited to the Arizona Bowl , where they defeated San Jose State for their first bowl game win in program history.
Schedule [ ]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance 7:00 p.m. Western Illinois * ESPN+ W 31–2113,149
September 11 3:30 p.m. at No. 11 Penn State * FS1 L 13–44105,323
September 18 4:00 p.m. at Wyoming * Stadium L 12–4523,467
September 25 2:00 p.m. Toledo Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN ESPN+ L 12–2214,902
October 2 5:00 p.m. Army * Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN ESPN+ W 28–1613,713
October 9 3:30 p.m. at Western Michigan ESPNU W 45–2011,403
October 16 2:00 p.m. at Eastern Michigan ESPN+ W 38–3115,258
October 23 3:30 p.m. Miami (OH) Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN (Red Bird Rivalry) ESPN+ L 17-2415,703
7:00 p.m. at Akron CBSSN W 31–257,683
7:00 p.m. at Northern Illinois ESPN2 L 29–307,894
7:00 p.m. Central Michigan Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN ESPNU L 17–375,602
7:00 p.m. Buffalo Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN ESPN+ W 20–36,112
December 25 2:30 p.m. vs. Georgia State * ESPN L 20–51N/A
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
[1]
Rankings [ ]
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
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
Game summaries [ ]
Western Illinois [ ]
Western Illinois at Ball State
1
2 3 4 Total
Western Illinois
0
7 7 7
21
• Ball State
7
0 14 10
31
Pregame line
Over/under
BSU –31.0
58.5
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
at No. 11 Penn State [ ]
Ball State at No. 11 Penn State
1
2 3 4 Total
Ball State
0
6 0 7
13
• No. 11 Penn State
14
10 10 10
44
Pregame line
Over/under
PSU –22.5
58.0
Statistics
Ball State
Penn State
First downs
20
32
Total yards
295
493
Rushing yards
69
240
Passing yards
226
253
Turnovers
2
0
Time of possession
25:51
34:09
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ball State
Passing
Drew Plitt
25/39, 176 yards, 2 INTs
Rushing
Carson Steele
7 carries, 18 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Jayshon Jackson
4 receptions, 42 yards
Penn State
Passing
Sean Clifford
21/29, 230 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Noah Cain
20 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Jahan Dotson
5 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD
at Wyoming [ ]
Ball State at Wyoming
1
2 3 4 Total
Ball State
0
0 6 6
12
• Wyoming
10
21 0 14
45
Pregame line
Over/under
WYO –6.5
53.0
Statistics
Ball State
Wyoming
First downs
19
19
Total yards
260
378
Rushing yards
118
177
Passing yards
142
201
Turnovers
3
0
Time of possession
30:11
29:49
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
Toledo [ ]
Toledo at Ball State
1
2 3 4 Total
• Toledo
7
7 0 8
22
Ball State
6
3 0 3
12
Date: September 25, 2021Location: Scheumann Stadium Muncie, INGame start: 2:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 14,902Television network: ESPN+
Pregame line
Over/under
TOL –4.5
56.5
Statistics
Toledo
Ball State
First downs
19
17
Total yards
444
312
Rushing yards
272
122
Passing yards
172
190
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
33:03
26:57
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
Army [ ]
Army at Ball State
1
2 3 4 Total
Army
0
14 0 2
16
• Ball State
21
0 0 7
28
Date: October 2, 2021Location: Scheumann Stadium Muncie, INGame start: 5:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 13,713Television network: ESPN+
Pregame line
Over/under
ARMY –10.0
47.0
Statistics
Army
Ball State
First downs
18
12
Total yards
279
269
Rushing yards
213
36
Passing yards
66
233
Turnovers
2
0
Time of possession
33:03
26:57
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
at Western Michigan [ ]
Ball State at Western Michigan
1
2 3 4 Total
• Ball State
7
10 7 21
45
Western Michigan
14
3 3 0
20
Pregame line
Over/under
WMU –12.5
57.5
Statistics
Ball State
Western Michigan
First downs
18
23
Total yards
361
376
Rushing yards
51
119
Passing yards
310
257
Turnovers
0
4
Time of possession
23:37
36:23
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ball State
Passing
Drew Plitt
15/25, 310 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing
Carson Steele
10 carries, 41 yards
Receiving
Yo'Heinz Tyler
5 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TDs
Western Michigan
Passing
Kaleb Eleby
19/33, 257 yards, 2 INTs
Rushing
La'Darius Jefferson
21 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Skyy Moore
7 receptions, 81 yards
at Eastern Michigan [ ]
Ball State at Eastern Michigan
1
2 3 4 Total
• Ball State
14
3 7 14
38
Eastern Michigan
0
14 3 14
31
Pregame line
Over/under
BALL –1.0
55.5
Statistics
Ball State
Eastern Michigan
First downs
29
27
Total yards
433
385
Rushing yards
200
46
Passing yards
233
339
Turnovers
0
2
Time of possession
32:43
27:17
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ball State
Passing
Drew Plitt
27/35, 207 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Carson Steele
18 carries, 138 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Justin Hall
10 receptions, 58 yards
Eastern Michigan
Passing
Ben Bryant
35/48, 331 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing
Jawon Hamilton
8 carries, 40 yards
Receiving
Dylan Drummond
7 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD
Miami (Ohio) [ ]
Red Bird Rivalry
1
2 3 4 Total
• Miami (OH)
10
6 0 8
24
Ball State
7
3 7 0
17
Date: October 23, 2021Location: Scheumann Stadium Muncie, INGame start: 3:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 15, 703Television network: ESPN+
Pregame line
Over/under
BALL –3.5
53.0
Statistics
Miami
Ball State
First downs
18
20
Total yards
360
327
Rushing yards
126
100
Passing yards
234
227
Turnovers
0
2
Time of possession
34:32
25:28
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
at Akron [ ]
Ball State at Akron
1
2 3 4 Total
• Ball State
7
14 7 3
31
Akron
3
7 0 15
25
Date: November 2, 2021Location: InfoCision Stadium Akron, OH Game start: 7:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 7,683Television network: CBSSN
Pregame line
Over/under
BALL –20.0
58.0
Statistics
Ball State
Akron
First downs
25
20
Total yards
425
458
Rushing yards
240
127
Passing yards
185
331
Turnovers
0
1
Time of possession
29:54
30:06
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ball State
Passing
Drew Plitt
18/31, 185 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing
Carson Steele
27 carries, 154 yards
Receiving
Justin Hall
8 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD
Akron
Passing
Zach Gibson
24/31, 331 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing
Jonzell Norrils
17 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Michael Mathison
8 receptions, 154 yards, 1 TD
at Northern Illinois (Bronze Stalk Trophy) [ ]
Bronze Stalk Trophy
1
2 3 4 Total
Ball State
10
7 9 3
29
• Northern Illinois
0
17 3 10
30
Pregame line
Over/under
BALL –3.0
59.0
Statistics
Ball State
Northern Illinois
First downs
17
26
Total yards
372
475
Rushing yards
246
211
Passing yards
126
264
Turnovers
0
2
Time of possession
23:16
36:44
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ball State
Passing
Drew Plitt
11/26, 126 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Carson Steele
21 carries, 109 yards
Receiving
Jalen McGaughy
1 reception, 45 yards
Northern Illinois
Passing
Rocky Lombardi
23/38, 264 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Jay Ducker
24 carries, 155 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Trayvon Rudolph
8 receptions, 108 yards
Central Michigan [ ]
Central Michigan at Ball State
1
2 3 4 Total
• Central Michigan
7
21 6 3
37
Ball State
7
10 0 0
17
Date: November 17, 2021Location: Scheumann Stadium Muncie, INGame start: 7:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 5,602Television network: ESPNU
Pregame line
Over/under
CMU –2.5
57.0
Statistics
Central Michigan
Ball State
First downs
26
18
Total yards
567
329
Rushing yards
285
159
Passing yards
282
170
Turnovers
2
1
Time of possession
32:47
27:13
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
Buffalo [ ]
Buffalo at Ball State
1
2 3 4 Total
Buffalo
0
3 0 0
3
• Ball State
14
3 3 0
20
Date: November 23, 2021Location: Scheumann Stadium Muncie, INGame start: 7:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 6,112Television network: ESPN+
Pregame line
Over/under
BALL –6.0
59.5
Statistics
Buffalo
Ball State
First downs
22
13
Total yards
336
230
Rushing yards
148
54
Passing yards
188
176
Turnovers
4
0
Time of possession
29:40
30:20
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
vs. Georgia State (Camellia Bowl) [ ]
Camellia Bowl
1
2 3 4 Total
• Georgia State
14
6 28 3
51
Ball State
7
6 0 7
20
Pregame line
Over/under
GAST –4.5
50.0
Statistics
Georgia State
Ball State
First downs
21
22
Total yards
464
367
Rushing yards
259
74
Passing yards
205
293
Turnovers
0
2
Time of possession
26:46
33:14
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
References [ ]
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