The 2023 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals were led by eighth-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. They finished the season 4–8 and 3–5 in conference play
The Ball State Cardinals football team drew an average home attendance of 10,771 in 2023.
Schedule
Preseason Preseason coaches poll On July 20, the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Ball State was picked to finish fifth in the West Division.
Game summaries at Kentucky
Statistics BALLUK First downs 18 17 Total yards 71–295 51–354 Rushing yards 41–72 20–113 Passing yards 223 241 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–30–0 18–31–1 Time of possession 38:16 21:44 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Kadin Semonza 15/21, 165 yards, TD Rushing Marquez Cooper 15 carries, 33 yards Receiving Ty Robinson 5 receptions, 90 yards, TD Kentucky Passing Devin Leary 18/31, 241 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ray Davis 14 carries, 112 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dane Key 5 receptions, 96 yards, TD
at No. 1 Georgia
Statistics BALLUGA First downs 13 22 Total yards 65–224 61–386 Rushing yards 28–77 28–99 Passing yards 147 287 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–37–3 24–33–1 Time of possession 31:28 28:32 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Layne Hatcher 10/16, 82 yards Rushing Charlie Spegal 4 carries, 32 yards Receiving Ahmad Edwards 4 receptions, 47 yards Georgia Passing Carson Beck 23/30, 283 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Roderick Robinson II 6 carries, 38 yards, TD Receiving Arian Smith 2 receptions, 50 yards
Indiana State
Statistics ISUBALL First downs 12 26 Total yards 53–261 66–425 Rushing yards 32–104 42–288 Passing yards 157 137 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–21–1 18–24–0 Time of possession 26:59 33:01 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana State Passing Elijah Owens 9/21, 157 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tee Hodge 9 carries, 46 yards Receiving Harry Van Dyne 3 receptions, 80 yardsBall State Passing Kadin Semonza 17/22, 137 yards, 2 TD Rushing Marquez Cooper 22 carries, 177 yards, TD Receiving Tanner Koziol 7 receptions, 60 yards, TD
Georgia Southern
Statistics GASOBALL First downs 25 10 Total yards 77–530 55–197 Rushing yards 27–167 28–37 Passing yards 363 160 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 36–50–0 14–29–2 Time of possession 30:41 29:19 Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Southern Passing Davis Brin 34/46, 344 yards, 4 TD Rushing OJ Arnold 9 carries, 90 yards Receiving Khaleb Hood 7 receptions, 107 yards, TDBall State Passing Kadin Semonza 11/23, 123 yards, 2 INT Rushing Marquez Cooper 9 carries, 16 yards Receiving Rico Barfield 2 receptions, 50 yards
at Western Michigan
Statistics BALLWMU First downs 19 26 Total yards 63–364 75–461 Rushing yards 26–48 36–133 Passing yards 316 328 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–37–0 24–39–0 Time of possession 29:37 30:23 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Layne Hatcher 26/37, 316 yards, 3 TD Rushing Marquez Cooper 15 carries, 82 yards Receiving Qian Magwood 9 receptions, 110 yards, TDWestern Michigan Passing Treyson Bourguet 24/39, 328 yards, 3 TD Rushing Zahir Abdus-Salaam 8 carries, 53 yards, 2 TD Receiving Anthony Sambucci 5 receptions, 73 yards, 3 TD
at Eastern Michigan
Toledo
Central Michigan
at Bowling Green
at Northern Illinois
Kent State
Miami (OH)
References