The 2025 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals were led by Mike Uremovich in his first year as the head coach. The Cardinals played home games at Scheumann Stadium, located in Muncie, Indiana.
Offseason Transfers Outgoing Arkel AnugwomOLAlabamaVaughn PembertonRBBoston CollegeDantu GardnerEDGEButlerNick MunsonWRButlerBlair SchonhorstCBButlerThailand BaldwinDBCharlotteTaran TyoOLCincinnatiMalcolm GillieWRCoastal CarolinaChase HarrisonQBFindlayChristian DavisRBFindlayL'Cier LuterDLFIUPreston RossTEFurmanTy CurranWRHoly CrossChristian AbneyTEIllinoisJustin BowickWRIllinoisJordan ColemanCBIllinois StateDanny RoysterDEIndianapolisCam PickettWRKansasRob FoglerOTKentuckyEli FreemanIOLLindenwoodKhalib GilmoreLBNorfolk StateJackson CourvilleKOhio StateElijah DavisSRobert MorrisR.J. Mukes IIIWRRobert MorrisDJ WilliamsRBSacred HeartMyles NorwoodDBSouth CarolinaEthan EversLBTiffin (D2)Kadin SemonzaQBTulaneDD SnyderSUMassAmeir GlennDLWake ForestDakari FrazierDLWestern MichiganKhani McNeeseDBWinona State (D2)Tanner KoziolTEWisconsinAJ TaylorCBUnknownKy MontgomeryDLUnknownYaser AlawadiOTUnknownJeffrey SimmonsTEUnknownKiael KellyQBWithdrawnQian MagwoodWRWithdrawnCaden JohnsonLBWithdrawn
Incoming Otto HessIOLBoston CollegeNathan VoorhisDLBryantRoman PearsonDBBucknellEric WeatherlyWRBucknellDrew CassensTEButlerAdam DolanOLButlerAshton NawrockiEDGEButlerDeondre ShepherdSCoastal CarolinaWalter Taylor IIIQBColoradoMicah WingLBDodge City CCKoby GrossTEFlorida A&MQua AshleyRBKennesaw StateAvery StuartSKentuckyBrody BoehmKMissouriAshton WhitnerSOld DominionDonovan HamiltonWRPurdueElijah JacksonRBPurdueJordan KingIOLPurdueAaron RobertsOTPurdueDC PippinKSoutheast Missouri StateAlfred CheaSUConnGeorge OkorieEDGEVanderbiltAmeir GlennDLWake ForestAdam SaulPWashingtonBen DuttonTEWashington StateMichael Gravely Jr.SWestern MichiganBradyn FlehartQBYale
Coaching staff additions NameNew PositionPrevious TeamPrevious Position SourceMike UremovichHead coachButlerHead coachAdam SiwickiDefensive run game coordinator/Defensive lineButlerDefensive coordinator/Defensive lineRory ManneringSafetiesButlerAssistant head coach/LinebackersAlex BarrOffensive lineButlerOffensive coordinatorSean ChaseTight endsButlerRun game coordinator/Tight ends/Running backsRay HolmesInside receiversButlerPass game coordinator/Wide receiversRay SmithDefensive pass game coordinator/CornerbacksKennesaw StateDefensive backs/CornersCraig HarmonOffensive pass game coordinator/QuarterbacksBenet AcademyHead coachMadison BunchRunning backsSoutheast Missouri StateRunning backs/SpecialistsJalen MossSnipersButlerCornerbacksNick FiacableSpecial teamsUConnSpecial teams analyst
Preseason
The MAC Football Kickoff was held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan from 9:00 am EDT to 1:30 pm EDT.
Preseason polls
Coaches Poll On July 24 the MAC announced the preseason coaches' poll.
MAC Coaches poll 1 Toledo 135 (7) 2 Miami 131 (3) 3 Ohio 123 (3) 4 Buffalo 115 5 Northern Illinois 94 6 Bowling Green 81 7 Western Michigan 71 8 Eastern Michigan 68 9 Central Michigan 65 10 Ball State 41 T11 Akron 39 T11 Massachusetts 39 13 Kent State 12
Coaches poll (MAC Championship) 1 Toledo 6 2 Miami 4 3 Ohio 3
Schedule
Game summaries
at Purdue
Statistics BALLPUR First downs 13 23 Plays–yards 52–203 59–433 Rushes–yards 36–116 30–93 Passing yards 87 340 Passing: –– 10–16–0 20–29–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 33:40 26:20 Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing Kiael Kelly10/16, 87 yards RushingKiael Kelly22 carries, 63 yards Receiving Elijah Jackson1 reception, 37 yards Purdue Passing Ryan Browne18/26, 311 yards, 2 TD Rushing Devin Mockobee14 carries, 59 yds, TD Receiving Arhmad Branch3 receptions, 101 yards, TD
at Auburn
Statistics BSUAUB First downs 6 27 Plays–yards 49–68 67–495 Rushes–yards 33–-3 34–224 Passing yards 71 271 Passing: comp–att–int 10–16–0 26–33–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 30:15 29:45 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Kiael Kelly 10/16, 71 yards Rushing Qua Ashley 12 carries, 10 yards Receiving Eric Weatherly 5 receptions, 42 yardsAuburn Passing Jackson Arnold 24/28, 251 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jeremiah Cobb 11 carries, 121 yards, 2 TD Receiving Cam Coleman 7 receptions, 77 yards
No. 23 (FCS) New Hampshire
Statistics UNH BALL First downs 22 21 Plays–yards 79–391 51–413 Rushes–yards 34–132 36–308 Passing yards 259 105 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–45–0 9–15–1 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 38:05 21:55 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Hampshire Passing Matt Vezza 25/44, 259 yards, TD Rushing Matt Vezza 16 carries, 78 yards, TD Receiving Caleb Burke 7 receptions, 89 yardsBall State Passing Kiael Kelly 9/15, 105 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Qua Ashley 12 carries, 154 yards, 2 TD Receiving Qua Ashley 2 receptions, 33 yards, TD
at UConn
Statistics BALL CONN First downs 19 17 Plays–yards 62–404 67–398 Rushes–yards 37–176 37–217 Passing yards 228 181 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18-25-1 20-30-0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:44 32:16 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Kiael Kelly 17/24, 209 yards, TD Rushing Qua Ashley 18 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Donovan Hamilton 7 receptions, 61 yardsUConn Passing Joe Fagnano 20/30, 181 yards, TD Rushing Cam Edwards 24 carries, 194 yards, 2 TD Receiving Skyler Bell 14 receptions, 113 yards, TD
Ohio
Statistics OHIOBALL First downs 18 20 Plays–yards 66–356 75–357 Rushes–yards 37–168 42–172 Passing yards 188 185 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–29–0 17–33–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 28:09 31:51 Team Category Player StatisticsOhio Passing Parker Navarro 16/29, 188 yards, TD Rushing Parker Navarro 13 carries, 77 yards Receiving Chase Hendricks 8 receptions, 104 yardsBall State Passing Kiael Kelly 17/33, 185 yards Rushing Kiael Kelly 29 carries, 66 yards, TD Receiving Qian Magwood 4 receptions, 92 yards, TD
at Western Michigan
Statistics BALL WMU First downs 5 25 Plays–yards 50–88 73–461 Rushes–yards 27–20 44–219 Passing yards 68 242 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–23–0 24–29–1 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 24:23 35:37 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Kiael Kelly 13/22, 68 yards Rushing Qua Ashley 6 carries, 17 yards Receiving Qian Magwood 3 receptions, 26 yardsWestern Michigan Passing Broc Lowry 23/27, 241 yards, 2 TD Rushing Broc Lowry 13 carries, 108 yards, TD Receiving Talique Williams 5 receptions, 55 yards
Akron
Statistics AKR BALL First downs 24 17 Plays–yards 75–419 65–374 Rushes–yards 35–128 45–216 Passing yards 291 158 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–40–2 11–20–1 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 28:08 31:52 Team Category Player StatisticsAkron Passing Ben Finley 22/40, 291 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jordan Gant 19 carries, 94 yards Receiving Tim Grear Jr. 4 receptions, 87 yards Ball State Passing Kiael Kelly 10/19, 121 yards, TD, INT Rushing Qua Ashley 20 carries, 143 yards, TD Receiving Koby Gross 3 receptions, 81 yards, TD
at Northern Illinois (Bronze Stalk Trophy)
Statistics BALL NIU First downs 15 17 Plays–yards 66–275 68–370 Rushes–yards 43–139 57–305 Passing yards 136 65 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10-23-2 6-11-1 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 29:30 30:30 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Kiael Kelly 10/23, 136 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Kiael Kelly 27 carries, 86 yards Receiving Ty Robinson 3 receptions, 37 yardsNorthern Illinois Passing Josh Holst 6/11, 65 yards, TD, INT Rushing Chavon Wright 27 carries, 166 yards Receiving DeAree Rogers 3 receptions, 43 yards, TD
Kent State
Statistics KENT BALL First downs 14 15 Plays–yards 61–301 62–238 Rushes–yards 33–89 33–65 Passing yards 212 173 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–28–1 17–29–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:42 32:18 Team Category Player StatisticsKent State Passing Dru DeShields 15/27, 212 yards Rushing Gavin Garcia 12 carries, 59 yards Receiving Wayne Harris 5 receptions, 87 yardsBall State Passing Kiael Kelly 17/29, 173 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kiael Kelly 21 carries, 53 yards Receiving Kameron Anthony 2 receptions, 39 yards, TD
Eastern Michigan
Statistics EMU BALL First downs 21 13 Plays–yards 69–380 60–225 Rushes–yards 40–151 38–163 Passing yards 229 62 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–29–2 13–22–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 31:09 28:51 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Michigan Passing Noah Kim 18/29, 229 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Dontae McMillan 21 carries, 80 yards Receiving Jamarien Wheeler 6 receptions, 131 yards, TDBall State Passing Kiael Kelly 13/22, 62 yards, INT Rushing Kiael Kelly 15 carries, 67 yards Receiving Qian Magwood 1 reception, 19 yards
at Toledo
Statistics BALL TOL First downs 18 19 Plays–yards 79–335 57–404 Rushes–yards 46–106 30–186 Passing yards 229 218 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–33–2 15–27–2 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 37:04 22:56 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Kiael Kelly 14/31, 189 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jalen Bonds 16 carries, 58 yards Receiving Jalen Bonds 1 reception, 54 yardsToledo Passing Tucker Gleason 15/24, 218 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Chip Trayanum 15 carries, 128 yards, TD Receiving Junior Vandeross III 7 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TD
at Miami (OH)
Statistics BALL M-OH First downs 15 23 Plays–yards 59–280 66–458 Rushes–yards 36–103 42–232 Passing yards 177 226 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14-23-0 12-24-0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:26 32:34 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Kiael Kelly 14/23, 177 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kiael Kelly 16 carries, 61 yards Receiving Donovan Hamilton 4 receptions, 72 yardsMiami (OH) Passing Thomas Gotkowski 12/24, 226 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jordan Brunson 14 carries, 54 yards, TD Receiving Cole Weaver 5 receptions, 66 yards
References