The 2026 Ball State Cardinals football team is who represents Ball State University as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals will be led by Mike Uremovich in his second year as the head coach. The Cardinals play their home games at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana.
Offseason Transfers Outgoing
Incoming
Coaching staff additions NameNew PositionPrevious TeamPrevious Position Source
Preseason Preseason polls Coaches Poll On July 22, the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Western Michigan was named the preseason favorite to win the conference while last year's other finalist, Miami, also received votes to win the championship.
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 No. 1 Ohio State
Statistics BALLOSU First downs 13 32 Plays–yards 82–165 72–671 Rushes–yards 23–45 35–237 Passing yards 120 434 Passing: –– 20–37–1 31–37–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 28:22 31:38 Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing Keldric Luster 18/33, 89 yards, INT Rushing Elijah Jackson 2 carries, 20 yards Receiving Elisha Durham 1 reception, 26 yards Ohio State Passing Julian Sayin 21/25, 320 yards, 3 TD Rushing Bo Jackson 9 carries, 83 yards, TD Receiving Jeremiah Smith 8 receptions, 151 yards, 2 TD
Stony Brook (FCS)
Statistics STBK BALL First downs 15 23 Plays–yards 64–330 68–482 Rushes–yards 28–183 36–226 Passing yards 147 256 Passing: –– 22–36–2 27–32–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:53 33:07 Team Category Player StatisticsStony Brook Passing Quinn Boyd 22/35, 147 yards, 2 INT Rushing Jeremiah Coney 9 carries, 89 yards, 2 TD Receiving Seth Sweitzer 7 receptions, 50 yardsBall State Passing Keldric Luster 27/32, 256 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing TJ Horton 9 carries, 125 yards, TD Receiving Jabari Smith 6 receptions, 72 yards, TD
at Liberty
Statistics BALL LIB First downs 17 23 Plays–yards 56–261 64–460 Rushes–yards 35–168 40–212 Passing yards 93 248 Passing: –– 10–21–0 16–24–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 28:01 31:59 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Keldric Luster 10/21, 93 yards Rushing TJ Horton 8 carries, 79 yards, 2 TD Receiving Isaiah Thacker 4 receptions, 44 yardsLiberty Passing Deshawn Purdie 13/20, 211 yards, 3 TD Rushing Terron Kellman 3 carries, 51 yards Receiving Makai Jackson 4 receptions, 88 yards, TD
at Kent State
Statistics BALL KENT First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Rushing Receiving Kent State Passing Rushing Receiving
Toledo
Statistics TOL BALL First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsToledo Passing Rushing Receiving Ball State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Northwestern
Statistics BALLNU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing Rushing Receiving Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving
at Bowling Green
Statistics BALLBGSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing Rushing Receiving Bowling Green Passing Rushing Receiving
Sacramento State (Homecoming Game)
Statistics SAC BALL First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsSacramento State Passing Rushing Receiving Ball State Passing Rushing Receiving
at UMass
Statistics BALLMASS First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Rushing Receiving UMass Passing Rushing Receiving
Buffalo
Statistics BUFF BALL First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing Rushing Receiving Ball State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Ohio
Statistics BALLOHIO First downs Total yards – – Rushing yards – – Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int –– –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing Rushing Receiving Ohio Passing Rushing Receiving
Central Michigan
Statistics CMU BALL First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Rushing Receiving Ball State Passing Rushing Receiving
References