2023 Ball State Cardinals football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record4–8 (3–5 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKevin Lynch (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorTyler Stockton (5th season)
Home stadiumScheumann Stadium
2023 Mid-American Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Miami (OH) xy$  7 –1   11 –3  
Ohio  6 –2   10 –3  
Bowling Green  5 –3   7 –6  
Buffalo  3 –5   3 –9  
Akron  1 –7   2 –10  
Kent State  0 –8   1 –11  
West Division
Toledo xy  8 –0   11 –3  
Northern Illinois  5 –3   7 –6  
Eastern Michigan  4 –4   6 –7  
Central Michigan  3 –5   5 –7  
Ball State  3 –5   4 –8  
Western Michigan  3 –5   4 –8  
Championship: Miami (OH) 23, Toledo 14
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

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 compete as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference.[1][2] They finished the season 4–8 and 3–5 in conference play[3]

Preseason

Preseason polls

Coaches Poll

On July 20, the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Ball State was picked to finish fifth in the West.[4]

East
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Ohio 63 (9)
2 Miami 52 (2)
3 Buffalo 51 (1)
4 Bowling Green 35
5 Akron 26
6 Kent State 19
West
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Toledo 66 (11)
2 Eastern Michigan 55 (1)
3 Northern Illinois 38
4 Central Michigan 37
5 Ball State 27
6 Western Michigan 23
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
Rank Team Votes
1Toledo7
2Ohio4
3Buffalo1

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 212:00 p.m.at Kentucky*
SECNL 14–4458,286
September 912:00 p.m.at No. 1 Georgia*
SECNL 3–4592,746
September 162:00 p.m.Indiana State*
ESPN+W 45–715,054
September 232:00 p.m.Georgia Southern*
  • Scheumann Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
ESPN+L 3–4010,118
September 303:30 p.m.at Western Michigan
ESPN+L 24–4221,880
October 73:30 p.m.at Eastern Michigan
ESPN+L 10–2418,696
October 142:00 p.m.Toledo
  • Scheumann Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
ESPN+L 6–137,675
October 213:30 p.m.Central Michigandagger
  • Scheumann Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
ESPN+W 24–1715,171
November 17:30 p.m.at Bowling Green
ESPN2L 21–246,091
November 77:00 p.m.at Northern Illinois
CBSSNW 20–176,282
November 182:00 p.m.Kent State
  • Scheumann Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
ESPN+W 34–38,554
November 2512:00 p.m.Miami (OH)
  • Scheumann Stadium
  • Muncie, IN (Red Bird Rivalry)
CBSSNL 15–178,054
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[5][6]

Game summaries

at Kentucky

Game One – Ball State Cardinals (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ball State 7 0 7014
Kentucky 3 20 14744

at Kroger Field • Lexington, KY

  • Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: 58,286
  • TV: SEC Network
Game information
First quarter
  • (13:17) UK – Alex Raynor 41-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 51 yards, 1:43; Kentucky 3–0)
  • (1:35) BALL – Layne Hatcher 2-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 73 yards, 7:05; Ball State 7–3)
Second quarter
  • (11:31) UK – Ray Davis 2-yard run (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 4:58; Kentucky 10–7)
  • (6:58) UK – Jalen Geiger 0-yard fumble return (Alex Raynor kick) (Kentucky 17–7)
  • (1:08) UK – Alex Raynor 46-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 0:10; Kentucky 20–7)
  • (0:00) UK – Alex Raynor 46-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 26 yards, 0:31; Kentucky 23–7)
Third quarter
  • (6:43) UK – Dane Key 5-yard pass from Devin Leary (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 89 yards, 2:37; Kentucky 30–7)
  • (0:42) BALL – Ty Robinson 5-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 6:01; Kentucky 30–14)
  • (0:28) UK – Barion Brown 99-yard kickoff return (Alex Raynor kick) (Kentucky 37–14)
Fourth quarter
  • (0:06) UK – Ray Davis 30 yard run (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 66 yards, 3:16; Kentucky 44–14)
StatisticsBALLUK
First downs1817
Total yards71–29551–354
Rushing yards41–7220–113
Passing yards223241
Passing: Comp–Att–Int22–30–018–31–1
Time of possession38:1621:44
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Ball StatePassingKadin Semonza15/21, 165 yards, TD
RushingMarquez Cooper15 carries, 33 yards
ReceivingTy Robinson5 receptions, 90 yards, TD
KentuckyPassingDevin Leary18/31, 241 yards, TD, INT
RushingRay Davis14 carries, 112 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingDane Key5 receptions, 96 yards, TD

at No. 1 Georgia

Game Two – Ball State Cardinals (0–1) at No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (1–0) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ball State 0 0 033
No. 1 Georgia 0 31 14045

at Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia

  • Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: 92,756
  • Referee: Jason McArthur
  • TV announcers (SEC Network): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color) and Alyssa Lang (sideline)
Game information
First quarter

no scoring

Second quarter
  • (14:32) UGA – Mekhi Mews 69-yard punt return (Peyton Woodring kick) (Georgia 7–0)
  • (10:16) UGA – Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint 7-yard pass from Carson Beck (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 78 yards, 2:25; Georgia 14–0)
  • (8:45) UGA – Dillon Bell 21-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 30 yards, 0:51; Georgia 21–0)
  • (1:49) UGA – Peyton Woodring 35-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 42 yards, 5:28; Georgia 24–0)
  • (0:37) UGA – Kendall Milton 1-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 20 yards, 1:04; Georgia 31–0)
Third quarter
  • (6:27) UGA – Cash Jones 27-yard pass from Carson Beck (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:14; Georgia 38-0)
  • (0:46) UGA – Roderick Robinson II 12-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 67 yards, 1:21; Georgia 45–0)
Fourth quarter
  • (9:05) BALL – Jackson Courville 27-yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 55 yards, 6:41; Georgia 45–3)
StatisticsBALLUGA
First downs1322
Total yards65–22461–386
Rushing yards28–7728–99
Passing yards147287
Passing: Comp–Att–Int18–37–324–33–1
Time of possession31:2828:32
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Ball StatePassingLayne Hatcher10/16, 82 yards
RushingCharlie Spegal4 carries, 32 yards
ReceivingAhmad Edwards4 receptions, 47 yards
GeorgiaPassingCarson Beck23/30, 283 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingRoderick Robinson II6 carries, 38 yards, TD
ReceivingArian Smith2 receptions, 50 yards

Indiana State

Game Three – Indiana State Sycamores (0–2) at Ball State Cardinals (0–2) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Indiana State 0 0 707
Ball State 0 10 72845

at Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN

  • Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: 15,054
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter
  • (12:13) BALL – Rico Barfield 16-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 73 yards, 5:20; Ball State 7–0)
  • (1:34) BALL – Jackson Courville 23-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:24; Ball State 10–0)
Third quarter
  • (6:45) BALL – Rico Barfield 24-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 55 yards, 1:24; Ball State 17–0)
  • (5:48) ISU – Dakota Caton 49-yard pass from Elijah Owens (Stephen Ruiz kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 61 yards, 0:50: Ball State 17–7)
Fourth quarter
  • (13:12) BALL – Marquez Cooper 11-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive:13 plays, 75 yards, 7:29; Ball State 24–7)
  • (11:32) BALL – Tanner Koziol 8-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 23 yards, 0:54: Ball State 31–7)
  • (9:20) BALL – Keionte Newson 66-yard fumble return (Jackson Courville kick) (Ball State 38–7)
  • (3:13) BALL – Charlie Spegal 1-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 35 yards, 2:49; Ball State 45–7)
StatisticsISUBALL
First downs1226
Total yards53–26166–425
Rushing yards32–10442–288
Passing yards157137
Passing: Comp–Att–Int9–21–118–24–0
Time of possession26:5933:01
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Indiana StatePassingElijah Owens9/21, 157 yards, TD, INT
RushingTee Hodge9 carries, 46 yards
ReceivingHarry Van Dyne3 receptions, 80 yards
Ball StatePassingKadin Semonza17/22, 137 yards, 2 TD
RushingMarquez Cooper22 carries, 177 yards, TD
ReceivingTanner Koziol7 receptions, 60 yards, TD

Georgia Southern

Game Four – Georgia Southern Eagles (2–1) at Ball State Cardinals (1–2) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Georgia Southern 14 9 10740
Ball State 0 0 033

at Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN

  • Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: 10,118
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter
  • (11:51) GASO – Evan Lester Jr. 1-yard pass from Davis Brin (Michael Lantz kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 52 yards, 3:04; Georgia Southern 7–0)
  • (8:47) GASO – Keaton Upshaw 9-yard pass from Davis Brin (Michael Lantz kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 63 yards, 1:30; Georgia Southern 14–0)
Second quarter
  • (12:37) GASO – Michael Lantz 41-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 16 yards, 1:37; Georgia Southern 17–0)
  • (6:36) GASO – Michael Lantz 26-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 3:18; Georgia Southern 20–0)
  • (0:00) GASO – Michael Lantz 37-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 57 yards, 0:43; Georgia Southern 23–0)
Third quarter
  • (8:47) GASO – Khaleb Hood 21-yard pass from Davis Brin (Michael Lantz kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 56 yards, 1:10; Georgia Southern 30–0)
  • (1:03) GASO – Michael Lantz 35-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 28 yards, 2:11; Georgia Southern 33–0)
Fourth quarter
  • (13:42) GASO – Anthony Queeley 8-yard pass from Davis Brin (Michael Lantz kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 55 yards, 1:06; Georgia Southern 40–0)
  • (7:15) BALL – Jackson Courville 23-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 69 yards, 6:27; Georgia Southern 40–3)
StatisticsGASOBALL
First downs2510
Total yards77–53055–197
Rushing yards27–16728–37
Passing yards363160
Passing: Comp–Att–Int36–50–014–29–2
Time of possession30:4129:19
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia SouthernPassingDavis Brin34/46, 344 yards, 4 TD
RushingOJ Arnold9 carries, 90 yards
ReceivingKhaleb Hood7 receptions, 107 yards, TD
Ball StatePassingKadin Semonza11/23, 123 yards, 2 INT
RushingMarquez Cooper9 carries, 16 yards
ReceivingRico Barfield2 receptions, 50 yards

at Western Michigan

Game Five – Ball State Cardinals (1–3) at Western Michigan Broncos (1–3) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ball State 3 7 7724
Western Michigan 7 21 7742

at Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI

  • Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: -
  • Game attendance: 21,880
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First quarter
  • (8:37) BALL – Jackson Courville 27-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 4:25; Ball State 3–0)
  • (5:06) WMU – Anthony Sambucci 18-yard pass from Treyson Bourguet (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:31; Western Michigan 7–3)
Second quarter
  • (13:06) WMU – Zahir Abdus-Salaam 1-yard run (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 92 yards, 3:57; Western Michigan 14–3)
  • (7:50) WMU – Jalen Buckley 12-yard run (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 43 yards, 2:29; Western Michigan 21–3)
  • (5:04) BALL – Maximus Webster 2-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, 2:45; Western Michigan 21–10)
  • (0:01) WMU – Anthony Sambucci 2-yard pass from Treyson Bourguet (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 1:27; Western Michigan 28–10)
Third quarter
  • (11:52) BALL – Qian Magwood 32-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:08; Western Michigan 28–17)
  • (10:14) WMU – Anthony Sambucci 31-yard pass from Treyson Bourguet (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:38; Western Michigan 35–17)
Fourth quarter
  • (14:15) BALL – Ahmad Edwards 57-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 69 yards, 1:38; Western Michigan 35–24)
  • (8:53) WMU – Zahir Abdus-Salaam 2-yard run (Palmer Domschke kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 85 yards, 3:22; Western Michigan 42–24)
StatisticsBALLWMU
First downs1926
Total yards63–36475–461
Rushing yards26–4836–133
Passing yards316328
Passing: Comp–Att–Int26–37–024–39–0
Time of possession29:3730:23
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Ball StatePassingLayne Hatcher26/37, 316 yards, 3 TD
RushingMarquez Cooper15 carries, 82 yards
ReceivingQian Magwood9 receptions, 110 yards, TD
Western MichiganPassingTreyson Bourguet24/39, 328 yards, 3 TD
RushingZahir Abdus-Salaam8 carries, 53 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingAnthony Sambucci5 receptions, 73 yards, 3 TD

References

  1. ↑ "Scheumann Stadium". Ball State Athletics.
  2. ↑ "Mike Neu". Sports Reference.
  3. ↑ "MAC College Football Standings - 2023". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  4. ↑ "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked to win conference championship; BGSU tabbed to finish fourth in MAC East". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 20, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  5. ↑ "2023 Ball State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Ball State Cardinals Schedule 2023". ESPN.
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