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American college football season
The 2024 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University as a member of the Mid-American Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Cardinals played home games at Scheumann Stadium , located in Muncie, Indiana .[ 1]
After starting 3–7 , ensuring a fourth straight losing season, ninth-year head coach Mike Neu was fired on November 16, 2024. Offensive line coach Colin Johnson was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.[ 2]
On July 19 the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Ball State was picked to finish ninth in the conference. They received zero votes to win the MAC Championship .[ 3] [ 4]
MAC Coaches poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Miami
119 (9)
2
Toledo
109 (3)
T3
Bowling Green
92
T3
Northern Illinois
92
5
Ohio
81
6
Eastern Michigan
64
7
Western Michigan
60
8
Central Michigan
59
9
Ball State
42
10
Buffalo
37
11
Akron
24
12
Kent State
13
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
Predicted finish
Team
Votes
1
Miami
10
2
Toledo
2
Unusually, Ball State did not play a game on "Week 1" of the season; they were the only idle FBS team on the traditional start of the season. Army , their original Week 1 opponent, dropped out after joining the American Athletic Conference . Ball State replaced Army with an October 19 game against Vanderbilt.[ 5]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 7 2:00 p.m. Missouri State * ESPN+ W 42–3410,018 September 14 3:30 p.m. at No. 10 Miami (FL) * ACCN L 0–6251,564 September 21 1:00 p.m. at Central Michigan ESPN+ L 34–3718,011 September 28 1:30 p.m. at James Madison * ESPN+ L 7–6325,786 October 5 2:00 p.m. Western Michigan Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN ESPN+ L 42–4510,342 October 12 12:00 p.m. at Kent State ESPN+ W 37–357,322 October 19 7:00 p.m. at Vanderbilt * SECN+ /ESPN+L 14–2427,884 October 26 3:30 p.m. Northern Illinois ESPN+ W 25–2315,318 8:00 p.m. Miami (OH) Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN ESPN L 21–276,412 7:00 p.m. at Buffalo CBSSN L 48–51 OT 12,708 November 23 2:00 p.m. Bowling Green Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN ESPN+ L 13–387,116 12:00 p.m. at Ohio CBSSN L 21–4211,804
[ 6]
[ edit ]
Game One – Missouri State Bears (FCS) (0–1) at Ball State Cardinals (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Bears (FCS)
7
0
7 20 34
Cardinals 0
7
7 28 42
at Scheumann Stadium , Muncie, IN
Date : Saturday September 7, 2024Game time : 2:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : Sunny, 64 °F (18 °C)Game attendance : 10,018Referee : Billy WilliamsTV announcers (ESPN+ ) : Kelsie Kasper (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (analyst)
Statistics
MOST
BALL
First downs
18
25
Total yards
320
435
Rushing yards
62
173
Passing yards
258
262
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
19–32–1
28–38–1
Time of possession
21:30
38:30
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Missouri State Passing
Jacob Clark
19/32, 258 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Jacardia Wright
15 carries, 46 yards, TD
Receiving
Jmariyae Robinson
7 receptions, 102 yards, TD
Ball State Passing
Kadin Semonza
28/38, 262 yards, 4 TD, INT
Rushing
Braedon Sloan
21 carries, 103 yards, TD
Receiving
Cam Pickett
7 receptions, 69 yards
[ edit ]
Game Two – Ball State Cardinals (1–0) vs No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (2–0) – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Cardinals
0
0
0 0 0
No. 10 Hurricanes 10
21
10 21 62
at Hard Rock Stadium • Miami Gardens, FL
Date : September 14, 2024Game time : 3:30 p.m.Game attendance : 51,564TV announcers (ACCN) : Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst), and Coley Harvey (sideline reporter)
Game information
First quarter (6:15) MIA – Andres Borregales 30-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 71 yards, 5:10; Miami 3–0 )
(1:25) MIA – Xavier Restrepo 21-yard pass from Cam Ward, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 5 plays, 60 yards, 2:34; Miami 10–0 ) Second quarter (4:46) MIA – Chris Johnson Jr. 37-yard pass from Cam Ward, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 7 plays, 82 yards, 2:51; Miami 17–0 )
(1:53) MIA – Elijah Arroyo 21-yard pass from Cam Ward, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 2 plays, 53 yards, 0:16; Miami 24–0 )
(1:30) MIA – Xavier Restrepo 20-yard pass from Cam Ward, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 2 plays, 20 yards, 0:12; Miami 31–0 ) Third quarter (12:26) MIA – Jacolby George 17-yard pass from Cam Ward, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 2:27; Miami 38–0 )
(3:24) MIA – Andres Borregales 32-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 63 yards, 6:54; Miami 41–0 ) Fourth quarter (14:49) MIA – Ajay Allen 56-yard run, Abram Murray kick (Drive: 2 plays, 90 yards, 0:23; Miami 48–0 )
(11:46) MIA – Elija Lofton 40-yard pass from Emory Williams, Abram Murray kick (Drive: 3 plays, 57 yards, 1:14; Miami 55–0 )
(6:40) MIA – Jordan Lyle 7-yard run, Abram Murray kick (Drive: 7 plays, 60 yards, 4:10; Miami 62–0 )
Statistics
BALL
MIA
First downs
9
31
Total yards
115
750
Rushing yards
6
243
Passing yards
109
507
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
18–32–1
30–40–0
Time of possession
27:01
32:59
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ball State Passing
Kadin Semonza
16/26, 111 yards, INT
Rushing
Braedon Sloan
5 carries, 13 yards
Receiving
Braedon Sloan
4 receptions, 41 yards
Miami (FL) Passing
Cam Ward 19/28, 346 yards, 5 TD
Rushing
Ajay Allen
7 carries, 104 yards, TD
Receiving
Jacolby George 6 receptions, 109 yards, TD
at Central Michigan [ edit ]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics
BALL
CMU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ball State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Central Michigan Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Game Four – Ball State Cardinals (1–2) at James Madison Dukes (3–0) – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Cardinals
7
0
0 0 7
Dukes 22
7
20 14 63
at Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA
Date : Saturday September 28, 2024Game time : 1:30 p.m.Game weather : Sunny • Temperature : 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind : S at 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)Game attendance : 25,786Referee : Jeremy ParkerTV announcers (ESPN+ ) : Curt Dudley (play-by-play), Brian Barlow (analyst) and David Hulvey (sideline)
Game information
First quarter (10:15) JMU – Yamir Knight 12-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III , Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 4:37; James Madison 7–0 )
(6:54) JMU – George Pettaway 24-yard run, Taylor Thompson rush (Drive: 5 plays, 35 yards, 1:24; James Madison 15–0 )
(3:34) BALL – Tanner Koziol 15-yard pass from Kadin Semonza, Carson Holmer kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:20; James Madison 15–7 )
(1:51) JMU – Omarion Dollison 5-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 1:43; James Madison 22–7 ) Second quarter (4:20) JMU – Yamir Knight 10-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 9 plays, 59 yards, 4:32; James Madison 29–7 ) Third quarter (13:58) JMU – Eric O'Neill 27-yard interception (James Madison 35–7
(9:45) JMU – Cam Ross 26-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 4 plays, 55 yards, 1:19; James Madison 42–7 )
(7:19) JMU – Alonza Barnett III 18-yard run, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 2 plays, 33 yards, 0:42; James Madison 49–7 ) Fourth quarter (10:55) JMU – Taylor Thompson 22-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 9 plays, 94 yards, 4:13; James Madison 56–7 )
(2:40) JMU – Jobi Malary 32-yard run, Max Lipinski kick (Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 6:41; James Madison 63–7 )
Statistics
BALL
JMU
First downs
19
29
Total yards
250
522
Rushing yards
77
236
Passing yards
173
286
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
28–38–3
21–29–0
Time of possession
33:41
26:19
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ball State Passing
Kadin Semonza
22/35, 168 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing
Braedon Sloan
14 carries, 72 yards
Receiving
Tanner Koziol
9 receptions, 78 yards, TD
James Madison Passing
Alonza Barnett III 20/28, 280 yards, 5 TD
Rushing
Wayne Knight
6 carries, 63 yards
Receiving
Taylor Thompson
5 receptions, 91 yards, TD
Game Five – Western Michigan Broncos (1–3) at Ball State Cardinals (1–3) – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Broncos 21
0
10 14 45
Cardinals
14
7
14 7 42
at Scheumann Stadium , Muncie, IN
Date : Saturday October 5, 2024Game time : 2:00 p.m.Game weather : Sunny • Temperature : 76 °F (24 °C) • Wind : SE 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)Game attendance : 10,342Referee : Andrew SpecialeTV announcers (ESPN+ ) : Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play) and Tyoka Jackson (analyst)
Game information
First quarter (8:39) WMU – Jaden Nixon 21-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 9 plays, 85 yards, 4:18; Western Michigan 7–0 )
(7:43) WMU – Blake Bosma 10-yard pass from Hayden Wolff, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 2 plays, 10 yards, 0:41; Western Michigan 14–0 )
(7:29) BALL – Malcolm Gillie 97-yard kickoff return, Jackson Courville kick (Western Michigan 14–7
(5:02) BALL – Ty Robinson 21-yard pass from Kadin Semonza, Jackson Courville kick (Drive: 4 plays, 95 yards, 1:30; Tied 14–14 )
(4:09) WMU – Jaden Nixon 57-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 2 plays, 65 yards, 0:53; Western Michigan 21–14 ) Second quarter (9:54) BALL – Cam Pickett 4-yard run, Jackson Courville kick (Drive: 15 plays, 83 yards, 9:10; Tied 21–21 ) Third quarter (12:13) WMU – Malique Dieudonne 43-yard pass from Hayden Wolff, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 2:41; Western Michigan 28–21 )
(9:50) BALL – Christian Abney 22-yard pass from Braedon Sloan, Jackson Courville kick (Drive: 5 plays, 66 yards, 2:15; Tied 28–28 )
(7:52) BALL – Drew Hughes 2-yard pass from Kadin Semonza, Jackson Courville kick (Drive: 4 plays, 28 yards, 1:52; Ball State 35–28 )
(0:21) WMU – Luka Zurak 39-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 53 yards, 7:31; Ball State 35–31 ) Fourth quarter (13:19) WMU – Jaden Nixon 23-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 3 plays, 32 yards, 0:57; Western Michigan 38–35 )
(7:43) WMU – Anthony Sambucci 1-yard pass from Hayden Wolff, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 3:32; Western Michigan 45–35 )
(1:47) BALL – Cam Pickett 27-yard pass from Kadin Semonza, Jackson Courville kick (Drive: 8 plays, 85 yards, 1:20; Western Michigan 45–42 )
Statistics
WMU
BALL
First downs
23
23
Total yards
397
461
Rushing yards
197
68
Passing yards
264
329
Turnovers
1
3
Time of possession
32:30
27:30
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Western Michigan Passing
Hayden Wolff 26/29, 264 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Jaden Nixon
14 carries, 124 yards, 3 TD
Receiving
Anthony Sambucci
9 receptions, 74 yards, TD
Ball State Passing
Kadin Semonza
21/34, 307 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Braedon Sloan
18 carries, 65 yards
Receiving
Tanner Koziol
9 receptions, 102 yards
Game Six – Ball State Cardinals (1–4) at Kent State Golden Flashes (0–5) – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Cardinals 10
10
7 10 37
Golden Flashes
0
7
7 21 35
at Dix Stadium • Kent, OH
Date : Saturday October 12, 2024Game time : 12:00 p.m. EDT Game weather : Cloudy • Temperature : 62 °F (17 °C) • Wind : NE at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)Game attendance : 7,322Referee : Jeremy ValentineTV announcers (ESPN+ ) : Anthony Lima (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics
BALL
KENT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ball State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Kent State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Game Seven – Ball State Cardinals (2–4) at Vanderbilt Commodores (4–2) – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Cardinals
7
0
7 0 14
Commodores 3
11
0 10 24
at FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, TN
Date : Saturday October 19, 2024Game time : 7:00 p.m. EDT Game weather : Clear, 64 °F (18 °C)Game attendance : 27,884Referee : Jeff HeaserTV announcers (SECN+ /ESPN+ ) : Richard Cross (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst)
Game information
First quarter BALL – Kiael Kelly 9-yard run (Jason Courville kick), 8:06. Cardinals 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 6:54.
VAN – Brock Taylor 27-yard field goal, 1:42. Cardinals 7–3. Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 6:24. Second quarter VAN – Brock Taylor 24-yard field goal, 11:37. Cardinals 7–6. Drive: 7 plays, 81 yards, 3:32.
VAN – Eli Stowers 41-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Diego Pavia pass to Cole Spence), 2:39. Commodores 14–7. Drive: 11 plays, 97 yards, 3:45. Third quarter BALL – Tanner Koziol 7-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick), 6:03. Tied 14–14. Drive: 11 plays, 94 yards, 6:34. Fourth quarter VAN – Brock Taylor 38-yard field goal, 14:44. Commodores 17–14. Drive: 14 plays, 54 yards, 6:14.
VAN – Diego Pavia 5-yard run (Brock Taylor kick), 7:48. Commodores 24–14. Drive: 8 plays, 45 yards, 4:03.
Statistics
BALL
VAN
First downs
16
21
Total yards
268
420
Rushing yards
78
145
Passing yards
190
275
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
21–29–0
17–31–0
Time of possession
25:25
34:35
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ball State Passing
Kadin Semonza
21/29, 190 yards, TD
Rushing
Vaughn Pemberton
5 carries, 32 yards
Receiving
Tanner Koziol
9 receptions, 68 yards, TD
Vanderbilt Passing
Diego Pavia 17/31, 275 yards, TD
Rushing
Diego Pavia
13 carries, 82 yards, TD
Receiving
Eli Stowers 8 receptions, 130 yards, TD
[ edit ]
Game Eight – Northern Illinois Huskies (4–3) at Ball State Cardinals (2–5) – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Huskies
0
0
0 0 0
Cardinals 0
0
0 0 0
at Scheumann Stadium , Muncie, IN
Date : Saturday October 26, 2024Game time : 3:30 p.m.TV announcers (ESPN+ ) : Kelsie Kaspar (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst)
Statistics
NIU
BALL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Ball State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Game Nine – Miami RedHawks (4–4) at Ball State Cardinals (3–5) – Game summary
Quarter
Total
RedHawks
0
0
0 0 0
Cardinals
0
0
0 0 0
at Scheumann Stadium , Muncie, IN
Date : Tuesday November 5, 2024Game time : 8:00 p.m.TV announcers (ESPN ) : Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)
Statistics
M-OH
BALL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Miami (OH) Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Ball State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Game Ten – Ball State Cardinals (3–6) at Buffalo Bulls (5–4) – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Ball State
7
21
7 10 3 48
Buffalo 7
17
7 14 6 51
at UB Stadium , Amherst, New York
Date : Tuesday November 12, 2024Game time : 7:00 p.m.Game weather : Sunny, 41 °F (5 °C)Game attendance : 12,708Referee : Matt PackowskiTV announcers (CBSSN ) : Dave Ryan (play-by-play) and Adam Breneman (analyst)
Game information
First quarter (7:47) BUFF – C.J. Ogbonna 3-yard run (Upton Bellenfant kick) (Drive: 16 plays, 75 yards, 7:13; Buffalo 7-0 )
(4:34) BALL – Justin Bowick 23-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 81 yards, 3:08; Tied 7-7 ) Second quarter (14:55) BALL – Tanner Koziol 2-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 3:16; Ball State 14-7 )
(12:06) BUFF – Upton Bellenfant 27-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 53 yards, 2:39; Ball State 14-10 )
(8:14) BALL – Vaughn Pemberton 1-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 77 yards, 3:45; Ball State 21-10 )
(3:40) BUFF – Al-Jay Henderson 6-yard run (Upton Bellenfant kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 1:42; Ball State 21-17 )
(1:12) BALL – Justin Bowick 22-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 63 yards, 2:20; Ball State 28-17 )
(0:00) BUFF – Victor Snow 2-yard pass from C.J. Ogbonna (Upton Bellenfant kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 2 yards, 0:09; Ball State 28-24 ) Third quarter (5:56) BUFF – Al-Jay Henderson 4-yard run (Upton Bellenfant kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 63 yards, 4:41; Buffalo 31-28 )
(2:46) BALL – Cam Pickett 65-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 65 yards, 0:16; Ball State 35-31 ) Fourth quarter (14:56) BALL – Cam Pickett 9-yard run (Jackson Courville kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 19 yards, 2:13; Ball State 42-31 )
(7:08) BALL – Jackson Courville 27-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 58 yards, 5:00; Ball State 45-31 )
(5:43) BUFF – C.J. Ogbonna 26-yard run (run failed) (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 1:25; Ball State 45-37 )
(1:49) BUFF – JJ Jenkins 33-yard pass from C.J. Ogbonna (C.J. Ogbonna pass to Jake Orlando) (Drive: 10 plays, 73 yards, 1:27; Tied 45-45 ) Overtime BALL – Jackson Courville 36-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 0:00; Ball State 48-45 )
BUFF – Lamar Sperling 14-yard pass from C.J. Ogbonna (Drive: 2 plays, 25 yards, 0:00; Buffalo 51-48 )
Statistics
BALL
UB
First downs
24
26
Plays–yards
74–520
78–470
Rushing yards
37–193
41–206
Passing yards
327
264
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
25–37–1
19–37–2
Time of possession
33:13
26:26
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ball State Passing
Kadin Semonza
25/37, 327 yards, 4 TD, INT
Rushing
Kadin Semonza
4 carries, 53 yards
Receiving
Justin Bowick
7 receptions, 148 yards, 2 TD
Buffalo Passing
C.J. Ogbonna
19/37, 264 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Al-Jay Henderson
27 carries, 126 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
JJ Jenkins
8 receptions, 131 yards, TD
Game Eleven – Bowling Green Falcons (6–4) at Ball State Cardinals (3–7) – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Falcons
0
0
0 0 0
Cardinals
0
0
0 0 0
at Scheumann Stadium , Muncie, IN
Statistics
BGSU
BALL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Bowling Green Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Ball State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Game Twelve – Ball State Cardinals (0–0) at Ohio Bobcats (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Cardinals
0
7
7 7 21
Bobcats 14
7
14 7 42
at Peden Stadium , Athens, Ohio
Date : Friday November 29, 2024Game time : 12:00 p.m.
Statistics
BALL
OHIO
First downs
Plays–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
^ "2024 Football Coaching Staff" . Ball State University Athletics . Retrieved February 1, 2024 .^ Thamel, Pete (November 16, 2024). "Ball State fires Mike Neu amid fourth straight losing season" . ESPN.com . Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ^ "Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll" . getsomemaction.com . Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024 .^ "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd" . wtol.com . WTOL 11. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024 .^ Helwick, Steve (August 27, 2024). "Ball State is the only FBS team with a Week 1 bye: Here's why" . Hustle Belt . Retrieved September 12, 2024 . ^ "2024 Ball State Football Schedule" . FBSchedules.com . Retrieved February 1, 2024 .
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