5 things to know about the Ball State Cardinals
Penn State has never faced Ball State on the football gridiron before, so this week’s opponent for the Nittany Lions is anything but familiar. When the teams take the field, don’t expect Penn State to be lining up against a pushover. Ball State is not the kind of team that is going to let the Nittany Lions run and pass all over them.
Here are some key things to know about this week’s opponent, the defending MAC champion Ball State Cardinals.
Ball State has one of the most veteran offenses Penn State will face in 2021
Ball State Cardinals offensive lineman Curtis Blackwell. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Just take one look at Ball State's depth chart and the veteran presence on the offense should stand out almost immediately. Ball State's first-string offense is littered with upperclassmen, with just three players not listed as a senior or fifth-year player. Ball State is among the many programs where players have chosen to take full advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted to all student-athletes as a result of the fractured 2020 athletic calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The only players not listed as a senior are redshirt junior left guard Jaylen Turner, junior wide receiver Jayshon Jackson, and redshirt sophomore right tackle Damon Kaylor. In all, Ball State returned 16 "super seniors" and 20 starters from last year's MAC championship roster. Ball State players have accounted for 403 career starts coming into this weekend's matchup. Mahy of those players have also been playing since they were freshmen in 2017.
Ball State is 5-25 all-time against ranked opponents
Ball State Cardinals running back Tye Evans (30) against the San Jose State Spartans in the Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Ball State doesn't exactly pack much great history against ranked opponents, which could probably have been guessed by many. The Cardinals have just five wins in 30 tries against ranked opponents. However, Ball State has won two consecutive games played against ranked opponents. Ball State topped No. 23 Buffalo in last season's MAC Championship Game and then defeated No. 19 San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl. No disrespect to either the Bulls or the Spartans, but this should be a trickier matchup for Ball State and history may once again be against the Cardinals. Historically, Ball State is 3-29-1 all-time against teams currently residing in the Big Ten. All three wins have come against the Indiana Hoosiers.
Ball State owns the nation's fourth-longest active winning streak
Ball State Cardinals linebacker Jaylin Thomas (6) celebrates as head coach Mike Neu hoists the trophy after defeating the San Jose State Spartans in the second half of the Arizona Bowl. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Penn State managed to stop Wisconsin's lengthy streak of home-opening victories last weekend. This week, the Nittany Lions aim to stop another winning streak. Ball State owns an eight-game winning streak coming into this weekend's matchup. The active eight-game winning streak for Ball State currently trails only Alabama (15), Oklahoma (nine), and Texas A&M (nine). Penn State is on a five-game winning streak dating back to the 2020 season.
Ball State WR Justin Hall closing in on school history
Ball State Cardinals wide receiver Justin Hall (11) runs after a catch against North Carolina State Wolfpack in 2019. Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Penn State's secondary was up to the task last week with some timely big plays, and they may have their hands full this week with one of the top receivers in the MAC. Ball State's Justin Hall is on target to set a new school record for most career receiving yards. If he manages to reach that goal in Week 2, then prepare to pull your hair out. Hall needs 182 receiving yards to become Ball State's all-time leader in career receiving yards. Catching Dante Ridgeway for that school record may be slightly out of reach this week, but Hall is 82 receiving yards away from second place on the school's all-time career receiving list, currently occupied by Willie Snead. Hall, who is the NCAA's active leader in career receptions (265 and counting) had a big season debut last weekend with 137 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Hall has caught a pass in 44 consecutive games (which is also every game of his career), the longest active streak in the FBS. Penn State's Jahan Dotson has caught a pass in 20 consecutive games.
Ball State head coach Mike Neu is absolutely a Ball state guy
Head coach Mike Neu at Scheumann Stadium Tuesday, April 13, 2021.
Penn State head coach James Franklin praised Ball State head coach Mike Neu this week during his media availabilities, which is nothing new for Franklin. But those unfamiliar with Neu may not know he is the prototypical Ball State guy. Neu graduated from Ball State in 1994, and he remained with the program as a graduate assistant for the team in 1994. But Neu didn't stay in college football coaching immediately after that. Instead, Neu kickstarted his coaching career in the Arena Football League, opening the door to more pass-friendly passing attacks and schemes. After stints with four different arena franchises, Neu returned to the college football sidelines in 2012 as a quarterbacks coach for Tulane (his last coaching stop prior to that had been with the New Orleans VooDoo of the AFL). Neu went on to be a quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints in 2014 and 2015 and he returned to his alma mater for his first head coaching job in college football in 2016. A two-time MAC champion as a player and with one MAC title to his name as a head coach, Neu has established quite a legacy at Ball State. Another successful season should keep his name on the radar for some potential job openings.
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