Wikipedia

2023 Ball State Cardinals football team

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]

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
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
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

Preseason edit

Preseason polls edit

Coaches Poll edit

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
1 Toledo 7
2 Ohio 4
3 Buffalo 1

Schedule edit

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 Michigan 
  • 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
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[5][6]

Game summaries edit

at Kentucky edit

See also: 2023 Kentucky Wildcats football team
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)
Statistics BALL UK
First downs 18 17
Total yards 71–295 51–354
Rushing yards 41–72 20–113
Passing yards 223 241
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–30–0 18–31–1
Time of possession 38:16 21:44
Team Category Player Statistics
Ball State Passing Kadin Semonza 15/21, 165 yards, TD
Rushing Marquez Cooper 15 carries, 33 yards
Receiving Ty Robinson 5 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Kentucky Passing Devin Leary 18/31, 241 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Ray Davis 14 carries, 112 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Dane Key 5 receptions, 96 yards, TD

at No. 1 Georgia edit

See also: 2023 Georgia Bulldogs football team
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)
Statistics BALL UGA
First downs 13 22
Total yards 65–224 61–386
Rushing yards 28–77 28–99
Passing yards 147 287
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–37–3 24–33–1
Time of possession 31:28 28:32
Team Category Player Statistics
Ball State Passing Layne Hatcher 10/16, 82 yards
Rushing Charlie Spegal 4 carries, 32 yards
Receiving Ahmad Edwards 4 receptions, 47 yards
Georgia Passing Carson Beck 23/30, 283 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Roderick Robinson II 6 carries, 38 yards, TD
Receiving Arian Smith 2 receptions, 50 yards

Indiana State edit

See also: 2023 Indiana State Sycamores football team and Blue Key Victory Bell
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)
Statistics ISU BALL
First downs 12 26
Total yards 53–261 66–425
Rushing yards 32–104 42–288
Passing yards 157 137
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–21–1 18–24–0
Time of possession 26:59 33:01
Team Category Player Statistics
Indiana State Passing Elijah Owens 9/21, 157 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Tee Hodge 9 carries, 46 yards
Receiving Harry Van Dyne 3 receptions, 80 yards
Ball State Passing Kadin Semonza 17/22, 137 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Marquez Cooper 22 carries, 177 yards, TD
Receiving Tanner Koziol 7 receptions, 60 yards, TD

Georgia Southern edit

See also: 2023 Georgia Southern Eagles football team
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)
Statistics GASO BALL
First downs 25 10
Total yards 77–530 55–197
Rushing yards 27–167 28–37
Passing yards 363 160
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 36–50–0 14–29–2
Time of possession 30:41 29:19
Team Category Player Statistics
Georgia Southern Passing Davis Brin 34/46, 344 yards, 4 TD
Rushing OJ Arnold 9 carries, 90 yards
Receiving Khaleb Hood 7 receptions, 107 yards, TD
Ball State Passing Kadin Semonza 11/23, 123 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Marquez Cooper 9 carries, 16 yards
Receiving Rico Barfield 2 receptions, 50 yards

at Western Michigan edit

See also: 2023 Western Michigan Broncos football team
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)
Statistics BALL WMU
First downs 19 26
Total yards 63–364 75–461
Rushing yards 26–48 36–133
Passing yards 316 328
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–37–0 24–39–0
Time of possession 29:37 30:23
Team Category Player Statistics
Ball State Passing Layne Hatcher 26/37, 316 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Marquez Cooper 15 carries, 82 yards
Receiving Qian Magwood 9 receptions, 110 yards, TD
Western Michigan Passing Treyson Bourguet 24/39, 328 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Zahir Abdus-Salaam 8 carries, 53 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Anthony Sambucci 5 receptions, 73 yards, 3 TD

References edit

  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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