1996 Ball State Cardinals football team

The 1996 Ball State Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented Ball State University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its second season under head coach Bill Lynch, the team compiled an 8–4 record (7–1 against conference opponents), won the MAC championship, and lost to Nevada in the 1996 Las Vegas Bowl.[1][2] The team played its home games at Ball State Stadium in Muncie, Indiana.

1996 Ball State Cardinals football
MAC champion
Las Vegas Bowl, L 15–18 vs. Nevada
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record8–4 (7–1 MAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumBall State Stadium
Seasons
← 1995
1997 →
1996 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Ball State $   7 1     8 4  
Toledo   6 2     7 4  
Miami (OH)   6 2     6 5  
Ohio   5 3     6 6  
Central Michigan   4 4     5 6  
Akron   3 5     4 7  
Bowling Green   3 5     4 7  
Eastern Michigan   3 5     3 8  
Western Michigan   2 6     2 9  
Kent State   1 7     2 9  
  • $ – Conference champion

The team's statistical leaders included Brent Baldwin with 1,703 passing yards, Michael Blair with 680 rushing yards, Ed Abernathy with 425 receiving yards, and Brent Lockliear with 56 points scored.[3]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 29at No. 25 Kansas*L 10–3536,200
September 7Miami (OH)L 6–16
September 14at Minnesota*L 23–2641,007
September 21UCF*
  • Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
W 31–1011,475
October 5at Western MichiganW 28–5
October 12Ohio
  • Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
W 30–27
October 19at Bowling GreenW 16–11
October 26at Central MichiganW 24–17
November 2at Eastern MichiganW 39–25
November 9Kent State
  • Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
W 50–6
November 16Toledo
  • Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
W 24–14
December 19vs. Nevada*L 15–1810,118
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

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  1. ^ "2007 Ball State Football Media Guide". Ball State University. 2007. p. 99. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  2. ^ "1996 Ball State Cardinals Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sport Reference LLC. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  3. ^ "1996 Ball State Cardinals Statistics". SR/College Football. Sport Reference LLC. Retrieved July 10, 2020.